Beowulf

An epic hero does not fear his own fate, but instead risk everything including his own life for the good of the people. Beowulf, the hero of this epic, shows this quality plus many more throughout the entire poem. The film, though, is a different story. Beowulf is more of an epic hero in the text, rather than the film, because although he is boastful and arrogant, he is brave, he is loyal, and he is selfless.
In the text Beowulf shows his bravery in everything he does. Before fighting Grendel Beowulf removed his sword and said he would use no form of protection. By going to battle a monster with no weapons, Beowulf shows a great amount of courage. He does this because he believes that using weapons would be an unfair disadvantage which shows that he is also honorable, another trait of a true hero. It is true that Beowulf doesn’t use weapons in the movie either, but instead of standing up and fighting like a true hero, he shows nothing but cowardice as the only way he defeats Grendel is by waiting until his arm gets trapped and pulling is off. Also in the text Beowulf shows bravery by going to defeat Grendel’s mother. Even when it seems like all hope is lost and Beowulf’s about to meet his end he comes back and defeats the monster. In the movie, however, he gives into his lust and sleeps with Grendel’s mother, giving her a child (the dragon). The text shows the values and morals that humans should have while the film makes it look like money, lust, and greed are the most important things in the world.
Throughout the text Beowulf shows outstanding loyalty starting with his decision to even help the Danes in the first place. A major motivation for Beowulf coming to help is a family debt that Beowulf owes to Hrothgar. He is devoted to the old king because Hrothgar came to the assistance of Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, years before. Loyalty was one of the most important qualities a man could possess in Beowulf's time and Beowulf's loyalty and honor saved Hrothgar's country and his people. He rushes to help Hrothgar each time he needs him, conquering Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Beowulf doesn’t want the throne; he just wants to be loyal to the king. In the movie, however, Beowulf is not loyal. He cheats on his queen, by sleeping with Grendel’s mother. This also shows that he is not loyal. He also shows he’s not loyal by sleeping with Grendel’s mother... He doesn’t kill her and protect the people; instead he sleeps with her and breeds yet another monster which ends up killing him. This again shows Hollywood’s twisted version of true human morals.
Beowulf, in the text, is a perfect example of Anglo Saxons value of selflessness. For a person to be selfless they need to care more about others than they do themselves. Beowulf opens by telling us that he journeys to "destroy evil wherever it exists, not merely to protect his own people or is own interests." He is willing to risk his life for the people of Herot. Even before he goes into battle the first thing he thinks of is what will happen to his men if he dies, so he asks Hrothgar to take care of his men. He was more concerned over his men then the fact that he could die. In the movie, again Beowulf’s sleeping with Grendel’s mother shows that he is SELFISH instead of SELFLESS. He is more worried about giving into his lust than protecting the city from the monster. The movie try’s to make it look like Beowulf is only does it because she says she won’t attack the city any more if he gives her a son. But, what kind of person believes a monster? A monster with no morals and doesn’t care if she breaks a promise? A man who only cares about himself, who is so distracted by his lust that he doesn’t even care if she is lying, he doesn’t even think twice about it. That is the kind of man the movie version of Beowulf is.