picHandouts

Biopoem

A biopoem is a structured collection of vivid details about a character's life, personality traits and aspirations: a portrait in words.  In creating your biopoem, try to use vivid details which reveal interesting aspects of your subject.  The format of the biopoem you are going to use is outlined below.  An example is also provided.

Format:

Line 1:      First name
Line 2:      Four traits that describe character
Line 3:      Relative [brother, sister, daughter, etc.] of -
Line 4:      Lover of - [list three things or people]
Line 5:      Who feels - [three items]
Line 6:      Who needs - [three items]
Line 7:      Who fears - [three items]
Line 8:      Who gives - [three items]
Line 9:      Who would like to see - [three items]
Line 10:     Resident of -
Line 11:     Last name

 

Example:

Diana
Beautiful, kind, noble, generous
Mother of William and Harry, Wife of Charles
Lover of children, life, the downtrodden
Who felt anguish, hope, and compassion for whom she toiled
Who needed love, understanding, and acceptance for all of God's people
Who feared for victims of ignorance, intolerance, and discrimination
Who gave hope to those who had none, help to those in need, and happiness to those in despair
Who would have liked to see her sons reach manhood, the world at peace, people free from oppression
Resident of Great Britain
Spencer, Princess of Wales

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The Anglo-Saxon Period
 

  1. Read J. R. Lander’s quote on p. 2. In a society dominated by aggression, what would you expect the Anglo-Saxon attitude to be?
  2. Consider the picture of Stonehenge on p. 2. Speculate as to how such heavy stones were put in place. Give the purpose for this site (6).
  3. Read the opening text on p. 3. How does the info compare to your preconceived ideas of Great Britain?
  4. Give the different inhabitants of Great Britain and their contributions (6+).
  5. Give the significance of the Sutton Hoo find (10+).
  6. Discuss how the specific cultural characteristics of the Anglo-Saxons are similar to or different from the cultural characteristics of today.
  7. Consider the picture of the tapestry on p. 13. Speculate about why Norse gods are featured in this tapestry. What contributions did we receive from the Norse religion?
  8. Read the text on p. 13. Discuss the role of the writer in our society today.
  9. Give the importance of the monk / monastery to society of that day.

 

Language Activity

 

  1. What events do you already know that probably influenced the English language?
  2. The Indo-European family of languages spread eastward as far as ___ and westward as far as ___.
  3.  Give a few English words derived from the Romans, the Celts, and the Vikings.
  4. How does the Lord’s Prayer given on p. 64 differ from the version we already know?
  5. Give several ways Old English grammar is different from modern grammar.
  6. Give the one main difference today.
  7. Describe the Anglo-Saxon (Old English) alphabet.
  8. Why is it that a common language spoken by two groups of people will change in different ways if those people are separated?
  9. Even though our language has been greatly affected by other languages, why do we maintain that Old English is still the basis of our language?

10. Complete language activity # 3 on p. 66 (“Try It Out”). Extra credit is # 4.

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Beowulf

1.    The Beowulf Poet describes Grendel as a descendant of _________________.
2.    Grendel was able to snatch up ________ men at a swoop.
3.    Grendel’s devastation lasted for _________ winters.
4.    Why was Grendel unable to touch Hrothgar’s throne?
5.    How many men does Beowulf take with him to Hrothgar’s kingdom?
6.    Why does Beowulf choose not to use weapons?
7.    Describe Beowulf during his speech to Hrothgar.
8.    Based on Beowulf’s speech, what is possibly his greatest attribute?
9.    What may be his weakness (if it is such)?
10.    What do we learn from Hrothgar that possibly reveals Beowulf’s motivation?
11.    What is possibly Unferth’s motive for challenging Beowulf?
12.    What is Unferth accused of doing (dastard act)?
13.    From what point of view is this story told (literary term)?
14.    “But fate, that night, / Intended Grendel to gnaw the broken bones of his last human supper.” What literary technique (not poetic device) is given here?
15.    “Shepherd of evil,” “guardian of crime,” are both examples of what poetic device? _________________
16.    The monster’s flight, fastened those claws / In his fists till they cracked, clutched Grendel closer,” is an example of what poetic device? ________________
17.     How does Beowulf kill Grendel?
18.    How do Beowulf’s men attempt to help?
19.    What does Beowulf hang high on the rafter?
20.    Where do Grendel and his mom live?
21.    How does Herot fare during the fight?
22.    Beowulf is of what genre?                     Who wrote Beowulf?