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Overview: You will be working as a class team to plan all aspects of a dramatic production of Beowulf, before you even read the epic. You will be divided into groups. Each group will be given a specific research and decision-making task.
Researchers ~ Costumers ~ Prop persons ~ Tech persons: Scenery and Lighting ~ Authors: Language & Text
Your Final Product ~ Note to TeachersWho wrote this story? What is the important background the audience should know? Who were the Anglo-Saxons and who were the Danish Viking invaders/explorers? When did the Anglo-Saxons become Christian and what was their religion before that? What pictures can you provide (except for costume pictures) to help the audience understand the story and the people who wrote it? How far did Beowulf travel (Denmark coast to Sutton Hoo - map it if possible)?
This group is responsible for gathering information/facts and digital images which can be used to create a PowerPoint slide presentation and a timeline for the audience, and for writing the introductory narration for the play. All of the material you need can be found by following links on the Student Resources page and in the various Beowulf texts and history books available in the classroom. You should work with the Authors, who will be writing a plot summary and some notes about Old English.
Select a Recorder - the person who will keep the print-outs and bibliographic information - this person must be organized! He or she should do a research job as well.
Select an Anglo-Saxon researcher
Select a Dane researcher
Select a Beowulf researcher
Costumers
What would be worn by the people who told and listened to this story? What would be worn by the people in the story?
This group is responsible for deciding how the Anglo-Saxon narrators would dress. They must review historical Sutton Hoo and Danish online materials to decide how to costume Beowulf, the members of Hrothgar's court, and the warriors. They must review illustrated texts to decide how to costume the 3 monsters. They should be prepared to create or organize costumes in a short period of time. All of the material you need can be found by following links on the Student Resources page and in the various Beowulf texts in the classroom. You must work with the Props team.
Select a Recorder - the person who will keep track of all information - this person must be organized! He or she should do a research job as well.
Select an Anglo-Saxon costume researcher & designer
Select a Dane/Sutton Hoo researcher & designer - this might be 2 people
Select a monster illustration researcher & designer - this might be 2 people - monsters are: Grendel and his mother; fire dragon; water monsters
What would be eaten and drunk in the Great Hall? What would be on the floor and on the walls? What music would be heard? What might have been used to clean up a bloody mess? What would Beowulf's sword look like? How about the helmets?
This group is responsible for details of life in both the Anglo-Saxon and Danish worlds relevant to the epic. All of the material you need can be found by following links on the Student Resources page. You must work with the Costume team and with the Tech people.
Select a Recorder - the person who will keep track of all information - this person must be organized! He or she should do a research job as well.
Select an Anglo-Saxon expert.
Select a Danish/Viking expert.
What would a Danish castle great hall look like, smell like, sound like? What would Beowulf's boat look like (on deck)? What would an undersea "grotto" or cave look like? What do the moors look like? What does the western shore of northern England look like? What does a burial mound look like? What was the weather like on the North Sea in the fall (use an online weather resource and make your best guess)?
This group is responsible for assembling a set of descriptions and digital images to answer these questions. The images will be used to create real and projected sets for the play. Some of this online research will have to be creative (eg. What does an underground cave look like?). Some information can be found by following links on the Student Resources page and studying illustrations in Beowulf texts available in class. Don't neglect the comic book illustrations you can find at Syd Allan's site.
Select a Recorder - the person who will keep track of all information - this person must be organized! He or she should do a research job as well.
Divide up the other questions among your group.
How should the actors sound? Which text (translation) should be used for the play? What does the original text look like and how can we use this original language or "document" to make our play more interesting?
This group is responsible for researching Old English, written and spoken, for selecting the translation we will make into a play, and for providing a good history and summary of Beowulf in PowerPoint form for the audience. You should use the e-text resources provided at this site, and the various translations and audio tapes provided in the classroom.
Select a Recorder - the person who will keep track of all information - this person must be organized! He or she should do a research job as well.
Select a good listener and mimic to listen to and judge our tapes and online recordings.
Select a person interested in language to explore the original manuscript of Beowulf and to find an Old English font online.
- You must all agree on a translation and you should practice reading it aloud.
Each group must present all gathered information to the class as a whole. This should take the form of a digital presentation with a great deal of explanation. Here are some specifics:
- Researchers: The PowerPoint presentation should include a timeline, historical graphics, and just enough text to keep the presentation focused. You should use the font selected by the Authors.
- Costumers: It is recommended that you appear in costume. Additionally, you should have a short presentation of some of the best examples of your research. Since three of the main characters are monsters, you should have at least one monster costume.
- Prop Persons: Your presentation should show a sufficient number of props so that the class will understand what "details" of life in Beowulf's world. You might include some mead and a few recipes, perhaps some food.
- Tech People: Your presentation should be both your own creative scenery (underground cave, dragon's lair) and digital images that you have found. You should be able to explain your decisions to the group. You should have some sound in the background.
- Authors: Give to the class a summary of the story. You should also read selections from the text you have selected and play a selection from the Old English.
This quest should be relatively self-explanatory. It is designed for a class of 16 sixth graders. It should take no more than 5 class (40 minute) periods, less if the students are willing to work at home. Please visit the Teacher Resources and Student Resources pages, and the Study Guide homepage, if you have not done so. Included in the Teacher Resources are many links to other lesson plans.
Please send suggestions and comments to me, Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain. A rubric for evaluation can be adapted from that created for the Mockingbird Web Hunt.
Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain
3/20/03
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