Teaching Beowulf in the Modern Classroom

Are you an English teacher like me, searching for innovative ways to engage your students in classic literature? Look no further! This blog post is a must-read for us, as it unveils fresh ideas to teach Beowulf with a 21st-century multimodal approach.

I want to share how I transformed this ancient epic into a dynamic and interactive experience for both in-person and digital learners. Join me on this epic journey as I delve into a multimodal approach to Beowulf that is sure to excite your students.

You can find our engaging and comprehensive Beowulf mini unit here!

Challenges you may face teaching Beowulf

Teaching Beowulf in the modern classroom presents a set of unique challenges for English teachers. Some of the common obstacles you may encounter include:

Language and Vocabulary: Beowulf is written in Old English, which can be difficult for students to comprehend due to its unfamiliar vocabulary, syntax, and grammar.

Cultural and Historical Context: Beowulf is deeply rooted in Anglo-Saxon culture and history. It is also their version of a Viking heroic tale. Both of these aspects can feel distant and unfamiliar to contemporary students. English teachers need to bridge the cultural and historical gaps.

Length and Complexity: Beowulf is a lengthy epic poem, consisting of approximately 3,182 lines. Its intricate narrative structure and multiple characters can be overwhelming for students, especially those who are not accustomed to reading such complex texts.

Lack of Connection to Students’ Lives: Beowulf is a story set in a distant past. It features heroes, monsters, and battles. These elements may seem detached from the everyday lives of modern students. Engaging students and making the text relevant to their experiences can be a challenge. There are creative ways to establish connections and demonstrate the enduring themes and universal human experiences seen in Beowulf.

Engaging Digital Learners: In the age of digital learning, teachers face the additional challenge of engaging students. These students are accustomed to multimedia and interactive experiences. Capturing their attention and interest in a text like Beowulf requires incorporating technology. Interactive activities and various modes of learning also cater to different learning styles.

How can teachers teach Beowulf in the modern age?

Overcoming these challenges requires creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of students’ needs and interests. By addressing these obstacles head-on, you can create a rich and rewarding learning experience. It will be centered around the timeless themes and captivating narrative of Beowulf.

First, we begin by bridging the gap on language and length. The podcast Myths and Legends created a 3-part series on Beowulf. The host brings his dry humor and occasional modern day connections along with a detailed summary of the entire epic poem. For each episode, there are listening sheets that act as guided notes so that students get all the details of the story.

However, there is so much to be said for students also reading and analyzing the text! To accomplish this, passages were carefully selected to compliment each section of the story being told in the podcast. With each passage, students are asked guiding questions to dig deeper into the story and its major themes.

Managing the length and complexity of Beowulf

By combining the podcast and the bite-sized passages, students focus more on the elements of the story instead of the barrier of the language. You also speed up the length of the study without sacrificing depth in this manner as well.

You could also consider pairing the 2007 movie after completing the story analysis to consider how the changes in the character actions impact the theme of a work. If you choose to go this route, you tap even further into critical thinking skills by having them contrast the actions of both versions of this epic hero.

Modern connections with Beowulf

Weaving in clips of the 2007 movie is a fantastic way to make modern connections with students. Starting out with this clip of Beowulf boasting about killing sea monsters always gets students riled up. This is a great time to discuss how boasting was a form of showing how fit for the job you are (similar to today when a potential employer will ask you “What are your best qualities?”).

This leads into having students boast like Beowulf themselves!

Truly there are so many reasons why you should have your students complete a Boast Like Beowulf activity (besides it just being FUN!).

Beowulf, as an epic hero, is known for his boastful nature. By asking students to boast like Beowulf, they are prompted to delve into the character’s mindset, motivations, and the cultural context that celebrates boasting as a form of honor and reputation. This activity allows students to explore the complexities of Beowulf’s character and gain insights into the values and expectations of the time.

Another connection with this Boast Like Beowulf Activity is that boasting is not confined to the world of Beowulf; it resonates with the contemporary culture of social media and self-promotion. By exploring how boasting is a timeless aspect of human nature, students can draw connections between Beowulf’s world and their own.

This exploration facilitates a deeper understanding of the text’s relevance and enduring themes.

You can download this activity for FREE here!

Other teachers’ thoughts on our approach to Beowulf

Several other teachers have had similar success with this mini unit:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Kim C.

My students loved this resource! It engaged them and helped guide them through the challenging content, and I found it to be fairly adaptable for various overall units. I used it primarily for in person learning, but it also worked well for students who were on digital while we completed it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Kyle L.

This resource is perfect for the hybrid classroom. I was very worried about teaching Beowulf this year but this had everything I needed to keep my students engaged.

⭐⭐⭐⭐- Southern ELA Teacher 

This was great to supplement our study of Beowulf. I had a sub for two days in the middle of the unit and this was easy for them to do without losing content days. After our test, several students said that the podcast helped them remember important facts.

Find this Beowulf mini unit here!

Final takeaway

Don’t let the fear of student disinterest or time constraints hold you back from teaching Beowulf! With our Beowulf mini unit, you can expose your students to the greatness of this epic tale in a condensed and exciting way. By utilizing the engaging podcast episodes from Myths and Legends and excerpts from Seamus Heaney’s version of Beowulf, this mini unit will engage your students and make the most of your limited time.

The fast-paced and fun nature of this mini unit will appeal to your students. It will allow them to explore the world of hero culture in a dynamic and interactive manner. They will be hooked from start to finish!

As the teacher, you will love this mini unit because it strikes the perfect balance between efficiency and academic rigor. The comprehensive materials are provided, including a breakdown of the unit.

There are engaging PowerPoint presentations and handouts with podcast episodes and text excerpts. A movie viewing guide and writing prompts are also included. These materials ensure that your students receive a well-rounded and thorough understanding of Beowulf.

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