Epic Poem Assignment

English 11

Beowulf Unit

Goal: to write a poem that uses the style and devices of an epic poem

Requirements:

  • Must choose someone who is a hero to you
  • You must write an epic poem detailing how they are a hero (it can be sensationalized or exaggerated for effect)
  • It has to be at least 20 lines
  • It must contain 2 kennings (highlight and label them)
  • It must have at least three lines in the poem that contain alliteration (highlight and label them)
  • It should not rhyme (Beowulf is not written using rhyming language)
  • Must be typed with the same format as I have shown in my example. (include line numbers)
  • Needs a title

Beowulf Excerpt / Mrs. Mac’s Example: Mr. Mac – Men of all Men
(1)Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings,
(2)leader beloved, and long he ruled
(3)in fame with all folk, since his father had gone
(4)away from the world, till awoke an heir,
(5)haughty Healfdene, who held through life,
(6)sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad.
(7)Then, one after one, there woke to him,
(8)to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:
(9)Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;
(10)And I heard that—was—’s queen,
(11)the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear.
(12)To Hrothgar was given such glory of war,
(13)such honor of combat, that all his kin
(14)obeyed him gladly till great grew his band
(15)of youthful comrades. It came in his mind
(16)to bid his henchmen a hall uprear,
(17)a master mead-house, mightier far
(18) than ever was seen by the sons of earth,
(19)and within it, then, to old and young
(20)he would all allot that the Lord had sent him,
(21)save only the land and the lives of his men. / (1)The mighty deer-slayer entered the forest,
(2)with arrow-launcher thrown over his brute shoulder.
(3)Mr. Mac, men of all men, was a mammal-murderer.
(4)Hunched in a tree, ready to attack at any time,
(5)this slayer of creatures was a terrifying force.
(6)His camouflaged face hid his fierceness.
(7)Not only in the forest was he powerful,
(8)his intensity spilled onto the golf course.
(9)Golf balls would soar through the steel sky
(10)not touching land for 1,000 yards.
(11)His rippling muscles would tense as he
(12)assaulted the white dimpled-rock into oblivion.
(13)Stories are sung for the superior Mr. Mac.
(14)He reigns as master of the forest and the course.
(15)Fighting fearlessly against fawns and “fores”.
(16)His story will live on for thousands of years.
(17)Children will look up to the mightiest of men,
(18)whose story of endless hunting and golfing
(19)have entertained the masses for years,
(20)Mr. Mac – feared by all living creatures and golf balls.

Have fun with this! Be creative and exaggerate!