Grendel Lesson Plan

The Suffering of Wealtheow

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

To analyze the misogyny in the text's treatment of Wealtheow.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3

Structure:

By now, students may have noticed that Grendel doesn't exactly boast a wealth of female perspectives. Technically, there isn't a single named female character in the text! The two notable women are Wealtheow and Grendel's mother. We never learn the former's original given name: "Wealtheow" is a title bestowed by her brother as part of the transaction of her marriage to Hrothgar. If Grendel's mother ever had a name other than "Grendel's...