Beowulf is the longest epic poem in Old English, written between the 8th Beowulf and the early 11th century. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. It is centred around the heroic deeds of a great warrior, who kills monsters and fights all kinds of different enemies, including a dragon.
 The story highlights the values traditionally associated with the epic genre: courage in battle, loyalty to one’s chief and people, strength, generosity and endurance. The poem is set in Scandinavia.
 This adaptation is written in modern narrative form and contains dossiers about epic poetry, the language used, and the historical and cultural context.
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Key to Summing-up Activities.
 
 Beowulf è il più lungo poema in Old English. Narra le eroiche imprese di un grande e valoroso guerriero che uccide mostri e combatte contro nemici di ogni genere, tra cui un terribile drago. La storia esalta tutti i valori tradizionalmente associati all’epica: coraggio, lealtà, generosità e resilienza. Una stimolante lettura che offre anche approfondimenti sulla poesia epica, la lingua usata, e riferimenti al periodo storico e culturale.

Beowulf: Presentation

Chapter 1 – Grendel the Monster

Extension: Epic poetry

Chapter 2 – Grendel’s Death

Extension: The Anglo-Saxons

Chapter 3 – The End of the Monster

Extension: The language of Beowulf

Chapter 4 – The King and the Dragon

Extension: Graves and treasure

Chapter 5 – Beowulf’s Barrow

Extension: Beowulf ’s influence

Summing-up activities

Glossary

1 5 ???? Beowulf s Barrow Chapter BEFORE READING 1 The story so far. Decide if the following sentences are true or false. Then correct the false statements. T F a. Beowulf became king immediately after King Hygelac s death. b. Beowulf won thirty sets of armour during a raid. c. Beowulf reigned for forty years. d. There was a large quantity of treasure under a stone barrow. e. The man who stole the goblet was looking for the treasure. f. When the dragon woke up, he immediately saw that something had been stolen. g. The dragon attacked as soon as the sun went down. h. Only eleven men went to the dragon s barrow with Beowulf. i. Beowulf told his men not to help him in the fight. j. Beowulf killed the dragon with his sword. 2 Making predictions. Answer the following questions discussing them with your partner. a. Who do you think will become king after Beowulf  s death? Why? b. Who will get the treasure that Beowulf conquered from the dragon? c. How will his people honour him after his death? 3 Describe the following picture showing a ship burial. 72 

Beowul Beowulf s Barrow Chapter 5 Beowulf smiled at Wiglaf and said,  If I had a son, he would now become king after me. But I never had the fortune of a son. It s sad, but a thought comforts me: I know that God will be kind to me when I appear in front of him! I ve been a good man and a good king. I ve been ruling my people for fifty years and no foreign king has had the courage to attack our country. I ve given them peace and prosperity. I ve feared nobody, I ve never told a lie, I ve never done a bad action.  Beowulf was very tired, but he went on speaking,  Hurry now, Wiglaf, go into the barrow and bring some treasure here. I want to see those jewels and that gold before I die.  So Wiglaf left him and ran to the barrow. Inside he saw an enormous quantity of treasure. A standard1, all made of gold, shone2 in the dark like a lamp. There were splendid jewels and gold, but also goblets, plates, helmets and ancient swords that were eaten by rust3. Wiglaf took the beautiful standard and all the precious objects that he could hold. Then he hurried back to the place where he had left the king, hoping to find him still alive. Beowulf had lost a lot of blood and was dying, but he looked at the gold and said,  I thank God that I can leave this treasure to my people. It has cost my life! Wiglaf, I want you to be king after me. Remember: always think about the needs of the people and protect them!  With his last few breaths he continued,  Tell my men to build a barrow on a high cliff on the coast. After the funeral, put my ashes4 inside it. So, in the future, the sailors who pass near the coast will see it and will remember me. They ll call it Beowulf s barrow.  1. standard: a flag that represents a nation, a sovereign, or a specific issue. 2. shone (shine-shone-shone): sent out light. 3. rust: a red-brown substance that forms with time on the surface of iron, as a result of oxidation. 4. ashes: the substance that remains after a body is burned. 73 

"Beowulf," il più lungo poema in Old English, narra le eroiche imprese di un guerriero. Con approfondimenti su epica, lingua, valori tradizionali

Beowulf Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

Beowulf

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