Beowulf & Anglo-Saxon Unit Plans (with intro to Brit Lit course)

 

Unit Length: 20 days

Click here for all resources.

 

Day 1

 

1. Journal: Why are you here?
2. Suggest comfortable seating positions – I’ll make the chart soon.

3. Get books, if available.

4. Assign Anglo-Saxon Study Guide - Due Next Tuesday, 2/4.

    - Take a look at the book.

    - You may do both Anglo-Saxon and Medieval now, together, for both study guides or you may choose to do AS now and Medieval later.

 

Day 2

 

1. Journal: Why do we read literature? Why do we study it?
2. Suggest comfortable seating positions – I’ll make the chart soon.

3. Get books, if needed (new students).

4. Review materials: portfolio, pencil, ink, paper, Hamlet book eventually.

5. Discuss last two day’s journals: Why are you here? And why do we read/study lit?

            Values, values, values!

6. Reader’s Workshop: Preparing for Beowulf

    a. Common Themes: Heroism, Bravery, Valor, Fate, Doom

        -informal notes: Where they were from and how they lived their lives.

    b. The twist: Christianity

    c. If time, return to the themes above to decide where we stand before we look at where we came from.

7. HW: Read and know pp. 28-31 for tomorrow.

 

Day 3

 

1. Journal: When you think of an Epic story, what comes to mind?  Give characteristics and examples.  Finally, what is your favorite Epic?  Why?
2. Reader's Workshop
    a. Pass out Literary Terms handout; discuss expectations.

    b. Discuss Background reading (pp. 28-31)

        1) Epic Qualities

        2) Language: Stock Epithets, Kennings, Alliteration

    c. Background Notes: Anglo-Saxons enriched & the story of Beowulf.

3. Go ahead and start reading Beowulf: pp. 30 – 40 should do nicely by Monday.  Why so long?  You’ll need to read it a couple times to really get a feel for it.  Take a section at a time.

4. Reminder: Anglo-Saxon-Medieval Study Guide due Tuesday, 2/4.

 

Day 4

 

1. Journal: none

2. Student Workshop – Media Center Computers

    a. Welcome to today’s lesson plan!

    b. Fill out student information form now.  Distribute Parent Letter and Assign: Parent Information form due Tuesday, 2/4. (Automatic 10 points extra credit when your parents’ form is delivered.)

    c. Guided site tour: plans, policies, grades, scoring guides, help etc.  I will expect that you will read and know the policies.

    d. Bit of a scavenger hunt, and free exploration.

3. Reminders:

    a. Anglo-Saxon-Medieval Study Guide due Tuesday, 2/4.

    b. Parent Information Form due Tuesday, 2/4.

    c. Read Beowulf, pp. 30-40 by Monday.

    d. Have your portfolio in class next week.

 

Day 5

 

1. Journal: Describe your idea of a Viking.

2. Seating Chart.

3. Announce new Grades weights (40-30-30) and the cancellation of Enrichment.  Assign have portfolio by end of the week.

4. Reader’s Workshop

    a. Finish Anglo-Saxon Enrichment Notes

    b. Review Kennings and Alliteration, Epic Qualities and Values

    c. Read Intro to Beowulf from old book together and aloud; look for epic, language, and general qualities. Trace genealogy.

    d. As time allows, read Grendel together.

5. Reminders:
    a. Anglo-Saxon (Medieval) Study Guides due tomorrow.

    b. Parent Orientation Forms due tomorrow (electronic is extra credit!).

    c. Have your portfolio materials in class by Friday.

 

Day 6

 

1. Journal: How did you react to the section on Grendel?  Was it evil enough?  Scary enough?  Capture the general idea, mood, and tone of the Grendel section in your own 5 to 7 sentence paragraph re-vision of the section. Be aware you may be asked to share.
2. Turn in Anglo-Saxon (& Medieval if desired) Study guides; Turn in paper Parent Forms if needed.

3. Reader’s Workshop – The Character of Evil
    a. Share responses to the first part of the journal: reactions and evaluation of the description of evil.

    b. The role of evil in such an epic – their culture: the role of evil in our culture.  Do we view it differently?

    c. Read from Grendel as suggested by class discussion.

    d. Share our own scary versions of the Grendel section.

4. HW: Review the Beowulf section well this evening.

5. Reminder: Have portfolio materials in class by Friday.


Day 7

 

1. Journal: Reactions to Beowulf so far. Reactions to Beowulf so far.
2. Turn in late study guides.

3. Reader/Writer Workshop – A Question of Greatness
    a. Discuss journal, specifically our reactions to Beowulf’s introduction.

    b. Read from Beowulf as suggested by class discussion, especially his self-description.  In what ways is he arrogant?  In what ways is he humble?  Do you see Christian influences in his speech?

    c. The values revealed in Beowulf’s speech?

    d. How’s your self-esteem?  The Anglo Saxon Resume:

        1) Write rough draft only tonight – we will revise tomorrow.

        2) You will turn in a FC and RRD with your speech.

4. Reminder: Have portfolio materials in class by Friday.

Day 8

 

1. Journal: Did you find drafting the AS Resume difficult or easy? Explain. Even if you didn't find it hard, explain why it is difficult for many people to verbalize what is good about themselves.
2. Writer’s Workshop – revising AS Resume

    a. Review Anglo-Saxon techniques to include

        - formal & heroic tone, blank verse, kennings, alliteration, powerful diction

    b. draft, peer read (extra credit – be sure to sign draft), and revise as needed

    c. Final copy read to the class tomorrow; turn in final copy with RRD after speech.
3.
Reminder: Have portfolio materials in class by tomorrow.

Day 9

 

1. Journal: none

2. Anglo Saxon Resume’ Reading

    a. Present your Anglo Saxon Resume to the class; turn in final copy and RRD after you give your speech.

    b. If time, read along with The Battle with Grendel.

3. Make sure your portfolio materials are in the box and clearly labeled with your name.

 

Day 10

 

1. Journal: none

2. Make sure portfolios are in the box and clearly labeled.

3. Make-Up/Late Anglo-Saxon Resumes

4. Reader’s Workshop

    a. Listen to and read along with The Battle with Grendel.

    b. Comments or Discussion as needed.

    c. We read: Grendel’s Mother and The Battle with Grendel’s Mother together as time allows.

    d. Comments or Discussion as needed.

5. HW: Finish reading the rest of Beowulf from wherever we left off.

 

Day 11

 

1. Journal (separate - to turn in): Describe Beowulf's demise.  Then, explain what you think led to that demise and what theme you think can be learned from it.
2. Turn in journal.
3
. Project Workshop
    a. Assign Beowulf Project: (overhead with notes and the copy you printed from home)
    b. Brainstorm ideas, form groups (if appropriate), begin planning.
    c.
Project proposal due by End of Period.

4. Due dates for Beowulf Project: RD: tba; RRD: tba; FC: tba.

 

Day 12

 

1. Journal: What are you going to have to do to make sure your project is excellent? What questions do you have? What materials do you need? Do you need to use the library or computer lab?  If so, when do you plan to do that?
2.
Project Workshop
    a. Check in late Project Proposals – may have to be tomorrow as the school is taking me from class today.
    b. Work with groups or individually to draft project.
    c. Conference with teacher as needed.

3. Due dates for Beowulf Project: RD: tba; RRD: tba; FC: tba.

 

Day 13

 

1. Richard Wilbur's Beowulf: Distribute and Read (once silently; once aloud).
2. Journal: Respond to the poem in any way you wish.
3. Reader's Workshop
    a. Small Group: (3 members) discuss poem, analyze for technique, generate themes
    b.
SPECIAL NOTE: Each member take notes as you can use them during the TW next class meeting.

4. Due dates for Beowulf Project: RD: tba; RRD: tba; FC: tba.

 

Day 14

 

1. Journal: None
2.
TIMED WRITING: Richard Wilbur's Beowulf – Place in portfolio when done.

3. Bring all project materials with you for the rest of the week.

 

Day 15

 

1. Journal: (2 part)  Discuss how you did on your timed writing yesterday.  What went well for you and what was difficult?  Then, discuss your exact plan for getting your project done, including a time frame.
2. Project Workshop
    a. Discuss due dates: RD due: 2/21; RRD due: 2/25; FC due 2/28.  Schedule presentations if needed.

    b. Prepare Rough Drafts – work as needed.
    c. Have Rough Draft checked if ready.

3. Bring all project materials with you for the rest of the week.

 

Day 16

 

1. Journal: Connect the story of Beowulf to modern literary works and media.  Draw some conclusions about what our culture might still retain from the Anglo-Saxons of so long ago.

2. Project Workshop
    a.
Check in RDs, Peer Reads, RRDs and schedule presentations as appropriate.
    b. Elicit peer evaluators.  Evaluators must write up recommendations and sign.  Use the rubric plus the author’s own set criteria to write up your evaluation.

    c. Revise and perfect.

 

Day 17

 

1. Journal: none
2. MOVIE: 13th Warrior
3. Have RRDs and peer reads checked in as appropriate.

4. REMINDER: FC of Beowulf Project due 2/28. Schedule equipment for M 3/3 today.

5. Assign Medieval Study Guide due 3/3.

 

Day 18

 

1. Journal: none
2. MOVIE: 13th Warrior
3. Have RRDs and peer reads checked in as appropriate.

4. REMINDERS:

    a. FC of Beowulf Project due 2/28.

    b. Medieval Study Guide due 3/3.

 

Day 19

 

1. Journal: none
2. Finish MOVIE: 13th Warrior

3. Riddle Workshop
    a. Form groups of 3.
    b. Translate each of the five riddles phrase by phrase.
    c. Solve the riddles.
    d. First group to translate and solve all riddles correctly receives 10 points Extra Credit.  Second, 7 points; Third, 5 points.  Everyone else finish for 2 points.

4. Finish up any peer reading and polishing on your project; have RRDs and peer reads checked if appropriate.
5. REMINDERS:

    a. FC of Beowulf Project due 2/28.

    b. Medieval Study Guide due 3/3.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

Day 20

 

1. Journal: none
2. Timed Writing: The 13th Warrior

3. REMINDERS:

    a. FC of Beowulf Project due today or Monday.

    b. Medieval Study Guide due 3/3.

4. Assign read Chaucer’s background and Prologue by next Wednesday.