Beowulf and Grendel

Beowulf is a classical epic poem which describes Beowulf’s heroic deeds and his acts towards bringing justice and peace to the Scandinavian society by eradicating Grendel. The original manuscript (700-1000A.D.) and the modern film (2005) reveals significant differences between the characters’ traits and descriptions, an important quotation, descriptions of places, motives, a character’s presence and events that have taken place. Thus, this modern adaptation, Beowulf and Grendel, of an ancient text, Beowulf, is significantly flawed as any modern adaptation of an ancient text will be. In the film, specific characters are portrayed differently as they are in the poem. A significant example of this is from the character, Grendel. The poem portrays Grendel as a demon who is ultimately evil and a descendant of Cain. The image of Grendel the poem gives its readers is nothing compared to that of a human’s traits and characteristics. “ He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death.” (Beowulf, lines 41-45) This quotation shows us that Grendel was portrayed as a very non-human character, he was displayed more of a monster and a creature than a human.
“The Almighty drove those demons out, and their exile was bitter, into a thousand forms of evil---spirits and fiends, goblins, monsters, giants, a brood forever opposing the Lord’s will, and again and again defeated.” (Beowulf, lines 45-51) This quotation reveals the fact that Grendel was being contrasted to the many forms of evil in which none resemble any human characteristics or traits, and this quote also foreshadows the eventual defeat of Grendel. “ A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rang loud in that hall.” (Beowulf, lines 23-26) This quotation clearly states that Grendel is a monster which lives in darkness and antagonizes the