Soapstone Graphic Organizer
Jassimar Oberoi 8B
Title: “Beowulf”
Author: Richard Wilbur
The general topic, content, and
Subject ideas contained in the text.
What is this piece about?
The time and place of the piece;
the current situation or context
Occasion which gave rise to the writing or
speech.
The group of readers to whom
this piece is directed. The
audience may be one person, a
Audience small group, or a large group.
What qualities, beliefs, or values
do the audience members have
in common?
The reason behind the text.
What does the speaker, writer,
or filmmaker want the audience
Purpose to do, feel, say or choose? In
literature, we call this the
theme of the piece.
The voice that tells the story, or
in nonfiction, the author. What
Speaker do we know about the writer’s
life and views that shape this
The subject of the poem provides more
context/ insight, as well as showing it from a
different perspective on the text of Beowulf; it
briefly describes Beowulf with summarization,
includes details from the story, portraying it
with emphasis and highlighting overall story of
Beowulf.
Richard Wilbur’s Beowulf was written in the
20th century, however the legitimate story of
Beowulf was written between 8th century and
11th century, and the author of it is the
Beowulf Poet (unknown). The legitimate
Beowulf story provided insight on the life of
the Anglo-Saxons
The poem is targeted to retain tradition and
culture of Anglo-Saxons, preserve the unique
story of Beowulf, and highlight Anglo-Saxon
culture/tradition
The theme/purpose of the text, is to provide
further context/insight on story of Beowulf,
recounts the epic from the perspective of a
different source; the perspective as seen in
the poem mirrors that of someone of whom
interacted with the Anglo-Saxons, of whom
was a kin of them and or visitor/tourist
analyzing their culture. In his poem, Richard
Wilbur provides an overview of the story of
Beowulf; he emphasizes the scenery and
beauty of the Anglo-Saxon land, and the vibe
of the people; “The land was overmuch like
scenery, The flowers attentive, the grass too
garrulous green” (page 1, line s 1-2) & “Also
the people were strange, were strangely
warm” (page 1, line 7). Wilbur recounts the
epic of Beowulf
The speaker; Richard Wilbur was a poet
composing poems of tradition, he had
experience in WW2; he recounts the unique
account of Beowulf with addition to his
 experience; he demonstrates the uniqueness
of the story; telling the tale from the
text? perspective of one of whom that would be
close to the Anglo-Saxons, or know sufficiently
about htem.

What choice of words and use of

rhetorical devices let you know
Tone the speaker’s tone? Is the tone
light-hearted or deadly serious?
Mischievous or ironic?