Beowulf Boast Project
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This is quite possibly my favorite assignment of the year (and honestly, my students love it too!). If you're looking for a way to increase student engagement with Beowulf this is the assignment for you! It engages students, helps them relate to Anglo-Saxon culture, and gets them excited to read the rest of the poem. I have students write their own boast (in Anglo-Saxon style) and perform it for the class. This product includes a brief overview of boasting and how it was used in Anglo-Saxon culture, the assignment details, and the grading rubric for students. It is also fully editable!
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Tips and ideas for teaching high school ELA
5 Ideas to Make Teaching Beowulf Fun
While a staple in most British Literature classrooms, Beowulf can be a bit of a struggle for our students. The diction, the figurative language (so.many.kennings), the format. Teaching Beowulf can sometimes feel like a chore.
Are you looking to inject some excitement into your Beowulf lessons? Well, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we’ll explore five fantastic ideas that will make teaching Beowulf a blast. From interactive stations to creative writing activities, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and discover how to make the journey into the world of Beowulf an engaging and enjoyable experience for your students!
The first Beowulf activity is intro stations. I started including stations in my classroom a few years ago, and I have loved the results.
Like me, you probably have a boring old PowerPoint with all the necessary background and historical context students need before diving into this classic epic.
Instead of death by PowerPoint, why not switch things up? Transform your classroom into engaging intro stations where students can explore different aspects of Beowulf. These stations can include whatever you want: artwork, excerpts, historical context, language – pretty much anything you had in those dull presentations. For my Beowulf stations , I included information about Anglo-Saxon culture, topics and themes, epics and epic heroes, and the evolution of the English language; these were all concepts I wanted to cover, but packaged in a more engaging way.
Encourage students to rotate through the stations, sparking their curiosity and setting the stage for the epic adventures they are about to embark on.
One characteristic of Anglo-Saxon culture was their love of riddles. Even today, many of us are intrigued by word puzzles. What better way to introduce students to Anglo-Saxons than having them try to solve some riddles? You can find some examples here and here .
Another option: Create your own riddles inspired by the epic and challenge your students to solve them individually or in small groups.
Not only will they have fun deciphering the riddles, but they’ll also develop a deeper understanding of the linguistic and cultural context of the time.
Want to get even more student engagement? Once you’ve exposed them to several examples of Anglo-Saxon riddles, have them write their own for their classmates to solve.
Encourage your students to unleash their inner heroes by crafting personal boasts, just like the characters in Beowulf. In Anglo-Saxon culture, boasting was a way to demonstrate one’s heroic qualities and bravery. And we all know that students love to talk about themselves.
Have your students write and share their own boasts, highlighting their accomplishments, strengths, and values. This activity not only brings the epic to life but also helps students build confidence and self-expression.
I typically do this activity after Beowulf has arrived at Herot and delivers his first boast detailing how he is going to defeat Grendel, but you could incorporate it at any time. Want to practice some revision? Have students write their boasts before reading, then return to them after reading part of the text and revise their boast, using Beowulf’s boasts as a mentor text.
One of my favorite activities for teaching Beowulf is to have students write a modern retelling. The entertainment industry is famous (infamous?) for capitalizing on nostalgia by doing remakes. Why not follow their lead?
Give Beowulf a modern twist by challenging your students to rewrite key scenes or create a continuation of the story in a contemporary setting. When I’ve done this, students had very minimal requirements:
- a Beowulf or Beowulf-inspired character
- a Grendel or Grendel-inspired character
- “Beowulf” had to defeat “Grendel” (doesn’t necessarily mean kill)
That was it. From there, it’s up to them.
Students can reimagine Beowulf battling monstrous creatures in a modern cityscape or explore how the heroic code translates to today’s world. This activity allows them to exercise their creativity, adapt the themes of the epic to a modern context, and develop their storytelling skills. It also hits those narrative writing standards. Win-win.
The final activity is a character interview. Assign students different roles and have them prepare interview questions and responses based on their character’s perspectives.
Students can conduct mock interviews, delving into the motivations, challenges, and inner thoughts of the characters. This activity fosters empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the complex personalities in the epic.
Not only do mock interviews promote critical thinking, but they also hit those important speaking and listening standards that sometimes get pushed to the wayside. Plus, think about real-life applications. Who couldn’t use a little interview practice?
Teaching Beowulf doesn’t have to be a dry and monotonous affair. By incorporating these five fun and interactive ideas into your lessons, you’ll transform the learning experience for your students. From immersive intro stations to modern rewrites and character interviews, these activities will ignite their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. So, let the adventure begin! Get ready to embark on a journey through the legendary world of Beowulf alongside your enthusiastic and engaged students.
What are your favorite Beowulf activities? Hit “Leave a Comment” and let me know.
And as always – Happy teaching! 😀
Looking for a low-prep Beowulf unit including the ideas above? Check out this Beowulf Unit Plan.
Curious about my other go-to units for British Literature? Check out this blog post: 7 Units for a Complete Brit Lit Curriculum .
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- Jeff Bridges and Dave Bautista Headline All-Star Cast in New Take on 'Beowulf' Epic
"Beowulf" is more than the U.S. Army 's new cold-weather all-terrain vehicle . It's a centuries-old Anglo-Saxon heroic epic, the story of a loyal warrior who answers a call of duty to help his comrades in arms slay a monstrous, seemingly unstoppable enemy when no one else could. It's easy to see why many modern-day troops trying to embody a warrior ethos might identify with a hero such as Beowulf.
"Beowulf" was first written more than a millennium ago, and it's the oldest surviving poem in the English language , so of course, it's already been turned into a movie (or around 10 movies, actually). According to The Hollywood Reporter , the upcoming film "Grendel," based on author John Gardner's 1971 novel of the same name, will look at the story of the ancient warrior from the monster's point of view -- which is actually an apt interpretation of the story's message to young warriors.
In sixth-century Scandinavia, the renowned warrior Beowulf answers a call for aid from Hrothgar, king of the Danes. Every night for 12 years, a monster called Grendel attacks Heorot, the king's mead hall, and none of the king's other fighters who fought the beast have lived to tell the tale. When Beowulf arrives, he not only agrees to slay the monster, but do it unarmed. Grendel finally attacks the hall during a celebration, and true to his boast, Beowulf defeats Grendel.
But the poem doesn't end there. When Heorot is attacked by Grendel's mother, Beowulf leads a team to kill her, too. Beowulf returns to his home in Geatland and serves the king there, until the king and his son both die in combat. Beowulf takes the throne and rules until his elder years. When a dragon attacks his kingdom, he rides out to meet this new beast. With help from another knight, he slays the dragon but is killed by its poison fangs.
Beowulf's name literally translates to "Man-Wolf," which implies he can be as much of a beast as Grendel, a side of the great warrior that comes out when he's battling monsters. But Beowulf's ferociousness in combat is also a warning that he can become as much of a monster as Grendel, an appropriate one for any warrior of any era.
Jeff Bridges ("The Big Lebowski") will star as Grendel opposite Dave Bautista ("Guardians of the Galaxy") as the hero Beowulf. Also joining the cast are Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott ("Tombstone") as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie ("Jojo Rabbit"), Aidan Turner ("The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"). Legendary guitarist T Bone Burnett will make the film's original music, and the creatures will be created by the Jim Henson Company.
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COMMENTS
In Beowulf, boasting has a different meaning than the definition people would understand and use today. In the poem, boasting was a way to get to know a person. In the poem, boasting was a way to ...
This boasting was perfectly polite, even expected. In Beowulf , see lines 250-285, 407-426, 632-638, and 2510-2515 for examples of the formal Anglo-Saxon boast. Your assignment is to write a formal boast about yourself and perform it for the class. Tell us your deeds, who your daddy/mama are, what you plan to do, and how you're not gonna take ...
to do a bit of boasting. For example of formal boasts, consult Beowulf, lines 260 285, 407 455, and 632 638 . There is also an example on the back of this handout The purpose of this assignment is to show not only an understanding of the important aspects of the Anglo Saxon warrior culture, but also the different techniques and types of language
The whole poem is one big boast of Beowulf's strength, showing that Beowulf did manage to live on in legend. Within the context of the poem, boasting is a way to ensure that one is treated with ...
Boast like Beowulf! Beowulf had no shame about boasting. In fact, the Anglo-Saxons warriors saw nothing wrong with letting the world know who they were, who their noble parents were, what great feats they had accomplished, ... Assignment Your assignment is to write a formal boast about yourself in 12-15 lines. Tell us your deeds, who your
Reread lines 236-284 of Beowulf in our text. These lines are Beowulf's finest boast in which he introduces himself to Hrothgar and declares he will defeat the monstrous Grendel. Assignment: Write a formal boast about yourself in the style of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Guidelines: Your boast must show your understanding of Anglo-Saxon poetry by ...
Beowulf's boasting is a storytelling tool and also a technique of oral communication. By boasting of his accomplishments, Beowulf didn't just stroke his own ego. He reassured the people of his ability, promised to solve their problems, and created a narrative that recorded his victory. Poetically Boastful. (n.d.).
Anglo-Saxon Boast Assignment The boast of an Anglo-Saxon warrior was not considered an instance of conceit; rather, it was a method of inspiring heroic deeds. Your boast should appear similar to Beowulf's boast and must be a minimum of 30 numbered lines.
This lesson is part of a larger unit on the Epic of Beowulf. In its original context, this is . Lesson 3 in The Epic of Beowulf. This lesson introduces students to the importance of boasting in Beowulf by . Having students find what Beowulf and a contemporary pop song have in common; Having students practice presenting boasts from Beowulf;
This assignment gives students an opportunity to mimic Beowulf's Boast before Hrothgar. It includes the text to be read whole class or in small groups. It incorporates the literary devices of caesuras, alliteration, and kennings. Directions are detailed and clear -- a great creative writing activity...
Punctuate your poem. To end your boast, state your next great act. The assignment, due Wednesday September 17, must be typed in MLA format (1 inch margins, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman black font, correct heading) Guidelines: Your boast must show your understanding of Anglo-Saxon poetry by following the Anglo-Saxon poetic format:
In our book, Keeping the Wonder: An Educator's Guide to Magical, Engaging, and Joyful Learning, we divide wonder into four elements: surprise, curiosity, freedom, and inspiration. I thought it would be fun and helpful to organize my ideas for teaching Beowulf in the same way. My Beowulf unit pulls from several ideas from the book, so it's ...
boasting was perfectly polite, even expected. In Beowulf, see lines 399-455, 632-638, and 677-687 for examples of the formal Anglo-Saxon boast. Your assignment is to write a formal boast about yourself and perform it for the class. Tell us your deeds, who your family is, what you plan to do, and how you're not gonna take nothing from nobody.
Beowulf: The Boast We have read of the many exploits of Beowulf and the many brave thanes among the Danes, Geats, and Swedes. We know, too, that the Anglo-Saxons saw nothing wrong with letting the world know who they were, who their noble parents were, what great feats they had accomplished and what the planned to do.
For a challenging Beowulf assignment, have students write a boast poem similar to the one that Beowulf delivers before he fights Grendel! The information students are required to include will help them prepare for writing college admissions essays. This resource scaffolds the writing process so students are set up for success. The packet includes:
Journal Assignments for the Epic. Seminar Topics for the Epic. Creative Assignments for the Epic. Extra Credit Options for the Epic: Only 50 Points Allowed. The Beowulf Boast-- Write an original boast about yourself, in Anglo-Saxon style, and perform it for the class (50 points).
If you're looking for a way to increase student engagement with Beowulf this is the assignment for you! It engages students, helps them relate to Anglo-Saxon culture, and gets them excited to read the rest of the poem. I have students write their own boast (in Anglo-Saxon style) and perform it for the class.
For this assignment, you have three choices a creative modernization of the story; a relation of the story to the world at large; a relation of the story to your own personal dragons. Choose one of the following options. Option 1: For this option you are to modernize the story of Beowulf, up to his defeat of Grendel.
Instructional material for various components of teaching, learning, and education. beowulf boast project beowulf had no shame about boasting. in fact, the. Skip to document. University; High School. Books; Discovery. ... Assignment: Write a formal boast about yourself in the style of Anglo-Saxon poetry. This boast will be created on a foam ...
Beowulf's boasting is a form of honoring his king as well as maintaining his reputation as a great warrior. Beowulf's boast reassure the people of Heorot that they will be safe. The boasting is a morale booster for them. When the people of Heorot thought all hope was lost, Beowulf arrives to raise their spirits.
Teaching Beowulf doesn't have to be a dry and monotonous affair. By incorporating these five fun and interactive ideas into your lessons, you'll transform the learning experience for your students. From immersive intro stations to modern rewrites and character interviews, these activities will ignite their curiosity, creativity, and ...
Beowulf: The Boast We are reading about the many adventures of Beowulf and the brave thanes among the Danes and the Geats. We know that the Anglo-Saxons had no problem with letting the world know who they were, who their noble parents were, what great feats they had accomplished and what they planned to do. This boasting was perfectly polite, even expected.
Beowulf Boast Assignment by Christine Suders on Prezi. Blog. April 18, 2024. Use Prezi Video for Zoom for more engaging meetings. April 16, 2024. Understanding 30-60-90 sales plans and incorporating them into a presentation. April 13, 2024.
"Beowulf" is more than the U.S. Army's new cold-weather all-terrain vehicle. It's a centuries-old Anglo-Saxon heroic epic, the story of a loyal warrior who answers a call of duty to help his comrades.