FREE ESSAY ON BEOWULF

BEOWULF

A writers mind is very intellectual, they tend to have an unparalleled vision within their
sense of understanding. The differences of this vision, compared to the levels of
understanding, shows itself transversely throughout the novel Grendel and the epic poem
Beowulf. Both forms of literature are distinct in the plot and setting, but Gardner's
perceptiveness of Beowulf in his novel differs from the view of the unknown author's
relay of Beowulf in the poem. In the poem, Beowulf is portrayed as an epic hero, brave
honorable, and dignified, with vast generosity and munificent loyalty. While in the
novel, he is portrayed as an unsettling stranger that connives his way into everyone's
life by his dangerous nature and entrancing stories.
In the poem, the character Beowulf is viewed as a true epic hero. He is very brave, has
great strength, and is viewed by his peers as a person like God. He has won many battles,
and completed many tasks that normal people wouldn't have the guts to face. One of these
tasks is the slaughter of the great monster Grendel. "That I, alone and with the help of
my men,/ May purge all evil from this hall. I have heard,/ Too, that the monster's scorn
of men/Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none./ Nor will I. My lord Higlac".
(260-264) In this statement from Beowulf, he is stating his fearlessness to his lord.
This shows he is very brave and loyal, because he will risk his life to rid the beast. He
also goes on to tell his people that if he doesn't survive they can have his possessions.
"And if death does take me, send the hammered/ Mail of my armor to Higlac, . .
."(281-282) This shows his generosity and his unselfishness to his people and the reader
because he knows that he is not invulnerable. Because he knows this, he is willing to
give up his possessions to the people he cares about, and become a better, dignified hero
in case of an emergency.
In the novel, there is a whole different representation of the character Beowulf, he is
viewed as a conniving snake that is feared by his fellows. People see him in an
unsettling manner, with tense attitudes, and resented feelings. "The Danes sat sulking,
watching the strangers eat, wishing some one of them would give them an excuse to use
their daggers."(159) The Danes are very jealous of Beowulf's men. The status of a person,
in that time, is determined by the amount of beasts and monsters they have defeated. This
is why the character Beowulf and the top man in Hrothgar's hall are seemingly always on
each other's throat. Beowulf is seen as a threat, not only to Grendel, but to the people
of Hrothgar's hall. Also, they view him as an insane guy who would do anything to be in
the spotlight. "I understood at the last look in his eyes. He was insane." (162) When a
person does anything to get his status , and receive his honor, even to the point of
dying for no reason, he is crazy. In the novel Grendel, Beowulf did just so. This makes
the people of Hrothgar's hall fear him, and let him have his way. This results in him
killing Beowulf, and the other monsters within Hrothgar's kingdom.
Gardner's novel, and the unknown author's poem, had many similarities including the plot
and setting. But the differences were immense in the character of Beowulf. He is
everything of an epic hero in the play, and in the novel, he is a cunning fearful snake,
that will do anything for fame. These differences go to show how writers have different
takes on other people's work. This creates diversity in the wonderful world of
literature.