Beowulf, Text vs. Movie
Though there are numerous differences between Beowulf the movie and Beowulf the text, the movie is an effective visual aid when reading and can be used to help students comprehend the text and challenge them to recognize the differences in the movie and text, therefore causing them to really understand and remember what they have read. The differences, though there are many, do not severely alter the plot and main points of the story. Though many movie reviews complain about sexual content and violence, the film is appropriate for the maturity level of most high schoolers. After reading the text, the movie can be a helpful tool in keeping the memory of the text fresh and can also let the students see the interpretation of the text by the director of the film.
The differences between the movie and text outweigh the likeness between the two. Even so, most of the important events remain the same or at least similar. The beginning of the film opens with a celebration in the mead-hall, and followed by the attack of Grendel, a demon. In the text, Grendel could not be touched by the weapons of the thanes, yet in the film he was stabbed. Also, Grendel couldn’t harm the king, Hrothgar, just as in the text, yet the reason Hrothgar couldn’t be attacked by Grendel in the text was because Hrothgar was a descendent of God, the ultimate good, and Grendel was a descendent of Cain, who was evil. In the film the audience later discovers that Grendel cannot fight Hrothgar because Hrothgar is his father.
Beowulf arrives in order to defeat the beast for Hrothgar and his kingdom in both the movie and the text. When Beowulf and Grendel battle, Beowulf manages to remove Grendel’s arm, yet in the text he uses only his brute strength while in the film he slams the arm in the door. In both the film and the text Beowulf doesn’t fight Grendel with weapons. After the death of Grendel, his mother avenges his death by murdering more people. Beowulf must now attempt to destroy her as well. In the text, she was a water goblin found at the bottom of a pond. In the movie, she was portrayed by actress Angelina Jolie, and instead of fighting Beowulf with aggression and violence, she seduces him. Beowulf kills her in the text and she is no longer a worry to the people, but in the film he lies to the whole kingdom, and Hrothgar sees through his deceitfulness and commits suicide, in which Beowulf takes the throne.
In both the movie and text, a cup is stolen from a cave and a dragon attacks Beowulf’s people. In the movie, though, the dragon is Beowulf’s son, just as Grendel was Hrothgar’s son. Beowulf fights the dragon, and in the text he is bitten by the beast and with the help of Wiglaf finishes the dragon off, yet dies from the venomous bite. In the movie Beowulf must cut off his own arm in able to defeat the dragon in which his death shortly follows. In both versions, Wiglaf is loyal to Beowulf until his death and takes the throne once his friend is gone.
Throughout both the film and the text, Beowulf must encounter three monsters and is seen as a hero. He becomes a king and rules for many years and is still mightier than any other man in his old age. In the end his life finally is destroyed by the final beast. The movie displays many of the traits of an epic poem. It makes the text seem real and exciting and brings Beowulf’s character to life. Though not completely accurate, the film is easier to understand and relate to for today’s generation and is the best guide when reading Beowulf.
Sources:
Beowulf (the movie)
Beowulf (the text)
www.commonsensemedia.com
msn.com/movies
