Beowulf Work

Prewrite Please answer the following questions on your own paper (will be turned in for credit) Your answers must show some thought… What makes someone a hero? (Is it superhuman strength? Or is it their character? Do they have to be “larger than life”?) Who is a hero to you? Explain why. (Can be someone alive or dead)

Chapter 1 Work Chapter 1 Close Reading: On the copy of chapter 1 highlight or underline ALL descriptions of Scyld’s character. Read carefully b/c there are a lot of them! (to be continued…)

Chapter 1 Work (continued) Flip over your copy of chapter 1 where you underlined Divide the paper into 4 sections Label like this: Physical Appearance Personality What others say/think/do in response to the character What the character says/does or thinks

Chapter 1 Work (continued) Now write the character references you underlined on the chart you made on the back of your paper. Physical Appearance Tall as a tower Personality Strong What others say/think/do in response to the character Hailed as ruler of all Danes What the character says/does or thinks Eats entire bulls

Chapter 1 Work (continued) Write a paragraph where you pick a character trait for Scyld Scefing, give evidence to prove your character trait and then explain why the character trait is important & how your evidence proves your character trait. HONORS ONLY: Be sure to discuss how the author’s use of hyperbole emphasizes Scyld’s heroic qualities.

Chapter 2 Work Read the chapter and make a family tree Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in… Skim the chapter and find 3 examples of figurative language Write down the examples of the figurative language (on the same paper you wrote your summary on) Label each example with the type of figurative language (simile, metaphor, etc.) Explain what each example means

Chapter 3 Work Read the chapter Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in… Unferth character analysis. Divide your paper like this Then fill out the chart with examples of Unferth’s character from chapter 3 only Physical Appearance Personality What others say/think/do in response to the character What the character says/does or thinks

for P2 only: Chapter 3 Work (cont’d) Write a one paragraph character analysis for Unferth where you pick one character trait for him and give evidence from the book proving that character trait. Be sure to explain your evidence and the importance of the character trait.

Chapter 3 Work Read the chapter Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in… Unferth character analysis. Divide your paper like this Then fill out the chart with examples of Unferth’s character from chapter 3 only Physical Appearance Personality What others say/think/do in response to the character What the character says/does or thinks

Chapter 4 Work Read the chapter Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in… Look at the copy of page 24 Underline all examples of symbolism On the same sheet explain the symbolism in this sentence, “He saw that Beowulf had left his sword stuck in the top of the mound. It shone in the sunlight like a cross.” NOTE: You have to state what the symbolism is and then explain what the symbol represents.

for P2 only: Chapter 5 Work Read the chapter Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in… Look at the copy of pages 28 & 29 Read from “The apples are good…” (P. 28) to “This is no usual kind of hero.” (P. 29) Explain what Wealhtheow means in the paragraph that starts with “Quite so…” (P. 29)

P 5 & 7: Chapter 5 Work Read the chapter Write a short (3-5 sentence) summary of the chapter – on your own paper because you will turn this in…

Chapter 6 Work for P2 only Read the chapter Chapter 6: On the bottom of page 40 Beowulf says: "Light holds you, Grendel. Light has you in its power. You, who have shunned the sun, meet me, once stung by bees that drank the sun. There's honey in my veins, Grendel, a liquid sunlight that can kill you quite. These fingers that you feel are ten great stars. Stars have no fear. I do not fear you, Grendel. I do not fear, therefore I do not fight. I only hold you fast in your own evil, so that you cannot turn it out on any other. 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." Beowulf defeats Grendel, but his victory is important because it give us a lot of information about Beowulf's character. Using the symbolism of the sun, light, bees, etc. explain what you learned about Beowulf's character and why he was able to defeat Grendel. Go beyond the literal meaning of the text - this is how you show me that you are an honors level thinker!

P 5 & 7: Chapter 6 Work No work for this chapter for periods 5 & 7 only

Chapter 7 Work Read the chapter Period 2: No work for this chapter Periods 5 & 7: Make a short comic of the Sigemund & Fitela story. Does not have to be in color and can be stick figures. MUST have a caption for each frame/picture in your comic. (You need to know the story of Sigemund and Fitela to understand Part III of the book so I want you to have a visual summary.)

Period 2 only: Chapter 8 Work Read the chapter “She was too much a part of evil to ever die.” (p. 54) – Explain this quote and what it tells you about Grendel’s mother. “Something that would press him to its hideous heart and make him welcome as its own.” Explain this quote by answering the questions below:  Who said it/was speaking?  Why did they say it?  What did they mean?

P 5 & 7: Chapter 8 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Chapter 8 work:  Why is it significant (important) that Aeschere was stabbed in the back?  That it was Unferth's dagger that was used? 

Period 2: Chapter 9 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Beowulf laughed as he jumped into the pool to face Grendel’s mother. Answer the questions below: Why did he laugh? What does it tell you about his character? This is not a simple/short answer so please show me that you put some significant thought into it.

P 5 & 7: Chapter 9 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Explain how you would feel if you were one of Beowulf’s men watching him jump into the pool. Would you think he was crazy? Why or why not? Explain Would you think he was going to survive? Why or why not? Explain

Period 2: Chapter 10 Work Read the chapter Why did Beowulf need to succumb to Grendel’s mother to kill her? Be sure to explain your answer. Why do you think that Grendel's mother melted when she died?  Think about our theme of good vs. evil and relate that theme/idea to your answer.  Be sure to think about Grendel's mother as evil itself, not just as a creepy monster.

Period 5&7: Chapter 10 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary Why did Beowulf need to succumb (give in) to Grendel’s mother to kill her? Why would he have died if he had kept trying to fight with her? Be sure to explain your answer.

Period 2: Chapter 11 Work Read the chapter What does Beowulf mean when he says, “Please don’t think of me as some sort of saint. That would make me as monstrous as Grendel, although in the other direction.” (p. 76) Who said this? When in the book did they say it? What does it reveal about their character? What does it mean?  Be specific! Be thorough!

P 5 & 7: Chapter 11 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part II test

Period 2: Chapter 12 Work Read the chapter Explain the symbolism (thoroughly) in the last paragraph on page 77 (starts on page 77 and ends on the top of 78). Be sure think carefully about the colors used, the singing, the raven, the other birds singing and Beowulf’s toothache. This is a complicated answer so spend some time on it.

P 5 & 7: Chapter 12 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part II test Pick 2 symbols and explain them from the last paragraph on page 77 (starts on page 77 and ends on the top of 78). Be sure think carefully about the colors used, the singing, the raven, the other birds singing and Beowulf’s toothache.

Period 2: Chapter 13 Work Read the chapter P. 87: King Onela does not stay to fight Beowulf. Based on this action would you say he is a coward or would you say that he is shrewd? Explain your reasoning. This is a complicated answer so spend some time on it. DUE AT THE END OF P2 TODAY! This is also a persuasive answer so you must State your position clearly Address counterarguments

P 5 & 7: Chapter 13 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part III test In a well written paragraph, explain why Beowulf did not want to be king the first time he was asked.  Explain what you can learn about his character from this.

Period 2: Chapter 14 Work Read the chapter P.88: Beowulf has Eadgils avenge Hardred’s death by killing Onela. Is this consistent with Beowulf’s character as we have seen it in the book so far? Why or why not? Explain. This is a complicated answer so spend some time on it. This is also a character analysis so be sure to state your opinion of Beowulf’s character and how this event is/is not consistent with it.

P 5 & 7: Chapter 14 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part III test Did you think Beowulf did the right thing by avenging Hardred's death?  Why or why not?  Explain!

Period 2: Chapter 15 Work Read the chapter Why does the fact that Beowulf does not use swords against the fire drake make him a true hero? This is a complicated answer so spend some time on it. This answer requires you to: Define what you consider to be a true hero Explain clearly why not using the sword makes Beowulf a true hero

P 5 & 7: Chapter 15 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part III test Why do you think Beowulf picked Wiglaf (other than Wiglaf was small and could fit through the crack in the rock) to go fight the firedrake?  Explain.  Remember to think about how Beowulf can see good even in the most evil person and can make weaknesses into strengths.

Period 2: Chapter 16 Work Read the chapter P. 102 – 2nd full paragraph – why does Beowulf say the world “…must have an ordinary kind of hero to believe in.”? This is a complicated answer so spend some time on it. This answer requires you to: Define what is an “ordinary kind of hero”? Explain why the world can’t handle (in Beowulf’s opinion) knowing how he really killed the firedrake

P 5 & 7: Chapter 16 Work Read the chapter Write a short summary of the chapter Start studying your vocabulary and characters for the part III test “‘There is Beowulf's grave.’  And no one saw it without feeling an inch taller where he stood."  What does this quote mean?  Explain.  Why do people feel this way?  Explain.