Classical Children's Plays

As the original hero-slays-monster story, “Beowulf” is a tale that even young children can adore. The excitement, linguistic beauty, and deep humanity of the Old English original are part of what makes it great. And, as a long-time student of medieval English literature, it is my goal to help them love this gem. To make the epic poem more suitable for young children, I have simplified the plot to include only Beowulf’s first (and most famous) battle, against the ogre Grendel. However, I have also drawn on the Old English poem to develop the “pre-story”, showing what Beowulf was before he became a great hero: good-hearted but a bit arrogant, competitive but loyal in friendship. In other words, rather like many of the boys who will be acting in this play. From this beginning, it is all the more wonderful to see the young Beowulf mature into a man, and use his strength to serve and protect others.​ This production is short, simple, and memorable enough for children age 8-10, while also conveying the sound and beauty of the original poem. I have written it in alliterative, rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter – the rhyme for easy memorization, the rhythmic meter for beauty, and the alliteration to give performers and audiences a taste of the original Old English poem. Here and there, I have also included the vivid images and phrases so typical of Old English poetry. In all these ways, this production will lift up its young performers to admire what is good, noble, and beautiful in literature and language.