Exploring Anglo-Saxon Boasting

Yewell·

Literature

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At a Glance

Grade Level12th Grade

SubjectLiterature

Original Prompt

Lesson Plan: The Anglo-Saxon Hero Builder (Expanded Edition) Unit: Beowulf & The Anglo-Saxons Time: 50 Minutes Kansas Standards: RL.11-12.6: Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement). Focus: The "Boast" as a cultural contract. SL.11-12.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions. Learning Goals Simulation: Students wil...

This learning resource focuses on the Anglo-Saxon cultural practice of boasting, particularly as showcased in the epic poem 'Beowulf'. It emphasizes the importance of a warrior's reputation and lineage, illustrating how boasting serves not merely as bragging, but as a formal declaration of one's intentions and abilities. Students will learn key vocabulary such as 'beot', 'kenning', and 'wyrd', facilitating a deeper understanding of Anglo-Saxon values. The resource includes activities for character creation and formal boasting, prompting students to generate unique heroes through a simulation involving lineage, weapons, heroic attributes, and flaws. By crafting their own boasts, students will reflect on how these traits contribute to character development and explore the social and cultural implications of boasting within the context of Anglo-Saxon society.