Anglo-Saxon WebQuest

English IV Dual Credit: British Literature I

TASK
Choose an aspect of Anglo-Saxon life from the Resource list
below. Research it. Compile information and transform it into a
Poster. Your Poster will teach four major ideas about your subject
and include text and images from your research. Finally, you will
present your Poster to the class and elaborate on the main ideas.
This research will help us understand the Anglo-Saxon and
Medieval era and give us a context in which to study "Beowulf,"
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and various other works of
literature.
The posters will be posted in the hallway, providing a constant
source of reference throughout the unit.

RESOURCES
Your group will cover one of these categories in depth.
How Do We Know?

Food

Viking Ships

Beowulf Poem

Feasting and Fasting

Games

Anglo-Saxon Warfare:
Weapons and Armor

Anglo-Saxon Military
Organization

Houses and Furniture

Anglo-Saxon Social
Organization

Pastimes of the AngloSaxons

Anglo-Saxon Religion 1
2

Discover the sources we use to

study the past, including bones,
metals, and experimental
archeology.

"Beowulf" was transcribed in 900

and scorched in 1731. Also, nobody
knows who wrote it. How did the
poem survive?

Learn about the heroic code and the

warrior's dedication to the warlord.
Learn about weapons, shields, and
helmets.

Find out how the clans were

organized for survival.

Hungry? What's your flavor:

sloeberries, eel, or pig?

Search for the reasons to feast

and the reasons to fast. Enjoy
the party!

Who is the highest ranking -- the

fyrdsman or the thegn? Are men
required to serve?

Between growing crops and

fighting off invaders, what did the
Anglos-Saxons do for fun?

Who were the "pirates" and how

was life on the sea?

Anyone for Knucklebones or

Fivestones? How about
Hnefatafl?

Sunken living room, thatch roof,

clay floor--top of the real estate
market?

Help a warrior decide-to be

Christian or not to be Christian,
that is the question.

PROCESS
Step One: Read How Do We Know? and the Beowulf Poem links
(found in the Resource boxes above) to get background for our
quest.
Step Two: You and your partner will be given a category (one of
the boxes in the resource list) to explore. Scan through the
information and make a list of your initial impressions. Within
your category, narrow the information down to four major ideas
you wish to teach to the class. Take notes on those four points.
Step Three: Choose then create significant images and prepare
text to be included in the poster.

Step Four: CREATE YOUR POSTER!

Requirements:
1. include a title (based on your aspect of Anglo-Saxon life)
2. include images
3. include only the most important info.
4. elaborate on the poster in your presentation.
Step Five: Present your findings to the class. Your poster should
introduce your major points while your presentation will elaborate
on them. Audience members will listen closely and take Cornell
Notes that will help them answer three questions.

CONCLUSION
Wow! What a journey. What advancement since the Anglo-Saxon
era do you think they would have most appreciated? This
WebQuest showed you how the early English and Gaelic people
lived. From them, Anglo-Americans have adapted language and
customs. The reason we go back in time to read early literature is
to understand our predecessors -- and therefore ourselves. British
literature will teach us the origin of our language, for some our
ancestry, and for all our superstitions.
When your classmates give their presentations, be sure to listen for
answers to these three questions:
1. What elements of the Anglo-Saxon era illustrate the cultures
philosophies of life?
2. In what ways are Anglo-Saxons similar to American culture
today?

3. List evidence of pagan AND Christian influences in AngloSaxons' daily life.

After your experience in this WebQuest, you will have a greater
appreciation for the characters in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight. You will also have the critical foundation needed to
be successful in studying the changes throughout the history of
British literature.