Regents Part 3

Text-Analysis Response
Your Task: Write a well-developed text-based response of one paragraph based on Beowulf. In
your response, identify a central idea in Beowulf and analyze how the author’s use of one writing
strategy (literary element or literary technique or rhetorical device) develops this central idea.
Use strong and thorough evidence from the text to support your analysis. Do not simply
summarize the text.
Guidelines:
Be sure to
 Identify a central idea in the text
 Analyze how the author’s use of one writing strategy (literary element or literary
technique or rhetorical device) develops this central idea. Examples include:
characterization, conflict, denotation/connotation, metaphor, simile, irony, language
use, point-of-view, setting, structure, symbolism, theme, tone, etc.
 Use strong and thorough evidence from the text to support your analysis 
 Organize your ideas in a cohesive and coherent manner
 Maintain a formal style of writing
 Follow the conventions of standard written English

Assignment: Write one paragraph about how Beowulf uses characterization to

support the central idea of pride.
Pre-Writing:
Central Idea: Pride
Writing Strategy: Characterization
What is characterization?

- how a character is described

- how a character acts
What are we looking for? What text would help our writing?
- descriptions of Beowulf
- things Beowulf did

Topic Sentence:
In Beowulf, the central idea of (insert central idea) is developed using the writing
strategy of (insert writing strategy).
Re-write the sentence with the central idea and writing strategy:
Text One:

1. What is Beowulf going to do?

2. How does this show that Beowulf is a proud person? (Or said another way,
how does this show that Beowulf doesn’t make the best decisions about
battle? Why might making bad decisions in battle show pride?)

Making a response:
Beowulf (did what?).
This shows that he is a proud person because (insert your answer to #2).
Text Two:
 1. What is Beowulf doing?

2. How does this show that Beowulf is a proud person? (Or said another way,
how does this show that Beowulf exaggerates stories about himself? How
does that show pride?)

Making a response:
Beowulf (did what?).
This shows that he is a proud person because (insert your answer to #2).

Conclusion sentence:
The story of Beowulf develops the central idea of (insert central idea from the topic
sentence) using (insert writing strategy from topic sentence).
Re-write the sentence with the central idea and writing strategy: