A short overview of differences and similarities between the epic poem and its film. M oreover the danish beowulf,1 the dear king of his people, was a long time renowned amongst the folk in the cities his father, the prince, had gone afaring elsewhere from this world. Starring the voices of ray winstone, anthony hopkins, robin wright, brendan gleeson, john malkovich, crispin glover, alison lohman and angelina jolie, the film features human characters. Lastly both the book and the movie have the christian and pagan religion. Free essays on compare and constrast beowulf epic movie and book. Beowulf dismembers grendels arm after a long handtohand battle. In the movie grendel slays the danes in the night, while they are sleeping, so that none have a chance to challenge him.
The main differences movie vs book the th warrior has many, many, many similarities and differences when compared to the original epic poem, beowulf. Compare and contrast major literary themes in beowulf and the. Beowulf is a 2007 3d motion capture computeranimated fantasy adventure film directed by robert zemeckis, written by neil gaiman and roger avary and based on the old english epic poem of the same name. Book to movie comparison the beowulf legend has endured for centuries, having been retold time and time again.
The movie beowulf and grendel was shot in beautiful location. What characters were deleted from the movie but in the book. Beowulf differences between movie and poem essay antiessays. The solution for many filmmakers is to try to top the readers imagination or distract it or overwhelm it, usually by. The film states that beowulf not only had an affair with grendels mother but also had a child with her.
The book and movie have similarities and differences. All three monsters are charismatic and mysterious, and readers have disagreed about what they represent. As it is always easier for my interest to be held, when i am watching something instead of reading it. It stars gerard butler as beowulf, stellan skarsgard as hrothgar, ingvar eggert sigur. Either ranging from what is said or changing scenes completely altogether, theyre both very different from each other. Beowulf book vs movie did modernization of a classic destroy its allure. Free essays on compare and constrast beowulf epic movie. Beowulf slays one of them, while the rest are scared off by the playing of the thanes trumpets. With ray winstone, crispin glover, angelina jolie, robin wright. Contrast and similarities between beowulf and beowulf beowulf, an epic written down in the year 1060 by the beowulf poet, is the epitome of what true writing is, defining the standard of the epic itself. Starring the voices of ray winstone, anthony hopkins, robin wright, brendan gleeson, john malkovich, crispin glover, alison lohman and angelina.
After the discovery of the story of beowulf, it has since be translated and adapted to connect with different languages and cultures. The movie of beowulf is a decent action movie about a brave and courageous hero, and has an interesting visual form. Read beowulf movie vs poem essays and other exceptional papers on. Sep 19, 2012 the poem of beowulf is a great read about a true hero, and it helps one learn to read old english. The movie like most books, mario puzo s novel is much more indepth than its visual companion. Akeem brooks english 4b4 october 8, 20 beowulf the movie and book comparison in the movie and poem beowulf there were many differences and similarities that stood out. The movie features an impressive voicecast, including british actor ray winstone as beowulf, anthony hopkins as king hrothgar, and angelina jolie as grendels mother. But both the book and the movie were very intriguing. The movie seemed artificial and not believable in comparison to the poem. For instance in the fight between count dooku and anakin. Some readers have seen them as symbols of different flaws in the pagan northern european warrior code. Comparing beowulf and the th warrior book vs movie. While the movie takes a few things from the poem e. The story of beowulf is a heroic epic, chronicling the distinguished deeds of the great geatish warrior, beowulf, who travels across the seas to rid the danes of the evil monster grendel, who has been inflicting destruction and terrorizing the kingdom.
Movie book comparison tabitha turley i would say that the biggest similarity between the book and the movie was beowulf s battle with grendel. Movie in the movie grendels mother is a siren, who lures beowulf and hrothgar in to keep the evil alive book in. This is my comparison of robert zemeckis 2007 movie beowulf and of the epic poem beowulf. Secondly, beowulf does defeat grendel in both movie and book. That movie was itself an adaptation of the old english epic poem, written by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. In some cases, movies and books perform the same function particularly in cases where both the book and the movie are based on similar stories thus have related content. Then in 2007 a 3d movie was released it also told of beowulf and him fighting monsters for the danes but the story and the movie was told a bit differently. Compare and contrast beowulf and grendel 979 words 4 pages. In the poem, beowulf killed grendels mother when he dove into the water and killed her with a sword. The greatest movie line ever i am beowulf duration. There are many differences between the beowulf movie and the epic text. Is the original version simply too powerful to trump.
The demon, grendel, came to king hrothgars mead hall in the middle of the night to attack. Beowulf is killed by the dragon in both the book and the movie. After reading the old english heroic epic poem beowulf, which considered to be one of the most significant masterpieces of anglosaxon literature, and watching the 2007 american screen version of the same name directed by robert zemeckis i have identified the similarities and differences of interpretation. Beowulf is the iconic work of literature in old english. Beowulf compare and contrast by sydney koch on prezi. In the beginning of the movie i could follow the plot precisely. Movie book in the movie beowulf is the father of the fire breathing dragon that burns. Usually when a book or poem gets made into a movie there are many differences and similarities. So thats the differences and similarities between the book and the movie.
Dating back to the 8th century, this epic heroic poem employs many features that have long appealed to countless storytellers, authors, graphic novelists, and filmmakers. Translation by michael alexander, first published on 1973 is very skillfully put together and admirable. However, they share not only similarities but also share differences. Beowulf, comparison between movie and film essay example. In the movie beowulf marries the queen after hrothgars death and eventually cheats on her similar to how hrothgar did. Movie when it comes to the consumption of literature materials, different people have different tastes and preferences. What are the differences between beowulf the movie and. Moviebook comparison tabitha turley i would say that the biggest similarity between the book and the movie was beowulfs battle with grendel. The movie was made in two thousand and four, while the book was long ago then written down hundreds of years after it was made.
Differences between beowulf movie and poem essay example. Beowulf grapples grendel, who has a chain wrapped around his arm, pulling it loose. There is still a dragon that comes for the land however in the movie the dragon is portrayed as the son of beowulf and grendels mother. Beowulf is a famous poem about an epic hero who kill demon and dragon to protect the life of his people. In a besieged land, beowulf must battle against the hideous creature grendel and his. Grendel is a nonhuman being who posses human qualities. The movie stays pretty close to the movie except for two main points. He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to geatland. Some similarities are they both have the same characters. Or have we found a perfect formula for the coexistence of the two.
After reading the old english heroic epic poem beowulf, which considered to be one of the most significant masterpieces of anglosaxon literature, and watching the 2007 american screen version of the same name directed by robert zemeckis i have identified the. The text details a tower that was dedicated to beowulf after his demise. Compare and contrast beowulf book and movie free essay example. It was interesting to be able to visually see the poem come to life. This book adheres to the film, presenting the same story. Beowulf is a 2007 3d computeranimated fantasy action film directed and coproduced by robert zemeckis, written by neil gaiman and roger avary and based on the old english epic poem of the same name.
A comparison of the grendel of beowulf and gardners grendel the novel grendel by john gardner portrays a significantly different picture of grendel than the epic poem beowulf paints. As grendel is trying to flee heorot, beowulf slams the door on his arm, severing it. Grendel bursts into heorot in the night, but the danes are awake, and fully witness his killing. The book beowulf was an interesting and unique book.
Film versions of beowulf cliffsnotes study guides book. The warrior beowulf must fight and defeat the monster grendel, who is terrorizing denmark, and later, grendels mother, who begins killing out of revenge. Then was there born to him a son, the high healfdene. The change of that one scene changes the whole story. The story of heroic beowulf and his battles with the monster grendel and also with grendels mother not to mention the dragon is rather awesome. This is why i was not surprised that beowulf the movie was no true to the original poem. The amount of similarities between them are actually very slim. Comparison between beowulf the epic and beowulf the film. Whats the difference between the film version of beowulf. For one beowulf arrives in denmark the same way in the book and movie.
Beowulf is the oldest epic written in english and the single existing cope of the writing dated from the tenth century. The book beowulf and the film beowulf have a few similarities and a good spot of differences. Scholars believe it to be the oldest anglosaxon poem to have survived the times. Deletions book vs movie theme book vs movie characters similarities vs differences hrothgar before he commits suicide what scenes were deleted from the book. Beowulf came to the danes to help them kill the nasty, vicious demon.
Differences between beowulf movie and book 635 words. Beowulf grendels mother scene angelina jolie youtube. When beowulf is an old man, however, a thief disturbs a barrow, or mound, where a great dragon lies guarding a horde of treasure. A comparison of the grendel of beowulf and gardners.
However, once grendels mother came into the picture, and from then on, i was completely lost. If youre looking for a beowulf film that feels accurate to the tone and plot. Featuring groundbreaking animation, stunning visuals, and a talented cast, beowulf has in spades what more faithful book adaptations forget to bring. Very entertaining stuff, even though its only marginally useful as a reference for the original epic poem. Robert zemeckis 2007 movie tells the story of beowulf, the character. The movie has things not explained in the book, for example, grendels mother is described as a monster in the poem, in the movie she is a beauty that performs miracles. In the book, beowulf is buried and the dragon is burned. Star wars revenge of the sith book to movie comparison. The movie for beowulf was originally suppose to launch in 1997, but the funding and intrest fell through.
After grendels death, his mother goes to heorot to avenge him, but being weaker than her son, only makes off with a single thane. The poem of beowulf is a great read about a true hero, and it helps one learn to read old english. The movie with the same name was released in 2007, which make the. Whats the difference between the film version of beowulf and the.
Free essays on comparison contrast of beowulf the movie. This is the novelisation of the screenplay for the animated movie beowulf. In the movie the entrance to grendels mothers lair is guarded by a group of sea monsters. Compare and contrast beowulf book and movie studymoose. Mar 12, 20 the greatest movie line ever i am beowulf duration. Also, the movie completely omits the entire third act of the poem with the dragon. Beowulf the movie and book comparison essay akeem brooks. Whats the difference between the film version of beowulf and. Beowulf s army slaughters its enemies on the battlefield. Id be more mad about this if it wasnt common to most of the adaptations. Every thought, every doubt, every trait, every significant action, every insignificant action, basically everything that could have conceivably been. The plot of the epic poem beowulf and the film the th warrior differ greatly compared to each other.
In robert zemeckiss film beowulf, modern technology allows a. In the movie and poem beowulf there were many differences and similarities that stood out to me. The movie with the same name was released in 2007, which make the legend become real in front of audience. Some people argue that watching is better than reading but such an argument. It spoke of a man being stronger then any other man and killing horrible monsters for the danes. In either story it is not specified what type of being. There are quite a lot of changes in plot of the poem, and the sequence of things in the film. Grendels mother kills almost an entire group of warriors, who are shown as shadowy, bloody figures hanging from ceiling beams.