Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Grendel

We have read the Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf and watched the movie of Beowulf and Grendel. These two manifestations of one event have rather great differences in the characteristics and behavior of their characters. The movie seems to show the actual events of the tale while the poem seems to capture the events in an exaggerated and praiseful way towards Beowulf’s actions. In the movie, the poem’s narration is actually by a Geat, one of Beowulf’s men. The tales differ because of exaggeration and lack of presence in some events by the Geat.
The story narrates of Grendel’s unquenchable desire to slaughter in his lust for evil. It speaks of the fear caused by him and how Herot’s population fell as people were killed or fled from the village. Herot was deserted for 12 years, yet Grendel never attacked Hrothgar, only his men. It was then that Beowulf came to defeat this evil. Beowulf speaks of his greatness and of his superiority and achievements in the hall as they feasted.
That very night, Grendel came in hope of a

Grendel’s mother, the mighty sea hag, came to the mead hall to avenge her son and obtain Grendel’s arm. Beowulf could not penetrate her skin and was losing until the monster’s arm turned into a sword forged by giants. Beowulf used this mighty sword to slay the mother. He then repaid Grendel’s visits with one of his own. Beowulf found the troll’s lifeless body and cut off his head.
The movie, on the other hand, is more complex and makes Beowulf seem like a normal person, however, a warrior of the finest kind. Grendel is not just a monster; he is a troll whose father was killed by Hrothgar when he was only a child. He was killed because he had crossed paths with the Danes and took a fish. Hrothgar was the only Dane to see the child and decided to spare his life. With this information, we can understand that the reason for Grendel’s attacks is revenge for the murder of his