Grendel Vs Beowulf Research Paper

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During the Anglo-Saxon period, which was around 500 A.D., there was a popularity in epic poems. Most often, these stories were told orally; however, some of them were later written down. One of the epic poems that was written was called Beowulf, and after some time, that story was made into a movie called Beowulf and Grendel. Although the poem and movie are both based off the same storyline, they have many differences that alter the way a viewer or reader feels about the story and its’ characters. Throughout the poem, Christianity plays a key role. In the poem, Beowulf and fourteen other men of the Geats sailed to the land of the Danes to help them defeat a powerful monster named Grendel. Once they arrived, “jumping to the ground… they gave …show more content…

Soon after, when he was talking to Hrothgar, king of the Danes, Beowulf told him he was going to defeat the evil Grendel, but he also said “God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip” (Anonymous, 45). With this comment, it shows Beowulf has faith that no matter the outcome, the winner was meant to be by God’s will alone, and if he is meant to win the battle against Grendel, God will make it happen. Later in the poem, after he defeats Grendel, he must battle Grendel’s mother (She), who is outraged by the death of her son. Before this battle, Beowulf says nothing about God, and he no longer shows his humbleness. Because his faith is not present, neither is God’s protection, and Beowulf is struggling to …show more content…

In the beginning of the movie, there were not too many people that believed in God. This later changed when a missionary, a person who tries to convert others, came around to speak the word of God and tell the Danes about what a wonderful and righteous man God is. The missionary wanted to convert the Danes to Christianity and bring them closer to God. Throughout the movie, the priest baptizes the people of Denmark one by one as they choose to convert and become believers in God. Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, is not a believer in God, and he thinks the missionaries are foolish and a waste of time. However, as time goes on, even Hrothgar confesses his belief in God and allows the priest to baptize him, too. Later in the movie, God is referenced again. A crippled man appears to Beowulf and tells him that he can show him where this creature named Grendel, who Beowulf is supposed to kill, lives. The man said he would be willing to take Beowulf to Grendel and risk his own life because he was not afraid of death. Anyone else would be terrified to risk their life, but this crippled man had no fear because he knew God was watching over him and protecting him. If he was to die or be harmed, he was content because it would be by God’s will, and he knew God would make everything okay. Christianity was not important to everyone, but for the people that converted, God became their saving grace. The

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