Beowulf - Study Guide

 Click here for a sample section of Beowulf Study Guide!    Check out the E-Guide version, available immediately!    

ALA Notable Book Award. 

Beowulf is the first great English, Anglo-Saxon, literary epic, chronicling a hero's exploits as northern European clans teeter between Christianity and the old religions.

A monster, Grendel, has descended on Heorot, mead hall of King Hrothgar, bringing death and chaos for 12 years.

Beowulf, hero of the Geats, travels to the land of the Danes to free them from Grendel's grasp. With boldness and God's help, Beowulf defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother when she comes seeking vengeance.

Finally, at the end of a long reign as king of the Geats, Beowulf faces a dragon to save his people and burn his name into the pages of history.

Through Seamus Heaney's gripping translation of this epic, Beowulf, students will learn:

Historical Background: 8th-10th century A.D.

Author Biography: Learn about the Beowulf poet.

Before-You-Read Activities: Mapping, manuscripts, Old English, music, folk heroes.

Vocabulary words used throughout the novel, utilizing a variety of activities to stimulate retention and growth.

Literary Techniques: In context, Old English Poetic Forms - (alliteration, kenning, maxims), characterization, Anglo-Saxon boast, foreshadowing, irony, allusion, compare/contrast, tone, synonym, dramatic structure, plot, hero.

Moral Lessons and Character Values: Good kings/leaders, authority, fate, boasting, fame, immortality, death, revenge, care for the needy, put God first, wealth. 

Activities and Writing Assignments: Burial mounds, mead halls, art, write a boast, drama, crossword, essays, poetry, music, cooking, family heirloom, swords, wordsearch, runes, dragons, journalism, women in Anglo-Saxon history, game design, architecture, chain mail. 

Suggestions for Further Reading:  We include an in-depth reading list of other books that tie in with, or are similar to, Beowulf. 

All of the unit lessons are written from a Christian worldview!

Features and Benefits of the study guide

 Printed Workbook Format

• Large 8.5x11 format is convenient to read and easy on the eyes
• Every question has plenty of whitespace for student’s answers
• Encourages neat and clean handwriting practice
• Easily transports without the need for a laptop or other expensive equipment
• Provides a permanent record of the student’s work
• Convenient, removable answer key included for the teacher!

 CD Format

• Provides the study guide in universally compatible PDF format (works on Mac AND Windows)
• No costly software purchases necessary
• Our Interactive Study Guide should be opened with the FREE Adobe Reader program. With the interactive feature, students have the capability of entering their answers directly on the computer and saving their work in progress.
  Note: Mobile Devices/Tablets may require alternative app that supports and saves fillable form fields.
• Or choose to conveniently print what you need, when you need it:
  • Print the whole guide at once
  • Print single lessons or pages as the student completes them
  • Print multiple copies of the entire guide for classroom sets
• Easy to use with multiple students
• Complete separate answer key file included for the teacher!

Check out our other high school literature curriculum titles!