Essay Assignment

Name_____________________________ Period____ Date Due____________

BEOWULF ESSAY: CHARACTERISTICS OF ARCHETYPAL EPIC HERO
INSTRUCTIONS: You will: write a five to ten paragraph essay. organize your essay properly. follow the steps in the writing process by using graphic organizers. type your final draft according to “Clearfield High School Writing Standards.” See separate handout. use time wisely in class and cheerfully turn in your essay on time! Characteristics of an epic hero An epic hero: 1. is significant and glorified 2. is on a quest 3. has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage 4. is ethical 5. risks death for glory or for the greater good of society 6. is a strong and responsible leader 7. performs brave deeds 8. reflects the ideals of a particular society (For Beowulf, it is Anglo-Saxon.) WRITING PROMPT: Write an essay explaining how Beowulf demonstrates the characteristics of an epic hero. Choose three to eight characteristics. Give specific examples from the three battle scenes: the battle with Grendel, the battle with Grendel’s mother, and the battle with the dragon.
You will receive points for all steps of the writing process. Before turning in your final draft, please staple the rubric on top.

PRE-WRITING STEP ONE: (8 points) Analyze the writing prompt and fill in this box. P Purpose: describe, persuade, inform,
narrate, entertain, etc.

A S S

Audience: Who will read your essay? Subject: What is the topic? Think of your
thesis statement.

Structure: poem, letter, essay, etc.

STEP TWO: (24 points) To organize your thinking and gather support for your details, fill in this graphic organizer with specific examples from Beowulf. Then, star the characteristics (three minimum) for which you can write the best descriptions. Write numbers to the side to show which are strongest arguments. Characteristic of (warrior) (warrior) (king) an Epic Character Battle with Battle with Battle with the (Beowulf) Grendel Grendel’s...