Beowulf Modern Day Analysis

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Beowulf: Influenced by Modern Day (Topic #3) An epic story of a flawless hero through an Anglo-Saxon society who faces the wrath of an all-evil black-and-white monster becomes juxtaposed with the flawed and vulnerable character of Beowulf inspired by today’s society when analyzing the original poem of Beowulf versus the film of Beowulf. Through the character of Beowulf many centuries later, the idea of a hero is realized in today’s society to be morphed towards a more realistic, imperfect human being. The poetic version teaches that in order to achieve such heroism, you must be viewed as a flawless warrior with no human weakness, influenced by an Anglo-Saxon culture. In contrast, the modern-version of Beowulf takes a turn towards the audience …show more content…

In the original, Beowulf was a highly valued man who everyone looked up as an ideal protector. Conversely, in Zemeckis film version, he is quickly seen to possess vulnerability: women, in particular, Grendel’s beautiful mother who utters the promise of everlasting power, as she says Are you the one they call Beowulf? The Bee-Wolf. The bear. Such a strong man you are with the strength of a king. The king you will one day become (Zemecki). Unlike in the poem, Beowulf battles the guilt created as he gave in to Grendel’s mother’s enchantment. Along with Grendel’s mother’s words, Beowulf is revealed to struggle with the weaknesses of greediness for power, sexual vulnerability, and the loyalty within his marriage - however not valued in that time and age. Grendel’s mother is a beautiful temptress whose sexual appeal and promise outweighs Beowulf’s original intentions to kill. Beowulf is unable to resist and finds himself seduced by the women. After this event, Beowulf is shortly left as the inheritor of a kingdom, to live with the guilt of the newly born legend of his victory over Grendel’s mother that remains untrue. Beowulf begins to resemble the previous king, Hrothgar, as he is tangled in the same guilt the previous king had once faced. This life-altering change due to Beowulf’s mistake has been made to …show more content…

(Heane,y 2510-2515)
In the poem, his faithfulness even at the end of his time reflects how faithful and perfect the King remained throughout his rule, without any mistakes to hold him back. Unlike the original version of the faceless monster called Grendel’s mother, the women in the film version reveals the flaws of Beowulf, alike the flaws of the King before him and reflecting the flaws our society faces as

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