Beowulf begins his quest
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can outline the key events and characters in the first two chapters of ‘Beowulf’ and I can explain the impression given by particular language choices made by the author.
Key learning points
- 'Beowulf' is an epic poem set in Denmark and Sweden during the 500s CE and written in England in around 1000 CE.
- The story follows the heroic deeds of the warrior Beowulf. It was written in Old English by an unknown author.
- In translation, the text still includes archaic language due to its historical context.
- Beowulf, a Geat, volunteers to travel to Denmark to defeat Grendel, a monster who has been terrorising the Danes.
- The author makes specific language choices in order to give us particular impressions of characters and events.
Keywords
Epic poem - a long, narrative poem telling the story of an extraordinary individual
Hero - a protagonist (main character) with noble qualities, often saving or helping others
Archaic language - old-fashioned language that is no longer widely used today
Historical context - the time period in which a text is set
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to understand archaic language.
Use your teacher assessments to inform how you have pupils read; you may wish to have the majority of the class reading in mixed-ability pairs while you read to a small group, having them say the next word when you pause to ensure engagement.
Teacher tip
A pronunciation guide for the characters in 'Beowulf' can be found at the back of the book or online. You may wish to display a version of this in the classroom and familiarise pupils with the names through repetition. Animated versions of the text are also available online to support comprehension.
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.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following countries are in Scandinavia?
Q2.Which of the following events happened after the Romans left Britain?
Q3.Which of these is the best definition of a 'hero'?
Q4.In a story about a hero, which of these are we most likely to find?
Q5.What might the role of a monster be in a story involving a hero?
Q6.If a story is set in the 500s CE, which of the following will we not find in it?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the characters to their descriptions.
Q2.Why does Beowulf have a good impression of King Hrothgar?
Q3.Which of these are features of an epic poem?
Q4.Where and when was 'Beowulf' originally written, and in which language?
Q5.Where does Beowulf travel from and to at the start of 'Beowulf'?
Q6.Which of the following are true of Grendel?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Beowulf begins his quest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Beowulf begins his quest, 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.