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Beowulf Compare And Contrast Essay

Decent Essays

Compare and contrast Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf to the Robert Zemeckis film Beowulf.

In the text, we see that Beowulf is not yet a king, but, a king to come. He is not quick to react without thinking. Beowulf ordered his boat, picked out his men. A Saviour hero, thanking God after sailing. In the film, the heathen of gods was good, but Christ Jesus was bad.
Likewise, the difference was gold. In the book Beowulf was rich. Back in those days when you were pouring with gold you were a good warrior. A good warrior could pay for a good army to win fights. In the book gold was not important, it was about Glory.
Beowulf was Achilles in the movie. He possessed no awe of the tempests. He shows no thankfulness to God for safe traveling. Equally for the book Beowulf was thankful for safe change of location. Making sure his men were safe on the boat with many weapons to protect them. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful.
In the film, there was only one watchman (the Shielding’s’ look out) who meet Beowulf and his men. Beowulf men want to get their swords, but, Beowulf stops them. Beowulf tells the sentry duty that they are there to kill their demon. The watchman verbalizes “thought there were no more heroes left ready to kill the monster for our gold” Beowulf responds “he is not doing it for the gold but for the glory. Beowulf is willing to risk his life and all his men live for glory. In the film Beowulf is a great man, he is like a shot in front of the sphere the guardsman is holding. Beowulf never blinks an eye.
In the book, the watchman saw “shields glittering” (230) on the gangplank and battle equipment. The horseman of Hrothgar’s and challenged them in formal terms, flourishing his spear: “What kind of men are you who arrive rigged out for combat in your coats of mail, sailing here over the sea lanes in your steep-hulled boat? (235) We have come here on a great errand to the master of the Danes, (270) I come to offer my wholehearted help and guidance. (275) Beowulf remains polite while talking to the guardsman. In the book Beowulf is loyal to his family mention only of his father’s name. In the film- Beowulf is a modern hero, with no need of relatives. As well,

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