Starter quiz
- Where is Beowulf now heading?
- Denmark
- Geatland ✓
- England
- Heorot
-
- How will Beowulf return home?
- by car
- by horse ✓
- by boat ✓
- on foot
- by magic
-
- Who currently rules Geatland at this point of the poem?
- Hrothgar
- Wealhtheow
- Hygelac ✓
- Beowulf
-
- What has Beowulf achieved on his mission?
- defeated two monsters ✓
- made Denmark safe again ✓
- become king of Denmark
- become king of Geatland
- made peace between Denmark and Geatland ✓
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- How does Hrothgar feel about Beowulf leaving Denmark?
- delighted
- devastated ✓
- hopeful
- relieved
- worried
-
- What does Hrothgar suggest should happen to Beowulf?
- he should be the next king of the Geats ✓
- he should be the next king of the Danes
- he should be the next king of England
- he should return again to Grendel's mother's lair to bring back her head
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Exit quiz
- Match the following words to their meanings.
- foretold⇔predicted ✓
- gutted⇔destroyed ✓
- girdled⇔surrounded, encircled ✓
- slaughtered⇔killed ✓
- Which character stole treasure from the dragon, provoking it to attack?
- Beowulf
- a slave ✓
- Hygelac
- Wiglaf
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- Which of the following are destroyed by the dragon's fiery breath?
- wooden buildings in the Geat stronghold ✓
- Wiglaf's stone hall
- Wiglaf's shield ✓
- Beowulf's shield
-
- Why does Wiglaf not want Beowulf to fight the dragon alone?
- because he is old ✓
- because he is unfit
- because the other warriors have sworn to protect him ✓
- because he wants glory for himself
-
- Who lands the blow that kills the dragon?
- Wiglaf
- Beowulf's son
- a Geat warrior
- Beowulf ✓
-
- What two things does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do as he lies dying?
- show him the dragon's treasure ✓
- ensure that a barrow is built to commemorate him ✓
- remove his sword from the dragon's head
- bring the warriors to him so he can tell them off
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Worksheet
Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Beowulf becomes king of Geatland and he reigns for 50 years.
- A dragon is provoked to attack the Geats and Beowulf wants to fight it; his young cousin Wiglaf objects.
- Beowulf's sword is useless against the dragon and it bites him; he is able to slay the dragon, but he is wounded.
- As he dies, Beowulf asks Wiglaf to ensure that a barrow is built for him so that his memory lives on.
- We can link stories like 'Beowulf' to themes or big ideas that they raise.
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that a prediction is a pure guess.
Our predictions are educated guesses based on what we have read already; when we make a prediction, we should explain how it connects to what we know about characters and plot.
Keywords
Summarise - pull out the key information and ideas from the text
Prediction - an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Theme - a central idea of a text that the author wants us to think deeply about
Debate - a formal discussion about a question or subject held in public
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