BEOWULF

Beowulf is the oldest Anglo-Saxon survival poem. It tells of legendary people and events and describes a warrior society in which there is a strong relationship between th leader and his DATE OF OMPOSITION: composed between the 8^th and the 11^th century, firstly written in the 11^th century.

SETTINGS: Geatland, in Scandinavia, the Beowulf’s own land, as well as Hortgar’s kingdom, in Denmark.

THE CHARACTERS:

Beowulf: the hero of the poem who can fight against every monster

Horgtar: the king who asked to Beowulf’s help.

Grendel: the first monster who has been terrorising Hortgar’s kingdom.

Grendel’s mother: a witch who tried to vindicate his son

A fire-breating dragon: the monster who killed Beowulf 

THEMES:

The fight between Good and Evil

Anglo-Saxon’s values of loyalty, generosity and courage

LEGEND/HISTORY: the poem deals with legend and real storcal events. Burial mounds have been founded which suggest that the legend of Beowulf could be more than an epic legend. Artefacts and weapons which were founded in Sutton Hoo are similar to those describe the epic poem.

BEOWULF: THE OLD POEM AND THE NEW FILMS

It is impossible to make a film which transmits the same messages and values of the original poem, because the modern contest is totally different by the contest in which Beowulf has his significance. 

 “Beowulf and Grendel”: the changes involve the story, because the film is based on christianisation, and so the characters.

Three new characters: Grendel’s father, Grendel’s son and witch Selma

Grendel dies at the end of the film

Grendel is not a real monster, but a persecuted which belongs to an ethic minority

Grendel kills for revenge

Beowulf buries Grendel honouring him

“Beowulf”: it is quite similar to the original poem, but the characters are so different.

Beowulf is not a might man but has some defects

Horgtar is as alcolich  

Grendel’s mother is a beautiful woman

Grendel’s kills because some human people had injured him when he was a child.