Beowulf Comparison Essay

John Gardner’s story of Grendel and the original poem of Beowulf have many literary similarities, as well as many differences. Each story is composed of archetypal characters, Anglo-Saxon values, and different aspects of viking life. Grendel is told from the perspective of a “beast from hell” as he is referred to as in the story of Beowulf, a brave hero. Beowulf is told from a human point of view, through the eyes of the glorious knight himself. In each story, the tone that the author uses is astoundingly different from the other, and gives the story its own personality. Hrothgar and his men are interesting to compare to each other in each book, as they are spoken of in different ways, depending on whose point of view the story is being told from.

In the movie and the book Beowulf “an ancient story that has been told many times over” is a hero who fights monsters to keep humanity safe. The book and movie talks about all of his battles with fierce monsters and how he uses his un-humanlike strength to defeat them. Although the monsters he faces in the book and movie are similar, the movie makes a few plot changes in where the story takes place, as well as changes in Beowulf character traits as well as a few character descriptions. Not only do these changes affect the story but it also affects the overall message of the story. One major difference between the text and the movie is the characters.

In an enchanting kingdom, filled with creatures of all kinds, your friends and family, who fight for their life, and protect their people. Both the movie and poem beowulf is considered a mighty king who goes out and slays the monsters. He even traveled across the sea to hrothgar’s kingdom to defeat grendel, a flesh eating monster. But after several years of fighting monsters the king finally dies, and this is where the similarities and differences take place.

In the eleventh century, the oral poem titled Beowulf was written down by a scop, and then turned into a movie in 2007. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film reflects the old poem with a modern day twist telling the tale of a young hero, Beowulf, who came to rid the Geats of their curse, deeming him king, and ending with his death. However, the poem and the movie differ in a few ways, being how Beowulf handled Grendel's mother, how women are portrayed, the ending and how it shows that history can repeat itself.

In the movie and the book there were many contradictions and similarities, nevertheless; in both Beowulf was still seen as a great warrior. The first difference between the two was that in the book Grendel acted as a coward and only came when the Danes were sleeping, but in the movie, he came while the Danes were still celebrating. The second difference was in the book Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother; however, in the movie he does not, fight Grendel’s mother. Lastly, in the book the dragon was not Beowulf’s son; in the movie, the dragon was Beowulf’s son. These are the main three differences that will be covered in this essay.

According to the textbook and film, Beowulf acts similar but he has many minor and major differences. When compared to each other, a series of important events can be pointed out including the main characters. The textbook and film is mainly about an overly confident, heroic, brave, and selfish man named Beowulf traveling across the seas to save Hrothgar’s kingdom. It was also about a supernatural legacy of a curse repeating in different forms. In this story, it talks a lot about defeating evil and supernatural beings such as Grendel and his mother. The book and movie about Beowulf shows that Beowulf solves Hrothgar’s problems; however, when compared they show many differences, such as the battle between Grendel and Beowulf, Beowulf and his kingdom, and Grendel’s Mother’s evil acts.

The poem, Beowulf, explores its protagonist’s—Beowulf’s—heroism through a series of three increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel; Grendel’s mother; and the dragon—, each of which exemplifies an aspect of the Anglo-Saxon heroic code. Beowulf’s first encounter with Grendel demonstrates the importance of reputation as a means of establishing one’s legacy, even beyond death; Beowulf’s triumph over the seemingly indomitable Grendel legitimatizes his boasts and ensures that Beowulf will be long celebrated. His subsequent encounter with Grendel’s mother exhibits the importance of vengeance; just as Beowulf exacts revenge upon Grendel for killing Hrothgar’s men, Grendel’s mother attempts to avenge her son by slaying her son’s aggressors, and Beowulf in turn chases and slays her as revenge again for Aeschere. Lastly, Beowulf’s final encounter with the dragon echoes the fateful mortality that befalls all humans; blinded by his preceding victories, Beowulf engages the dragon alone to preserve his warrior’s reputation and suffers his demise. In all three instances, though Beowulf’s actions embody the traits of a hero in a warrior’s culture, it is these same actions caused by the steep influence that his warrior upbringing has that ultimately lead him to his tragic downfall.

When people think of the word epic, they usually think of a phrase that teenagers use to describe an event, but what is the true meaning of the word epic? An epic is a form of poetry that is mostly based on the adventures of a legendary or heroic figure. These characters usually contain unhuman like characteristics, charming personalities, and strengths unknown to any other character in the poem. This is very apparent in both versions of Beowulf, and though the two versions have some similarities in conflict and character, they are more different than they are alike. Overall Beowulf is still a magnificent epic about a brave hero, whose story is told in two very different ways, with one or both containing tales of betrayal, seduction, and bravery.

The poem "Beowulf" is about a hero of the Geats named Beowulf. He comes to help the Danes defeat Grendel, the beast that has been attacking the Heorot. This old story was made into a movie. When the news got out about “Beowulf” being made into a movie English teachers everywhere flocked to the theaters. Their excitement was quickly dwindled as they watched the film unfold. They came to find out the the movie was nothing like the original story. It seemed to be that the only thing the movie had in common with the poem was the characters.

In this epic, there is a furious monster who kills and or hurts people. There is three battles that Beowulf is involved in that are in this epic. He battles Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. All three battles were different in different ways. The differences may not have been very visible or noticeable but there are some differences. Beowulf is known as a hero of the Geats to some. To others, he’s known as a vicious beast. He thinks he’s helping someone or something by the actions he takes, when really his actions are killing someone. Some people actually want them to kill some though. Take Grendel for instance, people wanted him dead. Things could be settled in a different way besides fighting but Beowulf doesn’t think that.

Beowulf in the poem is a heroic upstanding christian citizen who saves everyone from Grendel and eventually his mother with the Power of god. Beowulf in the movie is a common man who has an affair with a Grendel’s mother because she seduces him with power among other things. His whole character is stripped from many good characteristics from the poem in an attempt to make him a more interesting protagonist. Though they alluded to the christian themes with the shot of the burning church the fact that they ignore something as important as the underlying theme of the original story entirely just shows their lack of care for the poem and their poorly placed bravery in using poetic

The movie maker considered the boring personality of Beowulf and gave him and other characters twists. Beowulf, unlike the poem, is a lot more bold and brave in the movie, such as when he is fighting Grendel, he doesn’t even seem scared. Grendel’s mom was described in the book as not the most human looking creature, but in the movie she was beautiful and looked very loving. The monster Grendel never was able to fly in the poem, and in the movie he had the ability to fly. Many things have changed from the poem to the book and mostly positive

The story Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel and Seamus Heaney starts off in the 8th and 11th century. The story starts off setting in Scandinavia and follows a main character named Beowulf, from Geatland as he rescues Heorot from the monster named Grendel who has been preying on local inhabitants. Beowulf soon gets home and becomes a king and battles a dragon which leads to the death of Beowulf himself and the dragon.

In the poem, Grendel’s mother was furious that her son had died, and she went for revenge. She had him held when they fought, and held him down with her weight. Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother by striking her across the neck with a sword that no ordinary man could lift. In the movie, Beowulf dreams that Grendel’s mother attacked the mead hall while he is sleeping. Beowulf and Wiglaf then go down top Grendel’s mother’s layer. Grendel’s mother tells Beowulf that she wants a son from him. Instead of Beowulf killing her, he has an affair with her.

Are there some evils in existence that are necessary? In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, vengeance plays a central role in the actions of the characters. Beowulf is set in a Scandinavian society that places a heavy emphasis on righting wrongs and avenging others. A warrior who comes in aid of his fallen kinsmen is often regarded as a hero, and it is clear from the poem that combating those who have wronged you is a favorable action. Does this make vengeance a necessary element of heroism in the poem?