Teaching Beowulf

Like what you see? We've also got a complete Online Course about Beowulf, with three weeks worth of readings, activities, assignments, and quizzes.

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Beowulf isn't a "meh" kind of story. You either love it or you hate it.

And frankly, it's easy to see why many people hate it. It's a big ol' wall of impenetrable text, translated or not. But chip away at that wall and you'll have a rousing tale of heroism and one of the most epic epics of all time.

We're going to help you tip the scales into the "love it" category.

In this guide you will find

• pop culture connections starring Lucy Lawless (hello, Xena!), Angelina Jolie, video games, and comic books.
• activities to help students break down gnomic verse like a boss.
• reading quizzes with monsters, mothers, and dragons—oh my!

Remember: Beowulf is legendary (literally) and deserves to be treated as such.

What's Inside Shmoop's Literature Teaching Guides

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring literature to life.

Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:

• 13-18 Common Core-aligned activities to complete in class with your students, including detailed instructions for you and your students. 
• Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students.
• Reading quizzes for every chapter, act, or part of the text.
• Resources to help make the book feel more relevant to your 21st-century students.
• A note from Shmoop’s teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the text and how you can overcome the hurdles.

Want more help teaching Teaching Beowulf?

Check out all the different parts of our corresponding learning guide.