Beowulf

Information for students
Author: told by Morpurgo, Michael Title: Beowulf
Book Genre: traditional Literature Publishing Info: Candlewick Press, 92 pp.

Summary: Beowulf, the prince of the Geats, has the strength of thirty men in one hand! A humble, valiant, and victorious hero! This prince leaves his Geatish home, to aid his ally, Hrothgar, across the seas in Denmark. Beowulf destroys Grendel, the demonic monster, who had nightly gorged himself for twelve years on these Danes; Grendel’s mother, the Sea Hag; and the Death-Dragon of the Deep. The legends are captivating, yet grueling; they are sure to interest any adventurous reader.

Personal rating: ****

Rationale: the text is intriguing; the word play is admirable; the attention to detail is captivating; reads like poetry

Information for teachers
Reading level: 10.4 Interest level: 1st-adult

Thematic Areas: good vs. evil; death; tragedy; heroism

Content Areas: reading; social studies

Potential Problems or Difficulties: gory; need to be a fluent reader to handle this advanced style of text

Possible use in classroom: use in a history series about Denmark; begin with a book talk and a KWL chart; prediction analysis every few pages in journals; have an example of scales and mail armor; project: build (create) a mead-hall; write alternate endings


--Kristy--