1. Beowulf

2. Themes The importance of establishing identity
Tensions between the heroic code and other value systems
The meaning of monsters
Pick a theme, apply it to yourself, and write about it.
½ PAGE

3. Beowulf Characters Beowulf The Dragon Grendel Grendel’s Mother
The protagonist of the epic. Beowulf, a Geatish hero, is incredibly strong and able. In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he is a wise and effective ruler.
The Dragon
An ancient, powerful serpent. The dragon, who guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound, is Beowulf’s final nemesis.
Grendel
A demon descended from Cain. Grendel suffers for the sins of Cain, leading a ruthless and miserable existence because God seeks vengeance for Cain’s murder of Abel.
Grendel’s Mother
A swamp-hag. Grendel’s mother possesses fewer human qualities than Grendel. Still, her terrorization of Heorot springs from her understandable anger over her son’s death.
King Hrothgar
The king of Danes. A wise and aged ruler, Hrothgar leads in a different way than the youthful warrior Beowulf does. Hrothgar is a father figure for Beowulf and a model for the kind of king Beowulf will become.

4. Beowulf CONCLUDING Free write
“Beowulf is the archetype of the dragon slayer, the hero who faces death in order to save a threatened community. Does Beowulf remind you of any heroes in real life today? What characteristics do the heroes share? Compare/contrast the heroes.” ½ page