Teaching vocab for Beowulf will be a challenge.... I don't
know why we have kids read this but I'd read the new novel...
maybe called Grendel which tells the story from Grendel's
point of view.
I teach Beowulf as the epic poem that it is - we look at some
other epic poems too and I try to get the kids to write one -
a shorter one of course. We talk about the Star Wars films as
telling an epic story of sorts. A brave student or two will
try to read or deliver their epic poem as if we're all
sitting in a great hall listening - it's an effort much
appreciated but your need some artistic types to take such a
task on. The kids ask if they can drink mead...

From that to the Canterbury Tales - I try to have the kids
answer the question of why are these considered classics? And
what should be a classic in their opinion that's not? That's
a good discussion to have. I do like to show them the
evolution of the language and there's a lot of material on-
line on that.

Why Hamlet? Why these four? I don't understand the logic
underlying the choice of these four but Hamlet is amazing - I
show Mel Gibson's film version of the play? Was Hamlet mad?
Should he have killed himself? What prompts a man to murder
his brother and marry his brother's wife? Are we really like
these characters?

I don't dwell overlong on Beowulf or Canterbury Tales. I hope
your kids are strong readers for all your books are hard
reads. Frankenstein says Volumes about our fear of
technology - was it right? Has technology taken us over? It's
considered the first science fiction by some and I emphasize
that. Should we be as afraid of technology as Frankenstein
suggests?

Clearly I don't emphasize vocabulary or character
development - I emphasize literature's connection to life -
or lack thereof. I emphasize literacy - we read these works
to be knowledgeable of our cultural heritage.

> Hello all,
>
> I just found out I was transfering to the High School
> level from the middle school due to budget reasons in the
> district I work in.
>
> I also found out that I will be teaching Seniors.
> I am a little apprehensive since I have not taught high
> school English since student teaching (Back in 2001) and
> have not been in a high school enviroment since 2003.
>
> I am wondering about behavior issues, if any...and any
> suggestions on teaching the following: Beowulf,
> Frankenstein, The Canterbury Tales, and Hamlet. While I
> have read all except for Frankenstein, I'm not quite sure
> how to go about "teaching" the stories. In middle school, I
> would teach vocabulary and character development...I'm just
> concerned I might be "dummying" it down too much for
> Seniors.
>
> Any help or suggestions will be appreciated!
> Thanks :)

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