Battles of Beowulf

This literary analysis worksheet is designed for Grades 7-10 and helps students examine the epic Beowulf through the lens of conflict classification. Students analyze eight key conflict examples from the poem and determine which type of conflict each represents: Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Self, or Man vs. Fate. By organizing these struggles into clear categories, learners gain a deeper understanding of how conflict drives the narrative and defines Beowulf’s heroism.

Learning Goals

• Identifying Types of Conflict (Secondary ELA) – Accurately classify conflicts using literary terminology
• Epic Literature Analysis – Understand how conflict functions within an epic poem
• Character Motivation & Challenge Analysis – Examine external and internal pressures faced by Beowulf and others
• Critical Thinking & Categorization – Evaluate evidence and make reasoned classifications

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with middle and early high school literature standards
• Clear, Structured Task – Categorization format supports accuracy and confidence
• Builds Epic Literacy – Reinforces common conflict patterns in heroic literature
• Supports Discussion – Serves as a strong foundation for analyzing heroism and fate
• Flexible Use – Ideal for guided practice, review, formative assessment, or group work
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear directions and organized layout

This Battles of Beowulf worksheet helps students move beyond plot summary to analyze the types of struggles that shape the epic. By classifying conflicts and considering their implications, learners strengthen reading comprehension, literary analysis, and their understanding of how epic heroes confront forces both within themselves and beyond their control.

This worksheet is part of our Beowulf worksheets collection.