Beowulf and the dragon
I can describe and discuss how Beowulf responds to the threat of a dragon and I can connect the story to different themes.
Beowulf and the dragon
I can describe and discuss how Beowulf responds to the threat of a dragon and I can connect the story to different themes.
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
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.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
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).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
predicted
destroyed
surrounded, encircled
killed