Beowulf among the Danes
I can outline the key events in the third chapter of ‘Beowulf’ and I can gather evidence from the text to support an idea.
Beowulf among the Danes
I can outline the key events in the third chapter of ‘Beowulf’ and I can gather evidence from the text to support an idea.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Beowulf arrives at Heorot, the Danish court, and he explains his plan to defeat Grendel to King Hrothgar.
- One Dane, Unferth, confronts Beowulf and says that he stands no chance against Grendel.
- We are given the impression that Beowulf is very confident and that Unferth is very rude.
- We can find evidence within the text to support these impressions.
- Authors may consciously create impressions by dropping hints in a text.
Keywords
Prediction - an educated guess based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
In role - when you take on the perspective of a character in a text
Impressions - initial feelings about a person, place or thing gained from reading a text
Evidence - information or facts to show something is true
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to find evidence within the text to support an idea.
Ensure pupils have read or followed the text themselves before attempting the tasks so that they are familiar with where to look for information.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2013 Oxford Children’s Classics edition of ‘Beowulf’ written by Kevin Crossley-Holland and illustrated by Charles Keeping for this lesson.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
fighting
not worried about consequences
armour covering the torso
container for alcohol
noisy and energetic
bejewelled, decorated
large and strong
thick, long pillow