Beowulf packet largely based on LIFT - Critical-Creative Thinking/Writing published by Sundance
Beowulf
Glossary of Literary Terms
Epic or Heroic Poem:
• Long narrative poem (a poem that tells a story) based on a serious subject
• Told in a formal and elevated style of writing. Elevated style is poetic in form
and intended for solemn occasions. Because of its ornate language and graveness
of tone, it is not used in everyday writing.
• Centered on a hero upon whose actions the fate of a tribe or nation depends
Examples: The Iliad and The Odyssey – Homer (Greek)
Beowulf – (Anglo-Saxon poem)
Characteristics:
1. The hero is of great national importance
2. The setting is large in scale, worldwide, or even larger (undeworld)
3. The action includes superhuman deeds
4. Gods/supernatural beings take an active interest in the events
5. Ceremonial performances are generally included
6. Written in a grand style (similes, metaphors, allusions, etc.)
Conventions:
1. The narrator often begins by stating an argument or an epic* theme. In some
Greek poems, a Muse* may be used to ask an epic question.
a. * extending beyond usual or ordinary themes
b. * a Muse is one of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology who
preside over song and poetry. A muse might also be a person who inspires
thoughts and ideas
Background Information:
Beowulf was originally a poem that was most likely recited for many generations
before it was written down between A.D. 650 and 800. Although this earlier version did
not survive, a new copy of the poem was made in an English monastery around the year
1000. Because the story is so ancient, many of its details and settings capture life among
the Germanic tribes of Northern Europe during the Dark Ages. For example, drinking
halls, like the one described in Beowulf, doubled as dormitories (sleeping rooms) and
were a feature of all Germanic warrior societies.
Set during the mysterious and violent Dark Ages of northern Europe, this was a
time when people lived in constant fear of attack from both human and supernatural
forces. Though modern readers may no longer believe in such supernatural beings,
Beowulf remains relevant in its exploration of the nature of good versus evil and in its
celebration of heroic deeds and qualities.
***To get an overview of Beowulf, go to
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/facts.html
Map Activity
The main action in this story of Beowulf is set around 500 A.D. The setting
takes place in Denmark and Geatland (a region in what is now southern Sweden).
Using resources of your choice draw a map of northern Europe to include
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and the British Isles. It is fine if you trace a
map, but you will earn less credit for this activity if you simply cut-and-paste a
may from the Internet.
VOCABULARY TERMS
Chapter 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
clenched _____
litter _____
tributes _____
sheaf _____
strewn _____
spindrift _____
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
bundle of grain
foamy spray flown from waves
grasp tightly
honor paid to a person
thrown about
stretcher for carrying injured people
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
H.)
I.)
dreaded person
low land partially covered by water
a person who watches or guards
worker who works with stones or bricks
clever
brag
sticking out
in a unsteady or shaking manner
servant
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
demon
revenge
expressed scorn and contempt
place where animals are butchered
thinly scattered
hatred
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
H.)
I.)
steady
frighten
honesty
front part of a ship
can not be conquered
getting off a ship
shamelessly
curious
covered for burial
Chapter 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
jutting _____
boast _____
retainers _____
witty _____
masons _____
fen _____
sentinel _____
ogre
waveringly _____
Chapter 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
slaughterhouse _____
fiend _____
loathing _____
sneered _____
vengeance _____
sparse _____
Chapter 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
prow _____
daunt _____
brazenly _____
integrity _____
shrouded _____
inquisitive _____
indomitable _____
unwaveringly _____
disembarking _____
Chapter 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
agape _____
malice _____
uncouth _____
guffawed _____
skewered _____
insinuated _____
sustenance _____
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
laughed loudly
hinted
pierced
a wish to hurt or make suffer
lacking in manners, rude
mouth wide open in wonder or surprise
food, provisions
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
small piece of inexpensive jewelry
drew back in fear
evil, hateful
decaying, rotten
release, let go
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
wild uproar, chaos
slanting roof beams
predicting what will happen
timid, fearful
great destruction
very rude
rob by force
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
unable to destroy
rotting, forming puss
very bad, morally bad
droppings, scent, trail of an animal
scattered remains of something ruined
Chapter 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
putrid _____
trinket _____
cowered _____
malignant _____
relinquish _____
Chapter 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
havoc _____
plunder _____
rafters _____
timorous _____
impudent _____
prophesying _____
pandemonium _____
Chapter 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
vile _____
spoor _____
debris _____
festering _____
imperishable _____
Chapter 9
1. lanced _____
2. wanton _____
3. sere _____
A.) dry, withered
B.) done in a reckless way, inhumane
C.) pierced, cut with a sharp object
Chapter 10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
fetid _____
falter _____
coaxing _____
quivered _____
malevolent _____
succumbed _____
obsequious _____
incantation _____
A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
H.)
shook
be polite out of fear, subservient
give in to, yield
persuading
wish evil on others
hesitate
smelling bad, offensive odor
words spoken as a magic charm
Chapter 11
1. hilt _____
2. surly _____
3. corpse _____
A.) dead human body
B.) handle of a sword
C.) bad tempered
Chapter 12
1. scudding _____
2. pine _____
A.) to yearn or grieve deeply
B.) moving quickly as if driven by the wind
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Beowulf – A New Telling by Robert Nye
Describe the Setting:
Point of View:
Theme:
DESCRIBE THE CONFLICTS
Internal:
External:
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Character’s Name
Description
MINOR CHARACTERS
Character’s Name
Activity 1
Description
ANOTHER WORLD
Use the chart below to contrast the modern world with the kind of world in
which you think the story takes place. A sample entry has been completed for you.
MODERN WORLD
1. transportation
cars, trains, planes
BEOWULF’S WORLD
ships, horses, carts
2. clothing
3. communication
4. housing
5. music
6. government
7. military weapons
Activity 2
THE DARK AGE CHRONICLE- April 1, A.D. 650
Write an article for the newspaper, The Dark Age Chronicle ,
describing the terrible fate that has befallen the beautiful hall Heorot.
Be sure to create a headline for your article and include eyewitness
reports that describe Grendel’s attacks in sensational detail.
Activity 3
SUPERNATURAL SIMILES
A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared by
using the word like or as . For example, when Beowulf and his men see Heorot,
they are astonished because It stood like a tower of solid gold.
In the chart below, make up your own similes to describe each subject. Be
sure to use like or as in your simile.
SUBJECT
1. the eyes of a monster
2. the distant sound of battle
3. a dragon asleep on a mound of treasure
4. an ancient ship skimming the waves
5. a sword shining in the dark forest
6. the glittering stars
7. a deserted village
8. a feasting hall lit with a hundred torches
9. snowy fields in moonlight
10. a dark, stagnant pool
SIMILE
Activity 4
JUDGE A CHARACTER
After the name of each character, write a few adjectives that describe what
that character is like. Then write a short prediction about what you think might
happen to each character.
Beowulf: ____________________________________________________
Prediction: _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Unferth: ____________________________________________________
Prediction: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
King Hrothgar: _______________________________________________________
Prediction: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Queen Wealhtheow: __________________________________________
Prediction: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Activity 5
TAKING SIDES
Are you on Beowulf’s side, or do you feel sorry for monsters like Grendel?
Prepare yourself for a debate. Your teacher will give you either the hero or the
monster to support. Write convincing arguments in support of the character you
are given. Make sure that you have plenty of persuasive statements with
supporting details that will win the debate. Consider what your opponents will use
to argue for their side. Try to have a response ready for whatever they may say.
Write your ideas on the lines below so that you can use them in the classroom
debate.
I support ____________________ because:
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Activity 6
A LAST FEW WORDS
Imagine that just before Grendel died, he managed (with his remaining arm)
to write a diary entry of the day’s events. Describe what happened in Heorot from
Grendel’s point of view. In a second paragraph, you might also let Grendel explain
and justify his lifetime of bad behavior.
(Note: for this activity, you might want to use the computer and then attach
your response to the bottom of this page.)
Activity 7
A WORLD OF CONTRASTS
Beowulf is set in a world of stark contrasts---between light and darkness,
good and evil. Use the chart below to categorize the characters and elements of
Beowulf’s world. The first entry has been done for you.
LIGHT AND GOOD
the hall Heorot
DARK AND EVIL
The fen
Pick at least four of your choices from the chart, and explain what makes
them good or evil.
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Activity 8
WORDS OF WISDOM
Explain the meaning of the following passages:
1. Hrothgar to Unferth: It takes an evil nose to smell the devil.
_________________________________________________________________________
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2. (Beowulf) had heard enough about Grendel to know that the monster could not
be killed by strength alone.
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3. Beowulf to Grendel: It is your own evil, Grendel, that undoes you. You must
die, creature of night, because the light has got you in a last embrace.
_________________________________________________________________________
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4. He, Unferth, knew better, knew that good and evil were locked in such an
endless contest that the death of just one of the powers of darkness was of no
significance whatsoever. As well believe you could destroy a tree by tearing off a
single leaf!
And the tree of evil looked taller and more familiar to Unferth than the slender
green tree of good.
_________________________________________________________________________
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On (Beowulf’s) head was the helmet that would not break, at his side the sword as
sarp as a flame. However, he did not put his trust in these. He knew that for
Grendel’s Mother, as for Grendel, more subtle and essential weapons were
necessary. Beowulf’s best weapon was himself. He put all his faith in that.
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Activity 9
A HERO’S QUALITIES
Imagine you are Wiglaf, remembering all the qualities that made Beowulf a
hero. Beside each quality listed below, describe an incident from the story that
revealed that aspect of Beowulf’s personality.
1. Inventiveness:
_________________________________________________________________________
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2. Bravery:
_________________________________________________________________________
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3. Calmness and patience:
_________________________________________________________________________
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4. Confidence:
_________________________________________________________________________
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Wisdom:
_________________________________________________________________________
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Acitivty 10
BEOWULF COMICS
Look at the comic strip attached. Figure out what each character is saying.
Then, in the speech balloons, write what you think they are saying based on the
story. Color in your comic. Note: If accessing this on the Internet, create your
own six-panel comic strip that summarizes the story.
Activity 11
BE A CRITIC
Good critics discuss the entertainment value of a book, but they also
examine the deeper elements of literature. Be a critic. Answer the questions below
to plan your review of Beowulf.
1. What do you think was the author’s purpose for retelling this story? Do you
agree with the author’s message? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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2. Which literary element do you think the author handled best---writing style,
setting, characters, plot, climax, or resolution? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________
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3. Who was the main character? Would you want this character to visit your home
for dinner sometime? Why or why not?
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4. In what ways do you think the book was “less than perfect”? If you were the
writer, how would you fix those flaws?
_________________________________________________________________________
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5. Would you recommend this book to the next class of 7th graders? ____________
Circle one choice below to show how you rate Beowulf for its entertainment value
☹ ☹☺ ☺☺☺ ☺☺☺☺
poor
fair
good
great!
Packet C hecklist
☐ Glossary and Background pages highlighted
_____/ 5
☐ Map Activity
_____/ 5
☐ All vocabulary terms are complete
_____/ 10
☐ Setting, Conflicts, Character tables are complete and neat
_____/ 10
☐ Activity ! – Contrast Modern World with Beowulf’s World
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 2 – The Dark Age Chronicle
_____/ 20
☐ Activity 3 – Supernatural Similes
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 4 – Judge a Character
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 5 – Taking Sides
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 6 – A Few Last Words
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 7 – A World of Contrasts
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 8 – Words of Wisdom
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 9 – A Hero’s Qualities
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 10 – Beowulf comics
_____/ 5
☐ Activity 11 – Be a Critic
_____/ 5
Total Points Earned on Packet: _____/100
÷ 2 = ___________
***Don’t forget, there will be quizzes along the way and a final test
Grade: _____