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.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Beowulf among the Danes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Beowulf among the Danes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the 'Beowulf': reading unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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
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