Voices of the Epic

This literary interpretation worksheet is designed for Grades 7-10 and helps students engage deeply with Beowulf by working closely with five significant quotes from the epic. For each quotation, students first paraphrase the line in their own words, translating archaic or formal language into clear, modern English. They then analyze what the quote reveals about character, culture, or values, and finally identify the theme expressed, such as heroism, fate (wyrd), loyalty, honor, or good vs. evil.

This layered approach builds confidence with challenging language while strengthening students’ ability to connect specific textual details to broader ideas.

Learning Goals

• Literary Interpretation (Secondary ELA) – Understand meaning in complex or archaic language
• Paraphrasing & Summarizing – Restate ideas accurately in students’ own words
• Theme Identification – Connect quotations to recurring ideas in the epic
• Quote Analysis – Explain how lines reveal character traits and cultural values

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with middle and early high school ELA standards
• Scaffolded Analysis – Moves from paraphrase → interpretation → theme
• Builds Language Confidence – Helps students decode older literary language
• Reinforces Cultural Context – Highlights Anglo-Saxon values embedded in the text
• Discussion-Ready – Excellent preparation for class conversations or essays
• Flexible Use – Ideal for close reading, assessment, review, or small-group work
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear prompts and response space

This Voices of the Epic worksheet helps students hear Beowulf more clearly by translating, interpreting, and thematically analyzing key lines. By paraphrasing quotes and explaining their significance, learners strengthen close-reading skills and gain a deeper understanding of how epic poetry communicates timeless values through powerful language.

This worksheet is part of our Beowulf worksheets collection.