Year 6 - English
Beowulf and the dragon
'Beowulf': reading
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and explore a translation and adaptation of the Old English epic poem 'Beowulf', written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. They explore the language and the context of the poem and then explore and discuss the chapters sequentially, gaining strong comprehension.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe and discuss how Beowulf responds to the threat of a dragon and you can connect the story to different themes.
Key Notes
- Beowulf becomes king of Geatland and he reigns for 50 years.
- A dragon is provoked to attack the Geats and Beowulf wants to fight it; his young cousin Wiglaf objects.
- Beowulf's sword is useless against the dragon and it bites him; he is able to slay the dragon, but he is wounded.
- As he dies, Beowulf asks Wiglaf to ensure that a barrow is built for him so that his memory lives on.
- We can link stories like 'Beowulf' to themes or big ideas that they raise.
Vocabulary To Learn
- summarise: pull out the key information and ideas from the text
- prediction: an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
- theme: a central idea of a text that the author wants us to think deeply about
- debate: a formal discussion about a question or subject held in public
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may believe that a prediction is a pure guess.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Beowulf becomes king of Geatland and he reigns for 50 years. A dragon is provoked to attack the Geats and Beowulf wants to fight it; his young cousin Wiglaf objects.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'summarise'
pull out the key information and ideas from the text.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may believe that a prediction is a pure guess. Correction: Our predictions are educated guesses based on what we have read already; when we make a prediction, we should explain how it connects to what we know about characters and plot.
More Lessons In This Unit
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