Beowulf Enrichment Activity
Ms. Pautz/12th grade Honors English
Hermitage High School
Length: Preparation is 2 weeks and the trial will be conducted in one 90 minute period.
Objectives: To make literature come alive and be relevant to high school students.
To understand the different value systems in other time periods and cultures.
To diversify instruction for all students in the classroom.
To use 21st century skills of teamwork, technology research, oral presentation and problem-solving
To enhance critical thinking skills by becoming “experts in the field.”
To learn the strategies for creating compelling arguments.
Technology Use: Students will do group research using their laptops. They will create legal briefs, news stories and other word documents. Students may also film the trial (if we can get camera equipment). The court artists will use technology media to create their art work.
Assessments: Legal briefs, resumes of the expert witnesses, journals, oral testimony based on research, art work, trial performance.
Lesson Development
Scenerio: Beowulf has been a time-traveler and has been transported to Richmond, VA. He can’t believe or understand his surroundings and looks to quench his thirst at a local pub. Here, he tells his story of slaying dragons and killing Grendel. The locals think that he is mouthing off and that he is weird; so, they call the cops and Beowulf is arrested for murdering some guy named Grendel. Beowulf is not in our Virginia legal system and has no clue what is going on. At the arraignment he finds out that his case is going to trial.
Our task is to prepare for his trial where his case will be tried in open court and where local media will be able to be present. No media cameras are allowed so we have need of court artists.
Group A—The Defense Team
Lawyers:
Witnesses testifying for the defense:
Psychologist
Sociologist
Historian
Anthropologist
Mythologist
Group B—The Prosecuting Team
Lawyers:
Witnesses testifying for the prosecution
Psychologist
Sociologist
Historian
Anthropologist
Mythologist
Team C --Media Reporters:
CNN
Richmond Times Dispatch
Local TV Channels
Court Artist
Beowulf—this person will play the character. For grading purposes, you will (1)write a 2 page argument that outlines the reasons why you are innocent. (2)Keep a journal that talks about your time in a VA jail—how is the food? How are you treated? Compare this time period to your own in the Anglo-Saxon times. What do you miss? What do you like about the 21st century? Etc. (at least 5 journal entries totaling a minimum of 600 words)
Court proceedings
Judge
Jury (12)
Baliff
Court Recorder (keeps a record of the proceedings)—this will be graded
Outcomes or products that will be due for grades
Group A—Defense team
- Lawyers—1. A legal brief which is the argument for the innocence of your client, Beowulf (3 typed pages), 2. A list of questions that you will ask each of your witnesses. (Work on this in conjunction with your witnesses) 3. A list and explanation (1 page each) of at least 3 cases in judicial history that support your claim that this Beowulf should be set free. Consider cases such as protecting your rights from intruders, just causes for war, etc.
- Witnesses—1. A written paragraph of your job description. (What does an anthropologist do?)
(2), a well-written resume describing your background jobs and responsibilities—feel free to invent this; however, check out points for good resume writing on the internet. (3). Write out the answers you will use in the court room when asked specific, expert questions. You should have an understanding of your expertise and be able to support your answers to the judge and jury.
Team B—The Prosecution
Same format as the requirements for the Defense.
Team C—The Reporters
While the other teams are researching, each reporter is to (1) write a news article on the events at the local pub that led up to Beowulf’s arrest. Remember to use the journalistic format: Who, What, When, Where and How in your article (At least 200 words). (2) Write an editorial for or against Beowulf for the local paper—here you can have an opinion about his innocence or quilt based on what you know of Anglo Saxon culture and what has taken place at the Richmond pub. OR have an interview with Beowulf and write a feature article about him and his experiences (3) Your big assignment is to cover the trial and write the news story (at least 500 words). If the trial takes more than one day, we’ll break this up into several stories.
The court artist is to draw pictures of Beowulf, the witnesses, the judge and the jury. (These will be turned in for a grade) In addition, you will (1) write a job description for the position of Court artist and (2) write a resume to support your qualifications for this job. (What kind of training and schooling should you have? Etc.)
Court Date:______
Sign up sheet for projectBlock______
Put your name next to the role you would like to play in this project. I can’t promise you’ll get that, but I’ll to match up your skills and interest as best as I can.
Defense Lawyers
Defense witnesses
Psychologist
Sociologist
Historian
Anthropologist
Mythologist
Prosecuting Lawyers
Prosecution witnesses
Psychologist
Sociologist
Historian
Anthropologist
Media Reporters
CNN
Richmond Times Dispatch
Local TV Channels
Court Artist
The character of Beowulf, himself. You must prepare your defense!
Judge—look up court procedures and rulings
Baliff
Court Recorder