Beowulf

Beowulf: An Epic Poetry Reading & Writing Workshop
Theme:
Exploring Beowulf through the lens of motifs common to epic poetry (heroism, monsters, fate, loyalty, revenge, etc.)

Session 1: The Epic Hero and the Code of Honor
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (Lines 1–835, Beowulf’s early heroics and his battle with Grendel)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• The Epic Hero’s journey and personal valor
• The warrior code and honor-bound culture

Comparative Text:

• The Iliad by Homer (Book VI: Hector returns to Troy)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6130

Writing Prompt:
How do Beowulf and Hector reflect the values of their respective societies? Write a character study highlighting how both heroes embody the warrior code.

Session 2: Monsters and Chaos vs. Civilization
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (Lines 836–1924, Grendel’s Mother and the mere)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• Monsters as symbols of chaos and threats to order
• The wilderness vs. the hall/civilization

Comparative Text:

• The Odyssey by Homer (Book IX: The Cyclops episode)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727

Writing Prompt:
Compare how Grendel’s Mother and Polyphemus represent the forces that threaten human communities. How do Beowulf and Odysseus respond to these monstrous challenges?

Session 3: Fate, Doom, and Heroic Death
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (Lines 1925–3182, The Dragon and Beowulf’s death)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• Fate and inevitability in epic narratives
• The noble death of the hero

Comparative Text:

• The Aeneid by Virgil (Book XII: The death of Turnus)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/228

Writing Prompt:
How does the concept of fate shape Beowulf’s and Turnus’ final moments? Discuss how acceptance of doom reflects the values of their respective epics.

Session 4: Loyalty, Kinship, and Legacy
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (Wiglaf’s loyalty and the hero’s funeral, Lines 2631–3182)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• The bond between king and warrior
• The lasting legacy of the hero

Comparative Text:

• The Epic of Gilgamesh (Tablet XII: The death of Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11000

Writing Prompt:
Examine how Wiglaf and Gilgamesh react to the death of a hero. What does their grief reveal about loyalty and legacy in the epic tradition?

Session 5: Boasting, Storytelling, and Reputation
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (Beowulf’s speeches before battles, selections from throughout the poem)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• Boasting as a cultural tradition
• The role of oral storytelling in preserving reputation

Comparative Text:

• The Song of Roland (Ganelon’s betrayal and Roland’s defiance, selections from laisses 79–138)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/391

Writing Prompt:Compare Beowulf’s and Roland’s use of boasting and speeches to affirm their heroism. How do their words shape their reputations during and after their lives?

Session 6: The Supernatural and Divine Intervention
Primary Reading:

• Beowulf (References to divine will and Christian elements, scattered throughout the poem)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328

Motif Focus:

• Divine influence in shaping human destiny
• Pagan vs. Christian worldviews in Beowulf

Comparative Text:

• The Mahabharata (Selections from the Bhagavad Gita: Krishna’s guidance to Arjuna)
  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2388

Writing Prompt:
​Explore the theme of divine influence in Beowulf and The Mahabharata. How do the protagonists reconcile human will with supernatural or divine forces?