Author:
Larry Fangman
Subject:
Literature, Composition and Rhetoric, Language, Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading Informational Text, Reading Literature
Material Type:
Assessment, Homework/Assignment
Level:
High School
Tags:
  • Beowulf
  • Cain and Abel
  • Comparison Contrast
  • ELA
  • Grendel
  • NDE
  • NE ELA
  • Nebraska Department of Education
  • beowulf
  • cain-and-abel
  • comparison-contrast
  • ela
  • grendel
  • nde
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    Beowulf, Grendel, Cain and Abel Comparison/Analysis/Historical Figures/Personal Reflection

    Beowulf, Grendel, Cain and Abel Comparison/Analysis/Historical Figures/Personal Reflection

    Overview

    After reading Beowulf and the story of Cain and Abel, students compare and contrast Cain and Grendel. Students research and make a case for a historical figure being a descendant of Cain. After reading page 10, chapter 2, and pages 30-33 in John Gardner's Grendel, students write about the different views we have of Grendel after reading Gardner's novel. Students research and write about a character who they feel is misunderstood like Gardner's Grendel. Students write about two traits they have because of the experiences they had in life, just like Grendel is the way he is in Gardner's novel because of his experiences. Students use MLA format for their works cited page and in-text citations. 

    Beowulf/Grendel/Cain and Abel--Comparision/Contrast and Analysis of Grendel in Beowulf and in John Gardner's Grendel.

    MATERIALS: Genesis 4:1-16

    Beowulf from an anthology or the complete story from a book such as Beowulf by Seamus Heaney.

    Grendel by John Gardner. Read page 11, chapter 2, and pages 30-33.

    1. After reading Beowulf and the story of Cain and Abel, compare and contrast the characters of Grendel and Cain?

    2. In Beowulf, the author states that Grendel is a descendant of Cain. Research an evil historical figure that you feel could be a descendant of Grendel. Explain why you picked this person. Explain his or her acts that show he/she could be a worthy (unfortunately) descendant of Grendel.

    3. After reading pages ______ in Grendel by John Gardner, explain why Grendel, in Gardner's version, can be seen as a misunderstood being/monster. Did Gardner's version make you feel sympathy for Grendel? Why?

    4. Research a character from history who you feel is perceived one way by many people but who you feel is misunderstand like Grendel was in Gardner's version. Give specific reasons why you feel the historical person is misunderstood.

    5. Based on Gardner's version of Grendel, Grendel is the way he is because of things in his life that affected him and influenced him. Name two traits that you have that are part of you because of things in your life that affect you/influenced you. These traits could be positive or negative traits. Give specific examples of the events in your life that influenced your two traits.

    6. Make a works cited page for all the sources used to answer these questions. Make sure the works cited page follows the MLA format (double spaced, Works Cited heading, indent second and third lines of each entry).

    The teacher will provide a link to write the answers to these questions. 

     

     

     

    Rubric for the short essay answers to the assignment questions. 231 points

    TOTAL POINTS _______/231

    Beowulf/Grendel

    Superior 

    30-33

    Excellent

    25-29

    Limited 

    1-24

    Developing

     0

    Compare and Contrast the characters of Grendel and Cain. 

    The writer did a superior job of comparing and contrasting the characters of Grendel and Cain, using specific reasons and examples. Multiple examples were cited.

    The writer did an excellent job of comparing and contrasting the characters of Grendel and Cain, using specific reasons and examples. Multiple examples were cited.

    The writer did a limited job of comparing and contrasting the characters of Grendel and Cain, using specific reasons and examples. Multiple examples not cited.

    The writer did not compare and contrast the characters of Grendel and Cain, using specific reasons and examples.  

    Research evil historical person who the writer feels could be a descendant of Grendel/Cain. 

    The student does a superior job of explaining with examples why an evil historical person could be a descendant of Grendel/Cain.

    The student does an excellent job of explaining with examples why an evil historical person could be a descendant of Grendel/Cain.

    The student does a limited job of explaining with examples why an evil historical person could be a descendant of Grendel/Cain.

    The student does not explain and does not use examples to show why an evil historical person could be a descendant of Grendel/Cain.

    Why/How does John Gardner’s Grendel evoke sympathy in the reader for the character of Grendel?

    The student did a superior job of explaining, using examples, on how page 11, chapter 2, and pages 30-33 evoke sympathy for Grendel. 

    The student did an excellent job of explaining, using examples, on how page 11, chapter 2, and pages 30-33 evoke sympathy for Grendel. 

    The student did a limited job of explaining, using examples, on how page 11, chapter 2, and pages 30-33 evoke sympathy for Grendel. 

    The student never explained, using examples, how page 11, chapter 2, and pages 30-33 evoke sympathy for Grendel. 

    Research a character from history who you feel is misunderstood like Grendel in Gardner’s novel. 

    The writer did a superior job of researching and giving examples of a character from history who was misunderstood like Grendel in Gardner’s novel.

    The writer did an excellent job of researching and giving examples of a character from history who was misunderstood like Grendel in Gardner’s novel.

    The writer did a limited job of researching and giving examples of a character from history who was misunderstood like Grendel in Gardner’s novel.

    The writer did not research and give examples of a character from history who was misunderstood like Grendel in Gardner’s novel.

     

    The writer names two traits that he/she has because of things in his or her life that influenced him or her. Examples are given of the events in the writer’s life that developed these two traits. 

    The writer did a superior job of naming two traits that he/she has because of things in his/her life that influenced him/her. Examples are given of the events in the writer’s life that developed these two traits. 

    The writer did an excellent job of naming two traits that he/she has because of things in his/her life that influenced him/her. Examples are given of the events in the writer’s life that developed these two traits. 


     

    The writer did a limited job of naming two traits that he/she has because of things in his/her life that influenced him/her. Limited examples are given of the events in the writer’s life that developed these two traits. 

     

     

     

     

    The writer did not name two traits that he/she has because of things in his/her life that influenced him/her.  









     

     

    Spelling and Grammar

    The writing has no misspellings or grammatical errors that distract from the meaning of the writing.

    The writing has few misspellings or grammatical errors that distract from the meaning of the writing.

    The writing has a number of misspellings or grammatical errors that distract from the meaning of the writing.

    The writing has many misspellings or grammatical errors that distract from the meaning of the writing.

     

    Cite Sources

    Works Cited

    In-Text Citations.

    The student did a superior job of citing the sources used in the writing on the Works Cited page and did a superior job of formatting the Works Cited page and using in-text citations in the paper.

    The student did a superior job of distinguishing between direct quotes and paraphrases by putting the direct quotes inside “     “ marks.

    The student did an excellent job

    of citing the sources used in the writing on the Works Cited page

    and did a superior job of formatting

    the Works Cited page and using in-text citations in the paper.

    .The student did a superior job of distinguishing between direct quotes and paraphrases by putting the direct quotes inside “     “ marks.


     

    The student did a limited job of citing the sources used in the writing on the Works Cited page and did a superior job of formatting the Works Cited page and using in-text citations in the paper.

    The student did a limited job of distinguishing between direct quotes and paraphrases by putting the direct quotes inside “     “ marks.

     

     

     

    The student did not

    cite the sources used in the writing on the Works Cited page, or the Works Cited page is not present at all. In-text citations are not present. 

    The student did not distinguish between direct quotes and paraphrases by putting the direct quotes inside “     “ marks.