Beowulf

Beowulf is the longest epic poem in the Old English language. This language was spoken by the Anglo-Saxons who lived in what is now current day England in the year 450 AD. The poem is over 300 lines long and follows a hero named Beowulf. When this story first existed it was never written down, but told by memory. This lead to many small changes in the story resulting in multiple versions. This continued until a monk decided to write down the story by hand thus having the first printed copy of Beowulf. Monks then began to make more copies of the story of Beowulf.






















Beowulf is the classic story of a hero who goes on a quest to find treasure and fighting monsters. Beowulf has often been seen as literature's first hero. In the story you will discover elements that make a hero and influence many other heroes such as Harry Potter, Katniss Everdean, and even Percy Jackson.

If you wish to read more about heros or the Anglo-Saxons click on the links below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/

http://historysheroes.e2bn.org/characteristics

References
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/englit/beowulf/
http://historymedren.about.com/od/beowulf/a/beowulf_story.htm

1.For your tasks you are to first watch this TedX video about the Hero's jouney. (I suggest you take notes on each step of the hero's jouney.) You must also read up on what characteristics make a hero a hero in literature. There are links below, but feel free to search on your own for more information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA (TedX video)

Other sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq5Ofb7b4Hs

http://quizlet.com/12321584/13-characteristics-of-an-epic-hero-flash-ca…


2. Next You are to work with a partner and make a comic illustrating a hero's jouney of a modern day hero from a movie, tv or book. This can be Harry Potter, Frodo, or whoever, but they must be able to fit into the steps of a heros journey.

3. Your third task you must work with your partner to create and original story that illustrates a character going through the steps of a hero's journey

4. Lastly you and your partner must compare the story of Beowulf to the movie of Beowulf and talk about how the differences affect Beowulf following the path of a true hero. In the end you must decide which Beowulf (movie or story Beowulf) is the better hero.

If you have any questions please email me, your teacher

krasulmw@miami.edoo

Hero Comic:
Artwork:  
1: Student showed no effort and did not have pictures to illustrate a hero's journey
2: Student showed little effort and partially illustrated a hero's journey
3: Student showed effort and laid out the steps of a hero's journey
4: Student went above and beyond the minimum requirment and easily laid out the steps of a hero's journey

Connection to Modern Day Hero:
1: Unable to make connection between TedX video and choosen hero
2: Connections were made, but little effort put in with no explination
3. Explinations guide reader and explain the connections to the hero's story
4. Clear connection between the hero's journey and the choosen hero's story.

Hero's Jounery:
1: No connection to TedX video
2: Some connection to TedX video
3: Clear connection to TedX video
4: Follows TedX video exactly
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Hero Story:
Elements of a Hero:
1:Includes no elemnets of a hero from TedX video
2:Includes some elements of a hero
3: Includes most elements of a hero
4: Includes all elements of a hero

Spelling & Grammar:
1: Many grammar and spelling mistakes. Unreadable
2: Many grammar and spellinf mistakes, but readable.
3: Few grammar and spelling mistakes.
4: Very few grammar or spelling errors.

Page number:
1: Is 1 page
2: Is 1.5 pages
3: Is 2 or more pages
4: Is 3 or more pages
(No more then 5 pages)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book vs. Movie
Comparisions:
1: 2 or less comparisions made, but not explored or discussed in depth
2: 2 or less comparisions made and semi disscussed in depth
3: 3 or more comparisions made and explored in depth
4: 4 comparisions made and disscussed in depth

Conclusion:
1: No conclusion
2: Weak conclusion that does not give evidence which version is a better hero
3: Solid conclusion picking movie or book as a better hero
4: Great conclusion providing reasons and examples which hero is better, movie or book

Spelling and Grammar: 
1: Many grammar and spelling mistakes. Unreadable
2: Many grammar and spellinf mistakes, but readable.
3: Few grammar and spelling mistakes.
4: Very few grammar or spelling errors.

Page number:
1: 1 page
2: 1.5 pages
3: 2 pages
4: 2.5 pages or more
(no more then four pages)

This ideo of the hero's journey includes many elements. Nearly all of these elements first came from the story that is Beowulf and as a result shaped what our society views as a hero. Batman, Sherlock Holmes, and even Nancy Drew exhibit these qualities of a hero. These hero's jouneries help us see what qualities we should take on in order to save the day in our everyday lives.

This means we should continue to read stories about heros so we can be reminded how to act and proceed in our lives. It is also why stories such as Beowulf will never die.