Beowulf Assignment
Assignment: In response to the prompt below, write an organized, well-developed essay with a thesis, an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion that supports its claim with specific material cited from the text. All internal citations, plus the works cited page, should be made according to MLA standards (shown below).
Example: When Beowulf questions Hrothgar about the attack by Grendel’s mother, Hrothgar replies, “Rest? What is rest? Sorrow has returned†(1322).
Without exception, the paper must include the following:
Thesis Statement – You must make an identifiable, arguable claim about the text. Your thesis should come at the end of your introductory paragraph.
Textual Evidence – Each point made should be supported directly by relevant quoted or paraphrased material from the primary text. Do not consult secondary sources.
The essay must be three to five (3-5) pages in length and is due in class on November 22.
Prompt: Discuss the Germanic heroic code as set forth in the poem. What are its central tenets? Analyze the specific ways in which Beowulf embodies those particular values.