1

KEY POINTS:FROM PLOT TO

THEME

Beowulf Analysis

2

Plot Analysis

Protagonist:

Antagonist:

Complications: those events that create

conflict

Crisis: moments of high tension

Climax: moment of

highest tension and the turning

point of entire poem

Resolution: the answer or

solution to the conflict

With a partner, reflect on each of these parts of the chart. Be ready to discuss in 12 minutes.

3

Climax / Turning Point of Beowulf

Why could this be considered the turning point?

“Quickly the dragon came at him, encouraged/ As Beowulf fell back; its breath flared,/And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames—a king before, but now a beaten warrior.”

4

Conflict

GOOD VS EVILWho: Who:What / Where: What / Where:

5

Beowulf’s Failure: Reasons

What do you think are the reasons for Beowulf’s failure?

1)2) 3)

6

What role did greed play?

7

How significant was the role of loyalty?

Loyalty, bravery and altruistic behavior all

helped to create the Anglo-Saxonsociety; without it…

8

9

Dragons and Treasure: How do they connect?

Dragons (serpents) were symbolic of evil

Treasure was symbolic of damnation

10

Once greed entered Beowulf’s kingdom, Beowulf’s people were spiritually damned. By turning away from ethical behavior, they doomed their society.

11

Subject to Theme

Subjects are 1 or 2 words: love, youth, jealousy, etc.

Themes answer this question: What does the

author have to say ABOUT the subject?

For example:In Othello, William Shakespeare tells us that

distrust and jealousy destroys all relationships.

12

Themes are…

Universal in natureA complete sentence

Romeo and Juliet demonstrate that youthful impetuousness can be very dangerous.

Jay Gatsby shows that the desire to recapture one’s past is rarely successful.

13

THEMES FOR BEOWULF

Subject: Loyalty

Theme: Beowulf proves that without LOYALTY, all relationships eventually collapse.

Subject: GreedTheme: Subject: BraveryTheme:

With a partner, write a theme statement for

greed and bravery. Keep in mind the requirements of a theme statement.