Twelfth graders explore the epic — the grand, ancient form behind the Odyssey, Beowulf, and Gilgamesh — and its conventions, from beginning in medias res to invoking the Muse and giving heroes memorable epithets.
Students will be able to…
From Homer to Beowulf, epics share a recognizable set of features — grand heroes, divine appeals, elaborate comparisons. What are the conventions that mark a poem as an epic?
Project this and match each epic convention to its definition — tap the convention, then tap what it means.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Homer, Beowulf, Gilgamesh — what do these grand poems share?
Teacher models.
Class uses Match the Convention.
Students analyze.
Students share an example.
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (Grades 11–12).
Analyze how an author’s structural choices contribute to meaning (epic form).
Analyze how authors draw on and transform source material.
Analyze the impact of word choices and figurative language.
Read and comprehend world literature proficiently.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students identify epic conventions in a modern film or novel series and discuss how the ancient form lives on. A printable epic sheet is in the ELA library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.