Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The Beauty of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: A Prelude to Beowulf

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Riddle me this! What do kennings, caesura, and alliteration have to do with the Nowell Codex? Introduce class members to Anglo-Saxon poetry and prepare readers for a study of Beowulf with a series of activities that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beowulf: Songs of Ancient Heroes

For Teachers 12th
Introduce your class to epic heroes with these activities for Beowulf. After watching a video clip, taking notes on heroes, and tracking characteristics of heroism throughout Beowulf, class members retell an episode of Beowulf using a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Prelude To Beowulf

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the literature and literary techniques of the early Middle Ages, thus preparing students to read Beowulf with an appreciation for its artistry and beauty. Students solve online riddles, write riddles and study Anglo-Saxon...
Lesson Plan
Penguin Books

A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Beowulf

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Beowulf, the Old English epic hero, comes alive again in the activities found in a teacher's guide designed to accompany a reading of the classic poem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Comparative Study on Heroes in Hindu and Anglo-Saxon Cultures

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research Hindu and Anglo-Saxon religions and cultures. They research legends and myths about Hindu and Anglo-Saxon religious and cultural heroes. They write a comparison and contrast essay on the two cultures and their heroes.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Primary History Extension Activity- Stories and Pastimes

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this Anglo-Saxon stories activity, students choose one or more of the 4 possible extension activities pertaining to the storytelling and pastimes of the Anglo-Saxon period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could You Repeat That?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in an oral story telling activity designed to show how story embellishments occur. They read "Beowulf" and identify incongruities that suggest additions and embellishments over the years.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emerging Heroes

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders define what a hero is and watch a video. In this hero lesson, 12th graders discuss the characteristics of a hero and list heroes and their attributes.  Students read the poem Beowulf and identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Concept of the Hero

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners explore the symbolic implications for the concept of the hero with a focus on the Beowulf theme. In this hero concept lesson, students find specific examples of monsters from Beowulf to complete the chart. Learners list the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders deduce the motivation behind and meaning of certain behaviors, conversations and poetry. Students analyze culture's value system. Students compare and contrast Anglo Saxon court culture, Medieval court culture, Medieval...
Handout
Washington State University

Washington State University: Anglo Saxon Homepage

For Students 9th - 10th
This student resource site provides links to Anglo-Saxon/Old English literature, culture, and heritage.
Website
Other

Beowulf in Cyberspace

For Students 9th - 10th
Providing translations, maps, essays, and resources, this is a good online resource for students, particularly advanced students, reading and studying the Anglo Saxon poem, "Beowulf." The "Old English" glossary included at this website...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: A Prelude to Beowulf

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Before reading the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, "Beowulf," students should explore the Dark Ages through researching the fundamental characteristics of the art and literature produced during this period. This website provides links for doing...
Unit Plan
McGraw Hill

Glencoe Literature Library: "Beowulf" Study Guide [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Introduce yourself to Anglo-Saxon literature by reading "Beowulf" and exploring its plot, themes, and characters with the help of this study guide. Check out a helpful "family tree" of the epic poem's characters, study new vocabulary...
Website
Sacred Text Archive

Ista: Complete Corpus of Anglo Saxon Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
The Internet Sacred Text Archive offers the Complete Corpus of Anglo Saxon Poetry. All of the titles link to primary documents, written in their original language.
Unknown Type
Other

David G. Simpson: The Use of Kennings in Anglo Saxon Literature [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is an eleven-page PDF research paper on the use of kennings in Anglo Saxon literature. It includes a definition of kennings (a type of metaphor), an outline, the paper, an appendix of kennings and literal translations, and resources.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Beowulf: Background of the Epic

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on the definition of the epic and how Beowulf fits the definition. It provides links to a variety of translations of Beowulf, commentary on the translations, the complete text, an abridged text, and an audio version...
Website
Other

Holt Elements of Literature Sixth Course: Introduction From Beowulf

For Students 9th - 10th
A background for the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, to the time period in which it was created, and about the concept of the Epic Hero.
Lesson Plan
The English Teacher

The English Teacher: Beowulf Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
These teaching notes for Beowulf provide a model for your own lesson plan and as a basic resource to study Beowulf. These notes can help you remember the pertinent points of Anglo-Saxon epic poem and help to deepen your understanding.
eBook
University of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Digital Collections: Beowulf: A New Translation for Oral Delivery

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource contains not only the full text of Beowulf, but also an audio stream of the translator, Dick Ringler, reading the poem.
Website
W. W. Norton

Norton Anthology: The Linguistic and Literary Contexts of "Beowulf"

For Students 9th - 10th
Use these online resources from the "Norton Anthology of English Literature" to provide both depth and breadth to your understanding of the poem "Beowulf," whether you are a student reading it for the first time or a teacher preparing to...
eBook
McMaster University

Beowulf in Hypertext: Introduction Hwaet!

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives facts about the original Beowulf manuscript, its authorship, and its ties to archeology and culture. One may also read Beowulf in Old English or its translation to Modern English along with summaries of text portions and...
eBook
University of South Florida

Educational Technology Clearinghous: Lit2 Go: Beowulf

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a poetic translation of "Beowulf," complete with footnotes. The text can be read online or downloaded by individual chapters in MP3 or PDF format.
eBook
Other

Beowulf: An Adaptation From the Old English Version

For Students 9th - 10th
Enjoy this contemporary English translation of the epic Old English poem Beowulf, which can be read in conjunction with the original for better comprehension.