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Beowulf Comparison Essay

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Beowulf Comparison Essay “Be a man” is a very frequently used phrase to advise someone to handle a situation like a grown, adult male. When I think of how men should act, qualities such as bravery, strength, and prestige happen to appear in my mind. No one has ever used the phrase to help someone acquire a poor trait. Beowulf is an example of a real man with both the positive and negative characteristics. The story of Beowulf is an epic poem that tells the tale of a Scandinavian man who takes on many quests and defeats an assortment of monsters in the name of fame and glory. He is known to be “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world”. The Anglo Saxons have passed this tale on for centuries in Old English and in 2007, the modern American society had recreated the story as a film for everyone to understand and enjoy. Although, some of the scenes may not be too accurate. In the Beowulf movie and poem, there are similarities and differences in …show more content…

In both the poem and the movie, Beowulf kills the monster, Grendel, who has been wreaking havoc on the mead hall, Herot. Upon arrival, Beowulf pleads “A single request! I have come so far, … That I, alone and with the help of my men,/May purge all evil from this hall.” (Line 163, 165-166) This shows the great amount of bravery and pride stored in the great warrior. Although, the movie may portray him otherwise. After he defeats Grendel, he must face his next opponent, which is the angered mother of the monster. In the poem, he takes on the challenge and finishes it by cutting her head off. In the movie, there is the scene where, instead of smiting her, he is seductively persuaded into giving her another child and in return, more fame and glory than he could imagine. This reveals that Beowulf’s abundance of pride can sometimes go overboard and result in stubbornness especially when there is a lot in it for

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817 Words | 4 Pages

Several differences can be seen throughout the old-English Beowulf (Heaney) and the modern-day film Beowulf and Grendel (Gunnarsson) due to the cultural difference between the Middle ages and Modern time. More details entered the film to appeal to a more modern audience that requires reason and details. The old English poem held no use for complexity to tantalize the reader. Additions that add complexity to Grendel’s character in Beowulf and Grendel include backstories and new characters.

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603 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.

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533 Words | 3 Pages

They had confidence and courage to win the battle in the name of Beowulf. The author’s perception of courage displays that good will always outperform evil. In conclusion, “Beowulf” illuminates characters and their dauntless actions. In the heroic tale “Beowulf,” the author’s tones strongly demonstrates themes of loyalty, honor, and courage.

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791 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf Rhetoric Essay Beowulf, an Old English epic poem made in the eighteenth century, is about a hero who defeats the monster Grendel and his mother, then becomes the king of the Geats, and lastly dies trying to kill a dragon. Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney is the Old English translation attempting not to lose the original meaning while keeping the rhythm and poetic element at the same time. He tried to keep the original meaning of this epic poem written by catholic priests, in fear of losing their traditions, to fit their religious beliefs. Beowulf was written to keep oral traditions, depict honor and bravery, and teach catholic morals, which proves to be effective.

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702 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf went through so much to prove he was worthy enough to protect their kingdom and defeat Grendel. The story Beowulf was a great story to read and a great movie to watch; however, the battles were very eye catching and had a lot of extravagant and heroic doings of Beowulf. The first scenario that I’m going to discuss in the movie and story of Beowulf is The Battle with Grendel. In the movie Grendel attacked Beowulf in the Heriot while everyone was dancing and singing.

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512 Words | 3 Pages

Grendel was a monster who attacked hornot because he wanted revenge from the Danes for killing his father, but in the poem he was just killing people because he was a monster. Grendel killed 30 men in the poem when all of them were sleeping, while in the movie they were awake and knew what was

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492 Words | 2 Pages

In the poem, it is evident that boasting is a way of asserting power and dominance on others in Beowulf’s society. In a way, boasting becomes essential to warriors in combat. This is exemplified when Beowulf boasts about his father’s prestige. He announces to the Danes that he is the son of Ecgtheow, a noble warrior-lord (Page 21). Although the Scyldings may not know who Ecgtheow is, they are still influenced by the fact that Beowulf is a son of some powerful and famous man.

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626 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is depicted as a heroic figure who fights monsters and defends the weak. During its time, Beowulf would be considered a great hero, however in today 's standards Beowulf would only be considered a great warrior. That’s because a hero should value the lives of the people and not seek to be rewarded. Instead, Beowulf committed heroic acts for his own selfish reasons and never shows to values the lives of the people. From fighting Grendel to slaying the dragon, Beowulf only fought because he value the fame and fortune that comes along with those accomplishments.

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901 Words | 4 Pages

Grendel’s Mother in the poem seems like just the typical protective mom that is always there for her child. In the poem, she goes into battle with Beowulf, and fights to defend her boy’s name. Like the poem, in the movie, after Grendel is defeated by Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother finds out, she craves that vengeance of her only son. But unlike the poem, when Beowulf looks to go into battle with her, there is no battle he finds out that she is actually a very beautiful woman.

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762 Words | 4 Pages

Finally, throughout the whole poem, Beowulf has Gods or supernatural beings that take part in the action to affect the outcome. Beowulf, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, the dragon, the serpentine creatures, and the sea monsters that Beowulf fought in the past have all affected the outcome of the

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621 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf embodies many universal societal heroic values that are signified in the modern world like courage, bravery, and strength. In the poem, Beowulf displays courage. “Now, I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat” (Heaney 425-426). This quote shows courage because he’s telling them that he can fight Grendel and wants to weather he wins or loses.

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631 Words | 3 Pages

All three of the battles have great significance to both the movie and the poem. The first battle was against Grendel in both the book and the movie. The way the battle partook in both is extremely different though. In the book Grendel is a giant who feeds on people while they’re asleep. He attacks while they’re asleep that way none of them can fight back.

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821 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf possessed the poised demeanor necessary to defeat all evils by the arrogant swing of his sword. The commitment shown by lending his life to the welfare of his people was imperative in order to be called a flawless warrior. Beowulf embodied the determination that Anglo-Saxons saw as unmeasurably valuable. If nothing more than just fiction, Beowulf is the ideal hero of the people from who he originated. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.”

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752 Words | 4 Pages

Grendel in the novel displays the idea that he is far more superior than mankind. He mentions, "I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bonfire" (Gardner 167-168). Grendel knows that that the people fear him because he is different and he uses that to his advantage. The "Monster", Grendel, seems to be fascinated in attacking Meadhall and is not frightened at all. Although he is brave in the novel, Grendel in the epic poem is described in being scared and weak on the attack at Meadhall.

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1301 Words | 6 Pages

Beowulf is one of the oldest epic poems that has ever been discovered and preserved by Historians, but, due to its age, the original author has proved hard to identify. The only information speculated about the author is that he was a monk who lived between the 700s and 1000s, and the booked is traced to have been written in England during the Anglo-Saxon times. While there is not much definitive information about the author, though, the Beowulf poem provides a descriptive reflection of the author. The style the author uses to write, the information he provides, and the context he provides it in give the readers a sense of what he believed in and valued. These aspects are shown through the characters in the story, the main plot, and the belief system the people use in the epic.

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