Beowulf



 

Basics
from Google Books

Stories of Beowulf 
by Henrietta Marshall
Can be used for accommodations within the classroom or with younger students

from booksshouldbefree.com

Stories of Beowulf  
by Henrietta Marshall
Audio download

from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland

"Beowulf for Beginners"
Includes audio of Old English readings, hypertext retelling, and background info providing historical and cultural context

Background
from the
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) at readwritethink.org:

An introduction to the language and poetics of  Beowulf

Provides a brief overview of alliteration, compounding, kennings and formulas

An online guide providing "an overview of the poem, details on its language and poetics, and an exploration of the translations of the work" 

from omniglot.com:

Anglo Saxon runes

from Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Id:

PowerPoint using info from Black Cat Publishing, Wikipedia, and Dr. Wheeler at Carson-Newman College

from tinablue.homestead.com:

A look at the "solemn, stately rhythms of Anglo-Saxon Alliterative-stress verse"

from eyewitnesstohistory.com:

Well, not "eyewitness" in the sense of a primary source, but "eyewitness" in the sense of a simple retelling of two Beowulf era world-shaping historical events

from Mr. Mocarski and the Burlington Area School District in VT:

A worksheet giving examples of four kinds of kennings

from webenglishteacher.com:

Kenning worksheet

from wikipedia.com:

Note the section "Structured by Battles" through "Structured by Funerals"

from the University of Virginia's Old English Aerobics site at (oldenglishaerobics.net):

This interactive look at parts of Beowulf in Old English includes audio portions

from collaborativelearning.org:

Makes community service sound good

On-line texts
From Project Gutenberg:

Lesslie Hall translation

From Google Books:

Samuel Hardin Church translation


Beowulf unit support
From Dr. Wheeler at Carson-Newman College:

Reading questions and passages for identification

From Michael Delahoyde at Washington State University:

Information on the manuscript, the poem, and the monsters of Beowulf

From Pace University:

Info on characters

From The Real Duke at kealyduke.edublog.org:

Characteristics of a literary hero


From the National Endowment for the Humanities:

Conventions of Anglo-Saxon poetry and the artistry of medieval riddles

From Dana Huff through her blog, huffenglish.com:

Understanding by Design lesson plan which includes writing Beowulf's résumé

From Gwinnett County, Georgia, public schools:

3-day lesson entitled "Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons." Includes "Hero Reaction Guide" worksheet and and literary terms practice sheet.

From Mr. Kasik at Manassas Park High School in Manassas Park, VA:





From the Ramona Unified School District in Romona, CA:

Beowulf vocab, short and extended answer questions, oral response questions

From Sunduss, Amjad, Amany, and Haya (anyone know these guys?):

Characters, themes, key facts, devices

From the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) at readwritethink.org:

Compares translations of Beowulf and asks how and why they differ

Thirteen translations of the poem's lines describing Grendel ripping the door off of Hrothgar's high hall

From Dana Huff through her blog, huffenglish.com:

Four translations of the poem's lines describing Beowulf wrenching Grendel's arm off

Beowulf/Tolkien connection

From the Tolkien Society:

An introduction to Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons. Pronunciation, words and phrases, and Tolkiens "inspiration."


From valarguild.org:

Comparison of Beowulf and Lord of the Rings

From Texas A&M University Commerce at tamu-commerce.edu:

Why The Lord of the RIngs can be central to a secondary AP English curriculum

From JRR Tolkien himself:

Lecture given by Tolkien in November, 1936

From Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Id:

PowerPoint using info from Wikipedia and the Tolkien Society 

Vocabulary

From the University of Aberdeen in Scotland:

Accompanies the wonderful website, "Beowulf for Beginners"

From the quizlet.com:

Site allows student to practice matching device terms with definitions and examples

Practice Quizzes/Tests

From Mr. Rice and North Schuylkill High School:

Multiple choice

From the quizlet.com:


From Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Id:


Activities

From Ms. Whitted at Ranchview High School in Irving, Tx:

Flexible mock trial structure where student teams choose both the crime and the defendant based on characters and events in Beowulf
 

From tes.co.uk (free subscription needed before you can download--great resource site):

Beowulf blank verse
Students write their own blank verse



From the University of Aberdeen in Scotland:

Accompanies the wonderful website, "Beowulf for Beginners"; student's use runes to write a secret message

Beowulf in culture

From Wikipedia:

List makes connections between Beowulf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Star Trek, Outlander, Annie Hall, and Xena: Warrior Princess
 

From salon.com:

List makes connections between Beowulf

Beowulf images

From paddletrips.net:

Comprehensive site with more than images allows you filter info according to the section of the poem you're interested in 
 

From Dr. Benjamin Slade at jnanam.net:

Good image site and info site

Beowulf videos

From YouTube:

A Nena educational music video

Read by Benjamin Bagby:
Beowulf opening lines
Access a series of videos on Beowulf by 60second Recap (listen fast!)

Julian Glover reads Beowulf     
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