Donna Wissinger and Joy Myers present:

Beowulf: A Tale of Courage and Honor

STUDY GUIDE (Grades K-5 & 6-8)

“This was the highlight of the year. The students from Pre-K through 5^th were completely mesmerized.” “I read Beowulf in college and this is the first time I understood it! This was just fabulous.” “A tour de force. “Exceptional”

Hunter’s Green Elementary Teachers 2008

Hear ye! Hear ye! The minstrels have come to town! Award winning educators and internationally acclaimed musicians Donna Wissinger and Joy Myers collaborate once again to bring the epic tale Beowulf to life. Entering the room dancing and playing Renaissance music on period instruments (quite a feat of feet), Donna and Joy engage the minds and hearts of students by enacting the oldest English story in the English language in the captivating Renaissance style of audience participation and humor. Among the Sunshine State Standards Strands and core curriculum benchmarks that students learn are world history, literature and the musical and dramatic arts of the Renaissance minstrels. Students experience Shakespeare’s wit and wisdom and the art of alliteration and see in their imaginations heroic knights sailing the sea to nights (homophones/homonyms) of courage and honor. Language arts, theatre, music, history and culture are woven together into a fun filled educational experience.

GOAL OF THE PROGRAM:

The goal of the program is to help students experience history as a subject about real people who have messages that can help them in their own lives. We help students to feel the wonderment of the Renaissance period of history and bring to life the heroic character traits of courage and honor extolled in the epic poem Beowulf. By thoroughly engaging the students with theatrical style and entertaining asides, the old English of Shakespeare and the epic story are far less formidable than the fire-breathing dragons imagined.

Printable Study Guide