- Published: January 17, 2022
- Updated: January 17, 2022
- University / College: University of Alberta
- Language: English
- Downloads: 37
The epic poem “ Beowulf” and the motion picture “ The 13th Warrior” are both very similar and at the same time distinct in various aspects. Both show how ordinary warriors become heroes and not necesssarily of the epic type. As well as how they differ in the way the plot occurs and how characterization is changed within the movie. Epic poem “ Beowulf” and movie “ The 13th Warrior” both take place in Hrothgar, an Anlgo-Saxon medieval town terrorized by malevolent demons. In “ Beowulf” Hrothgar is terrorized only by Grendel and his mother.
In the motion picture, Hrothgar is terrorized by many Grendel-like demons known as the “ Wendol”. These creatures seek blood and human fear at night when everyone is at rest in both the poem and the movie. The poem is structured by battles Beowulf fights in against Grendel, Grende’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf by himself is capable of defeating Grendel and his mother. He becomes a king in the Viking culture and dies at the last battle against the dragon. In the motion picture the character Ahmed is chosen as the thirteen warrior and sails among twelve others to Hrothgar where their help to defeat the blood thirsty creatures was needed. Ahmed does not become the heroe of the movie alone. Bullwye, a Viking from Hrothgar unites forces with him to become one.
Their strength, courage, and faith in their religious beliefs gave them victory against the monsters. Both the poem and the movie present an evil woman as the leader and mother of the creature(s). The mother also lived in a lair to which both Beowulf and Ahmed and the rest of the clan are adviced to go and kill her.
Beowulf himself kills the beast’s mother while in the motion picture it is Bullswye who kills the “ Wendol’s” leader. Both the poem and movie are structured in a similar way according to the battles that are set up throughout both stories however the movie takes a turn at the last battle. The third and last battle in Beowulf is against a dragon protective of its hoard. Beowulf himself tries to defeat the dragon but in the attempt he discovered he could not make it any longer.
This is where Beowulf’s death is revelaed. The final battle in “ The 13th Warrior” is not against a dragon. It is indeed against the remaining warriors of the “ Wendol” that seek revenge in behalf of their leader. This is where Ahmed and Bullwye join to become one and fight against the large clan in an epic battle.
The “ Wendol” is defeated and order is restored to Horthgar after Bullwye’s death is caused by poison. This is how both “ Beowulf” and “ The 13th Warrior” compare and contrast in terms of characterization, epic heroicness, setting, and plot.
