Saturday morning's 90-minute class block provides time for language classes to prep ethnic meals....for math students to apply geometry to surveying projects....for an English class to meet on the deck (and dock) at Elbow Pond. Could a more serene setting exist for the study of ancient literary passions and pathos?
The epic poem Beowulf is the earliest known work of the Anglo-Saxon tradition, and is therefore the first work considered by Sarah Turner's students.
In it, two monstrous creatures--Grendel's mother and Beowulf--wrestle under water. Shouldn't our students re-enact the battle here and now? All it took was mention of a few extra credit points to precipitate the near-drowning of my advisee, Josh, and soon the chicken fight we all wanted was under way:
