Text interpretation activity aimed at students in the fourth year of elementary school. The text used for this interpretation is "Beowulf and the Dragon".
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
There was a Danish king who was brave in war and wise in peacetime. He lived in a splendid castle. I received many invitations and had wonderful parties. But this was all too good to last forever.
One day, at the end of a party, everyone heard a strange noise. It was the dragon Grandel, who had come out of the lake and into the castle. He swallowed the first man he encountered and liked human blood so much that he attacked many others. He left a red trail as a mark of his passage.
From that day onwards, life in the castle changed completely. The terrible Grandel appeared every night, killed the men, drinking their blood, and carried the body to the lake.
Not even the strongest warriors could defeat him, and the castle was eventually abandoned.
After twelve years, this story reached the ears of Beowulf, a brave young knight capable of defeating thirty men at once. When he learned of the disgrace he had befallen the subjects of the Danish king, he was moved and did not think twice. He chose fourteen fighters and left for Denmark.
- Who are you? asked the king.
'I'm Beowulf, we've come to free you from the terrible Grandel.
The king felt his heart swell with hope. Had a great party.
As everyone celebrated, a strange whistle went through the castle.
The iron doors fell to the ground and the terrible Grandel entered the room.
His eyes gleamed, his mouth breathed fire, and his claws were swords that ripped through the ground. But before he could swallow a warrior, he felt unbearable pain.
Beowulf had launched himself at the dragon and was clutching its throat with a force equal to thirty men. Grandel twisted, roared, but couldn't get free. He was pushed by Beowulf to the lake and died.
The king thanked the hero and life returned to the castle. But at the bottom of the lake, an old sorceress, Grandel's mother, decided to avenge her son's death. He entered the great hall of the castle and imprisoned the king's advisor.
“Dear Beowulf,” said the King, “I need your help again.
That same day, Beowulf and the king mounted their horse and went to the lake.
Floating on the water was the bloodied head of the counselor.
Beowulf dove immediately, until he reached the monsters' lair. He saw a hideous woman sitting on human bones.
She was Grandel's mother. The witch threw herself at him. Beowulf was faster. Her sword cut the old woman's throat. But she continued to attack him.
At that, the knight saw a gigantic sword. He grabbed her and ripped the old woman's head off. It was only then that he saw Grandel's monstrous body beside him. Beowulf also cut off her head and carried her to the surface.
But after Beowulf freed Denmark from this sinister monster, he missed his own country terribly. Her uncle had just died. And as he was the only heir, he was crowned king. He ruled for fifty years with wisdom and justice.
That's when he again received news that a dragon was burning Denmark. He wasted no time. He summoned his troops and traveled to face the monster.
The animal was waiting for him. From his throat came poisoned flames and green smoke. Beowulf's knights panicked and fled; Beowulf found himself alone in front of the monster. But there was someone beside him: Wiglaf, the youngest of the men in his troop.
Forgetting his sword, Beowulf attacked the dragon so hard it didn't even look like it had aged. The monster grunted and blood oozed from the wound in its throat. Even so, Beowulf went to hit him with the killing blow and realized his sword had snapped in half.
He was doomed. Then he heard a voice:
- I am by your side, my king.
It was Wiglaf, who immediately attacked the dragon, mortally wounding him.
The dragon reached out and struck the king with its poisonous claws. Beowulf felt the venom seep into the depths of his body. Before life left him, he said:
– I name you king, faithful Wiglaf. And as proof of that, here is my ring.
These were the last words of the celebrated dragon slayer, Beowulf.
He died peacefully, because he knew that his successor was the bravest of all men, the best of all warriors, and that he would rule justly, bringing happiness to his people.
(Axe, Irene. Literature and writing. São Paulo: Scipione, 1994. P. 99-100.)
1) What is the title of the text?
2) What is the main theme of the text?
3) How many and which are the characters?
4) Where does the story take place? Justify your answer.
5) Who is the author of the text?
6) How many paragraphs are there in the text?
7) In your opinion what time is this story? Justify your answer.
For ACCESS
At answers are in the link above the header.
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