Year 6 - English
Beowulf completes his Danish mission
'Beowulf': reading
Study Hub
Study Guides
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 events in the second half of Chapter 5 and you can discuss how Beowulf fulfils the role of a hero.
Key Notes
- Having defeated Grendel's mother, Beowulf returns to Heorot a hero.
- Beowulf wants to return home to Geatland; King Hrothgar sadly lets him go, rewarding him once more.
- Heroes are common in mythology and epic poetry and they have certain typical attributes.
- These attributes might include courage, determination, physical strength, compassion and leadership.
- Beowulf has demonstrated these attributes throughout his time in Denmark.
Vocabulary To Learn
- kenning: a phrase of two words that replaces a noun that is often used in Old English poetry
- summarise: pull out the key information and ideas from the text
- hero: a protagonist with noble qualities, often saving or helping others
- attributes: qualities or features of a person's personality
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may struggle with the concept of 'fate' raised in the lesson.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Having defeated Grendel's mother, Beowulf returns to Heorot a hero. Beowulf wants to return home to Geatland; King Hrothgar sadly lets him go, rewarding him once more.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'kenning'
a phrase of two words that replaces a noun that is often used in Old English poetry.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may struggle with the concept of 'fate' raised in the lesson. Correction: Discuss the idea of being 'fated' to experience something, using examples - for instance, happening to meet a partner in a particular place might be described as 'fated' to happen.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 English guide library.