Beowulf: Movie Analysis

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Throughout the years, Hollywood has transformed many original texts. The story of Beowulf was written in about 1000 AD, it is an Anglo-Saxon traditional poem that depicts heroism. Beowulf was an outstanding warrior has slain many monsters. He traveled to relieve the king of the Danes, Hrothgar, of his troubles by battling a monster named Grendel as well as his terrifying mother. In the original text, Beowulf is perceived as a true hero of the Geats and Danes. The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, displays Beowulf's heroism as a problem rather than a solution. Although the film follows the same storyline as the poem, they have different themes of courage, different depictions of Beowulf, and the difference in appearance of Herot. Although there are many differences, there are multiple similarities. One of the most important differences between the film and the poem is the theme of Beowulf's courage. In …show more content…

In the film, the gold piece is the only thing protecting Herot from further attacks. The film suggests that this dragon is Beowulf’s offspring, who wants a revenge. These two versions of Beowulf have two key differences. In the text, Beowulf fought the fire-breathing dragon along with Wiglaf helping. The dragon’s throat had been slit which caused his death. In the movie, however, Beowulf rips out the heart of the dragon while hanging on to the dragon. This was a far more warrior-like and a more heroic way to finish off the dragon and then die. Ripping the heart has a greater sense of heroism. Thus, the movie had a more heroic ending. Beowulf and the Dragon, end up both dead in the poem and film. In the film, Beowulf and the dragon end up dead together on the beach by the last scene. Although Beowulf ended the chaos in his kingdom, he died as a folk hero of all the Danes and Geats. The theme the film ends with shows a major difference between the original

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