Key learning points

1. In Chapter 4, Grendel comes to Heorot and kills Leofric.
2. Beowulf attacks and he snaps off Grendel's arm, which makes the Geats think that Grendel must then die.
3. Beowulf and the Geats are rewarded by King Hrothgar for ridding the Danes of Grendel.
4. Authors describe and develop characters' traits through their actions, dialogue and interactions.
5. This process of character development is called characterisation and we can find evidence of it in texts.

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

• Characterisation - the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story through their actions, thoughts, dialogue and interactions with others

• Evidence - information or facts to show something is true

Common misconception