Module #10 Graphic Novel

Title: Beowulf

Citation:

Hinds, G. (2007). Beowulf. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Summary:

Graphic Novel adaptation of the Old English epic poem.

Review:

Gr 10 Up –This epic tale is exceptionally well suited to the episodic telling necessary for a successful graphic novel, as the warrior-hero fights Grendel, Grendel's mother, and, ultimately, the dragon that claims his life, and (in true comic-book fashion) each challenge is significantly more difficult and violent than the one before. Although greatly abridged and edited, the text maintains a consistent rhythm and overall feel appropriate for the poetic nature of the story. Dialogue and narration are presented in identical text boxes, but astute readers will be able to decipher from the images which character is speaking. Each specific event is complemented by illustrations that effectively convey the atmosphere–historical details are paired with sketchy, ethereal drawings, the violent battle scenes are darkly tinted with red, and the end of Beowulf's life is indicated by gray, colorless imagery. Hinds's version will make this epic story available to a whole new group of readers. This book is likely to be especially popular when the Beowulf movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is released in November 2007.

Review Source:

Campbell, H. (2007, Nov.) Beowulf. School Library Journal 53 (5), 171.

Impressions:

This is not a book I would choose to read so I purposefully selected it because graphic novels are so popular. I was also interested to learn the basics of the Beowulf story. I am aware that there is much more to the story than Hinds includes in this book, but I enjoyed it. I appreciated the artistic quality of the book. Hinds does an amazing job of drawing the human form. The muscular details of Beowulf were great. I also appreciated that he didn’t make the blood and gore of the story the focus by using muted colors for the battle scenes. Instead he saved red to show the color of jewels.

Suggested Use(s):

Use in a unit about heroes & heroines

            What makes a hero?

            What does it mean to be courageous?

What other stories are students familiar with that have a hero as the main character?

Use in an art class to study the use of color and human anatomy

In a an English class students could compare/contrast a section of the original story to the

graphic novel.

            Use in a history course to learn about the Anglo-Saxon people.

Additional Information:

Awards: YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2008

YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2008

Illustrator: Gareth Hinds

Interest Level: 4-12

Reading Level: 6.5