Anglo Saxon writing
Beowuff author Robin Price writes:
Whilst researching my children’s series Beowuff I found that the Anglo Saxon period is a rich source of tales and legends which are ideal for story writing. The Saxons told tales of monsters like the sea monsters, elves and dragons. The word ‘charm’ is a Saxon word. If you don’t magic, you can write a realistic tale about King Alfred and the burnt cakes or Saxons batting against their sworn enemies The Vikings.
WORKSHOPS
When I’m not writing books I lead history workshops for primary and secondary schools and I have run workshops for Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and the Young Archaeologists society. I also visit international schools with Author’s Abroad. Introducing history through creative writing is great fun and I’m fascinated to see what the pupils can come up with when they write their own stories.
Email info@mogzilla.co.uk to ask about the workshops.
ABOUT MY BOOKS
If you’re not familiar with the Beowuff series – it’s set in a world ruled by dogs! It’s suitable for children aged 7 years old.
There are two books in the series: Beowuff and the Horrid Hen and Beowuff and the Dragon Raiders. If you want to find out more about my other books, check out my profile (Robin Price) on Lovereading.co.uk’s author profile page and visit www.spartapuss.co.uk and www.londondeep.co.uk
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHERS
Instructions
I often do one example first on the board as a ‘demo’ getting them to vote on options.
1. Put the class into pairs. Give them the writing frame to each pair. Get them to pick one option each.
2. Tell them to write from the most exciting part of the story.
3. Tell them to write the story one sentence each. (Make sure you give them one sheet of A4 between two writers.)
4. The person who isn’t writing can draw a picture of their goodie or baddie.
After 5-10 minutes of planning you’ll get everyone writing (in pairs). Within an hour the class are ready to share out their stories.
Interactive version and more Saxon writing frames
Check out the interactive version of this writing frame on the Creative Writing Club website.
There’s also an older version of this writing frame that you can download.
For my free .pdf ‘7 Tips for teaching story writing’ email info@mogzilla.co.uk with ‘Tips’ in the subject line.
About The Beowuff series
I wrote the first Beowuff book with Richard Eccles – and we had great fun researching it.
Beowuff is set in a world ruled by Anglo Saxon and Viking dogs, where people have never existed. However, there is a lot of
accurate historical background in there, including Skaldic poetry, Viking ‘kennings’ and many of the points
are the same as the Beowulf saga. It’s set in Heorut – a ‘meat hall’ not a ‘mead hall’, it’s King Ruffgar, not King
Hrothgar. Instead of fighting Grendel, Beowuff must do battle with Hendel – a monstrous chicken.