Comparing Beowulf And Grendel And Beowulf - 1702 Words

Since it was first discovered and translated, Beowulf has represented one of the finest examples of heroic poetry. As a tale reflecting the noble deeds of a hero, it uniquely expresses the cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons from whom it originated since heroes often do reflect the best of what their culture deems worthwhile. However, modern adaptations of this work express a different set of cultural values; values unique to modern society. When comparing the translated poem, Beowulf, to the 2005 motion picture, Beowulf and Grendel, it is obvious to see that our morals and ideas are reflected on this ancient poem. The movie, Beowulf and Grendel, and the epic, Beowulf, are prime examples of the radical cultural differences that have evolved over time. In Beowulf, the epic, we see very simplistic characters. Beowulf, for example, is simply a hero who kills monsters. That is all he has ever wanted in his life and that is all that defines him. In the motion picture, we see Beowulf as a man that has risen from his unique childhood and has made a name for himself. We see Beowulf as a flawed human being; not as a muscle-head hero who is never defeated. This humanizes Beowulf and makes him a more appealing character that people can identify with. In the epic, Grendel is a demonic monster who kills for no reason; he is only reason considered evil, because he does not pay the blood price after killing someone. In the motion picture, Grendel is made to look more human;Show MoreRelatedComparing Grendel And The Epic Of Beowulf976 Words   |  4 Pagesanything, you always have a choice† (King). Grendel, in both the self-titled novel and the epic, Beowulf, had a choice. He chose to make the wrong decisions and act solely based upon his feelings. Even though others feel Grendel is a monster because of fate, and he is destined to become a monster either way, Grendel is really a monster due to free will and Grendel s loneliness, plus lack of communication causes h im to be violent as well as Grendel knowing what he is doing and is aware of the choicesRead MoreComparing Beowulf, Grendel, And The Dragon1815 Words   |  8 Pagesnot be as rewarding if they did not have to face many adversities on the way. Some of the monsters in these stories like Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon from Beowulf, while the Odyssey has many monsters but some if the main ones are Cyclops, the suitors, and Poseidon. The culture in Beowulf was more about believing in a higher power and related monsters like Grendel and the dragon to religious meanings while the Odyssey is about looking inward because they are all things in your daily lifeRead MoreGrendel And Beowulf Comparison1192 Words   |  5 Pagesbest people I know and someone I strive to be more like. Is my Daddy like the hero Beowulf or the monster Grendel? The answer can be found by comparing my Daddy, Beowulf, and Grendel on their character, actions, and the impact they have on others. A persons character says a lot about them, in a way it is what defines them. Your character is what you are known for. Beowulf, a fictional hero in the epic poem, â€Å"Beowulf† is perceived to be a very noble, honorable, good man. No, man would not do justiceRead MoreTheme Of Evil In Beowulf996 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf versus Evil   Ã‚  Ã‚   Heroes can be in our everyday life or someone you’ve seen only once but all of our heroes have something in common. Their heroic traits make up who they are and some character traits my heroes have in common are kindness, courage, intelligence, and empathy. Beowulf is also a hero in my eyes because he possesses all of these traits and more. What traits do your heroes have in common? Robert Nye’s long poem, Beowulf: a New Telling, is a fictional long poem about a hero, BeowulfRead More Comparing Beowulf and Michael Crichtons The 13th Warrior Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesComparing Beowulf and Michael Crichtons The 13th Warrior Michael Crichton intertwined some aspects of Beowulf with his own thoughts to produce the drama, â€Å"The 13th Warrior.† Beowulf, written down by an unnamed Christian monk in the 8th century, served as a framework for the plot of â€Å"The 13th Warrior.† Beowulf and â€Å"The 13th Warrior† have many differences but the similarities that they share are more abundant through out the two pieces. Instead of doing a direct translation of Beowulf, the writerRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1300 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo Saxon writings, many heroes were given fancil characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1292 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo-Saxon writings, many heroes were given fanciful characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth-century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead MoreThe Religious Principles Of Beowulf1236 Words   |  5 PagesSyncretism is defined as the combination of different beliefs or practices. This term is an important topic within Beowulf, since the poem has obviously united two religious principles. Beowulf is dedicated to expressing and explaining the Germanic heroic code, but there are specific moments when Christianity and paganism over laps. Though Paganism focuses on victory, honor, and masculinity the author manages to add the act of forgiving your enemies, the significance of the monsters within the poemRead MoreGrendel and Obj1412 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf Multiple Choice Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Comprehension The questions below refer to the selections â€Å"from Beowulf, Part One,† â€Å"from Grendel,† â€Å"Life in 999: A Grim Struggle,† and â€Å"from Beowulf, Part Two.† ____ 1. Beowulf slays Grendel in order to  Ã¢â‚¬â€ |a. |save Hrothgar and the Danes from the monster | |b. |prevent Grendel from invading theRead MoreA Summary of the Epic of Beowulf Essay1386 Words   |  6 Pages Beowulf is a story that takes place in medieval Europe, the main part of the story is about a knight, Beowulf, who has to fight evil creatures such as a dragon. No one is exactly sure who wrote Beowulf, Paleographers believe that the soul surviving manuscript was copied down in the late tenth century or early eleventh. This early copy of Beowulf is still around today. This single manuscript can be found in the British Library in London. Scholars believe that the story itself was written between