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Beowulf

Upon reading the heroic epic poem, Beowulf which is well thought out to be one of the most important masterworks of Anglo-Saxon writings, and watching the animated version of it, I have recognized some differences and similarities of interpretation. The Film Beowulf, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is an animated movie with the Anglo-Saxon poem version. The film director chose this kind of literary work as it has a piece of very significant information on the subject of controversies and relationships of the society and kingship in Old England. Additionally, the poem is tremendously thrilling and encompasses many amazing, brilliant characters and descriptions. There are a number of differences and similarities between the sections of Beowulf discussed in class, and the analog animated film screened during the three Beowulf lectures available on Canvas in terms of Grendel’s combat with Beowulf and how Grendel passes away, Beowulf’s characteristics, Hrothgar and his actions, Grendel’s mother and her fight with Beowulf, Beowulf’s realm and the combat with the dragon. The dissimilarities between Beowulf the movie and Beowulf the poem are very large. The characteristics of Beowulf seen on the screen are somehow dissimilar from the characteristics in the Anglo-Saxon poem. 

Beowulf is roughly categorized into three parts, all of which focuses on Beowulf’s combat with a specific monster: first Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, lastly, the dragon. In both the film and the poem, the main themes mirror the motivations and the values of the personalities. One of the leading themes of Beowulf, personified by its designation character, is loyalty. To begin with, the animated film portrays Beowulf as a man of imperfection and flaws. Another thing is that the depiction of Unferth and Hrothdar is not similar to the representation in the poem. In the film, Hrothgar is portrayed as a degraded alcohol addict, while Unferth carries characteristics of a pietistic Christian. In the animated film, Grendel’s mother’s representation is slightly not accurate as she is demonstrated as an attractive, seductive woman, the dragon (Beowulf’s child), and mother of Grendel’s (Hrothgar’s offspring). Another thing is that Beowulf turns out to be the ruler of the land of the Danes rather than becoming the king of his native Geatland.

Grendel’s mother is regarded as a huge swamp-like monster who could not be pierced by a mere sword in the poem. According to Beowulf the poem, “it was then he saw the size of this water-hag, damned thing of the deep…He dashed out his weapon, not stinting the stroke, and with such strength and violence that the circled sword screamed on her head a strident battle-song. But the stranger saw his battle-flame refuse to bite or hurt her at all; the edge failed his lord in his need” (Ln.1517). On the other side, Grendel’s mother is seen in the film as a very seductive monster that seems to be very lovely and attractive; Beowulf’s sword pierces precisely through her body. They then involve themselves in sexual intercourse. In the animated film, Grendel’s mom murders Beowulf’s men before he contests the dragon. On the other hand, it never occurred because she had passed on.  

One thing is that apart from being an animated adaptation of the Old English poem, Beowulf’s film does not disappoint in any way. The construction of the elementary plot and the animated film’s storyline follows that of the imaginative literary source. As seen in the poem, Hrothgar, the ruler of Denmark, is troubled by a ferocious monster known as Grendel. It was after Beowulf comes to Denmark to kill it. Following the poem, Beowulf cuts off the giant’s arm, which on the other hand, succeeds in running away but dies from the injuries. Not so long, Grendel’s mother alternatively revenges her killed son by murdering a lot of men, which results in Beowulf pursuing after Grendel’s mom and kill her too. He gets back with Grendel’s head and is abundantly remunerated by the Danes. One common thing is that in the poem, Beowulf does not have any familial relations with Grendel’s mother or the dragon, and Hrothgar, Grendel, and Grendel’s mom are not connected to one another as in the film. 

To conclude, the film preciously bears a resemblance to the heroic poem in a way that there are some differences that the motion picture director did not take into consideration. The poem depicts Beowulf as the main hero who returns to Geatland to become the ruler of his uncle’s monarchy. On the other hand, in the film, Beowulf remains in the realm of the Danes and becomes the ruler of the Hrothgar’s kingdom. Additionally, in the poem, he murders Grendel’s mother, whereas, in the animated film, they engage in sexual intercourse, and after that, Grendel’s mother gives birth to a dragon-like child. In the poem, Beowulf has never involved in any sexual contact with Grendel’s mother. At the end of the film, the dragon which Beowulf endures is not his child. It is an unsystematic hovering monster that he combats when getting back home to Geatland to be present at the coronation and turn out to be a fair-minded king.