Beowulf and the dragon
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe and discuss how Beowulf responds to the threat of a dragon and I can connect the story to different themes.
Key learning points
- Beowulf becomes king of Geatland and he reigns for 50 years.
- A dragon is provoked to attack the Geats and Beowulf wants to fight it; his young cousin Wiglaf objects.
- Beowulf's sword is useless against the dragon and it bites him; he is able to slay the dragon, but he is wounded.
- As he dies, Beowulf asks Wiglaf to ensure that a barrow is built for him so that his memory lives on.
- We can link stories like 'Beowulf' to themes or big ideas that they raise.
Keywords
Summarise - pull out the key information and ideas from the text
Prediction - an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Theme - a central idea of a text that the author wants us to think deeply about
Debate - a formal discussion about a question or subject held in public
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that a prediction is a pure guess.
Our predictions are educated guesses based on what we have read already; when we make a prediction, we should explain how it connects to what we know about characters and plot.
Teacher tip
Ensure that you share and discuss illustrations from the book. You may also want to show photographs of authentic burial mounds or discuss Anglo-Saxon funerary customs to support understanding.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2013 Oxford Children’s Classics edition of ‘Beowulf’ written by Kevin Crossley-Holland and illustrated by Charles Keeping for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where is Beowulf now heading?
Q2.How will Beowulf return home?
Q3.Who currently rules Geatland at this point of the poem?
Q4.What has Beowulf achieved on his mission?
Q5.How does Hrothgar feel about Beowulf leaving Denmark?
Q6.What does Hrothgar suggest should happen to Beowulf?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following words to their meanings.
predicted
destroyed
surrounded, encircled
killed
Q2.Which character stole treasure from the dragon, provoking it to attack?
Q3.Which of the following are destroyed by the dragon's fiery breath?
Q4.Why does Wiglaf not want Beowulf to fight the dragon alone?
Q5.Who lands the blow that kills the dragon?
Q6.What two things does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do as he lies dying?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Beowulf and the dragon, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Beowulf and the dragon, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Beowulf': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.