Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Hrothgar

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Beowulf, his name is one synonymous with heroism, bravery and loyalty. When Hollywood released this latest edition in the retelling of the famous epic poem, they took various liberties. Throughout the film they kept certain aspects of the play so it is obvious to recognize the source material. An excellent example is two of the main characters, Beowulf and Hrothgar, both who behave differently than their poetic counterparts. These various differences ends up changing how their version plays out, how the story develops. In the original Epic poem many of the monsters in the story represent different experiences throughout someone 's life. The first monster, The Demon Grendel, is used to represent daily adversities someone would have in their …show more content…

In the Epic Poem Hrothgar is displayed as a strong, wise, caring leader with a loving marriage. While in the film he is shown to have become a fat drunk who fornicates on several occasions, once with Grendel’s mother to produce her wicked offspring. Though the king is not the only one to change, the great Geat hero Beowulf suffers many changes to his morals and personality as well. His counterpart in the Epic is shown to be an indomitable man with no corruptibility and unwavering loyalty to his lords. The 2007 film depicts him as a man who wishes to only have power and is corruptible, as shown when he mates with Grendel’s mother to produce the Dragon. These multiple changes show that as a society the wishes for a great narrative have changed from wishing to hear of these great men’s accomplishments to wanting to see them broken to their core to see truly what their souls …show more content…

This film managed to capture his world and all the horror and beauty that it contained within it while changing some things to keep up with today’s audience. Hrothgar is changed from a strong, wise and a faithful husband to a loud, drunk womanizer who fornicates with monsters to create more horrors. Beowulf is changed from an incorruptible hero with unwavering loyalty to his king to a man that is willing to cast aside his loyalty in exchange for the promise of kinghood and power. Monsters, such as Grendel, are changed too, so that they may be seen in a light that makes them seem human and relatable. Grendel himself is changed from a monster who only wants the destruction of Hrothgar’s men to a human-monster hybrid that seeks affection and feels shame and pain. Grendel’s mother is changed from a hideous, horrible witch to a beautiful seductress who seduces Beowulf and Hrothgar with promises of power in order to birth two powerful sons. The Dragon is changed to be Beowulf’s son, but he keeps the same destructive rampage that leads to the death of his father and many of his people. Along with their personality changing so did their fates to make it seem more relatable. Beowulf dies after single handedly fighting the dragon at the cost of removing his arm. Hrothgar names Beowulf his heir and kills himself by jumping into the sea. Grendel and the Dragon both die at the

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