Before Reading
Think About What You Know
What is a hero? Write about this question in your journal. Read the About the Selection paragraph and the definition of a heroic epic in Literary Tools on pages 112–113 in your textbook. Make a prediction about what Beowulf will be like. Then create a cluster chart in your notebook. Draw a circle in the center of the page and write Beowulf in it. Connect this circle to other outer circles around it; in each outer circle you will write traits that describe Beowulf.
During Reading
Use What You Know
1. Listen to the prologue and cantos 1–2. These lines provide background information about the epic. Follow along in your book as your teacher reads the short summary of cantos 3–5 on page 119.
2. Begin reading the selection on your own. As you read, add notes to your cluster chart that show examples of Beowulf's heroic qualities.
Fix-Up Idea: Read Shorter Sections at a Time
If you have trouble following this selection, try reading shorter sections. Read each canto slowly and carefully. Then pause to summarize what you have read. Answering the Guided Reading Questions in each canto will help you summarize it. If you have questions about the canto, reread it and try to answer your questions. If you still have questions, talk with a classmate or your teacher to clarify the point.
After Reading
Summarize
Compare your cluster charts with two or three of your classmates. Discuss why Beowulf is considered a hero.