Beowulf’s original poem can be quite hard for non-scholars to understand. Perhaps, this was the reason why it didn’t received so much appreciation in the past until modern authors published their own versions such as the “Beowulf a New Verse Translation – written by Seamus Heaney”.
On this post, let’s discuss a few comparison between the “2007 Beowulf” animated-film from Heaney’s New Verse of translation book. There is actually a huge deviation from what has been portrayed on the movie while Heaney’s own version is written in a way exactly as the original script.
The Beginning of Beowulf’s Adventure
Both version from the beginning of the plot are the same. “Spare Dane or Hearot kingdom” was being terrorized by a monster named, “Grendel”. Since nobody in the entire kingdom of “king Hrothgar” can stop the demonic beast, one mighty Scandinavian hero came to their own rescue.
I guess, all other versions from the books including movies do have the same scenarios from the beginning where the brave adventurer faces Grendel and was able to slain it. Perhaps, the major differences is how Beowulf dealt with the monster which I guess based according to every authors’ own imagination.
The Mother of Grendel
Heaney’s version now came different from the 2007 Beowulf movie in terms of Grendel’s mother. The film features a giant golden snake with an alternative human form that “look-like Angelina Jolie”. And, the movie ended where the hero failed to slain her. But in Heaney’s book, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother as well.
What I really do not like about the movie is that, the evil won where the water serpent demon seem to have continued sending terrors into the land of Hearot because no one can stop her.
The Dragon Creature
In the book, Beowulf went back to his own homeland and there he aged old. However, his adventure never stopped where he confronted one large powerful dragon. The dragon creature was the last monster that he confronted then later died due to his old age.
While in the movie, Beowulf never went back home but he became the next king or he succeeded king Hrothgar’s throne. There, he aged old where a large dragon suddenly attacked his castle. Since he was the only one who was still brave enough to face the flying creature, he went riding and hanging on the dragon until he was able to rip its heart out. Unfortunately, he died from the great fall along with the dragon when they both fell from the top of the castle.
Beowulf’s death from the movie sounds more like heroic because he died in a battle. Most warriors and adventurers actually seeks such kind of death. Of course, I also liked the Heaney’s ending where the hero got exhausted dealing against a lot of monsters on his adventures and died from his old age. This shows that he was an unbeatable hero of his own time.
Moreover, if you enjoyed watching the 2007 Beowulf movie then I also recommend that you should read Seamus Heaney’s book. His version is the best among all other books with good clarity and understandable translation that I ever read.
On this post, let’s discuss a few comparison between the “2007 Beowulf” animated-film from Heaney’s New Verse of translation book. There is actually a huge deviation from what has been portrayed on the movie while Heaney’s own version is written in a way exactly as the original script.
The Beginning of Beowulf’s Adventure
Both version from the beginning of the plot are the same. “Spare Dane or Hearot kingdom” was being terrorized by a monster named, “Grendel”. Since nobody in the entire kingdom of “king Hrothgar” can stop the demonic beast, one mighty Scandinavian hero came to their own rescue.
I guess, all other versions from the books including movies do have the same scenarios from the beginning where the brave adventurer faces Grendel and was able to slain it. Perhaps, the major differences is how Beowulf dealt with the monster which I guess based according to every authors’ own imagination.
The Mother of Grendel
Heaney’s version now came different from the 2007 Beowulf movie in terms of Grendel’s mother. The film features a giant golden snake with an alternative human form that “look-like Angelina Jolie”. And, the movie ended where the hero failed to slain her. But in Heaney’s book, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother as well.
What I really do not like about the movie is that, the evil won where the water serpent demon seem to have continued sending terrors into the land of Hearot because no one can stop her.
The Dragon Creature
In the book, Beowulf went back to his own homeland and there he aged old. However, his adventure never stopped where he confronted one large powerful dragon. The dragon creature was the last monster that he confronted then later died due to his old age.
While in the movie, Beowulf never went back home but he became the next king or he succeeded king Hrothgar’s throne. There, he aged old where a large dragon suddenly attacked his castle. Since he was the only one who was still brave enough to face the flying creature, he went riding and hanging on the dragon until he was able to rip its heart out. Unfortunately, he died from the great fall along with the dragon when they both fell from the top of the castle.
Beowulf’s death from the movie sounds more like heroic because he died in a battle. Most warriors and adventurers actually seeks such kind of death. Of course, I also liked the Heaney’s ending where the hero got exhausted dealing against a lot of monsters on his adventures and died from his old age. This shows that he was an unbeatable hero of his own time.
Moreover, if you enjoyed watching the 2007 Beowulf movie then I also recommend that you should read Seamus Heaney’s book. His version is the best among all other books with good clarity and understandable translation that I ever read.
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