It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
- J. K. Rowling
A twisting dark tale with an unknown author; Beowulf is a story among stories. Every version is different, different ending, different version. The movie is a whole knock back from the story. From Grendel’s sensitive ears, to Grendel’s mother looking human, and Hrothgar being Grendel’s father, but no matter the version or story one thing is the same. The epic is amazing in both of the versions.
Let’s start with Grendel. In the book Grendel is a descendant of Cain from the Bible. He is upset that he couldn't interact with everyone else. He heard the laughter and the fun coming from Herot, and became jealous. So since he couldn't join them he would ruin their fun. In the movie however Grendel has sensitive ears, and all the partying and noise hurt his ears. So instead of trying to go and talk to them (which probably wouldn't have worked anyway… not with his looks anyway) he went over there and tried to shut them up by beating around people and killing them. In the end to me Grendel was nothing but a child who felt pain in both of the versions. The reason I say that is that when a child gets frustrated or annoyed they hit people and make a fuss, sort of like Grendel.
Grendel’s mother is a succubus. Okay, maybe not exactly like a Succubus I’m pretty sure she doesn't suck the life out of the people she touches but she’s close enough like one… but only in the movie. In the movie Grendel’s mother is gorgeous. In the movie she seduces Beowulf with promises of immortality. While in the text it’s a fight and she looks like a monster. In my eyes I feel like the text version is more accurate, you’re not going to want to seduce the man who just killed your only son. You might want to pull him apart limb from limb, but definitely not seduce him. Nothing compares to the biggest plot twist in the movie, Grendel’s father.
Hrothgar created his own demise. At one point Hrothgar must have met Grendel’s mother because somehow Hrothgar is Grendel’s father. GRENDEL’S FATHER IS HROTHGAR, but that’s only in the movie. While in the book Grendel’s father is unknown. In the movie Hrothgar being Grendel is a big part of the movie, because it brings his own death. When Beowulf kills Grendel, and then goes to see Grendel’s mother, when Beowulf returns Hrothgar kills himself after leaving the Kingdom to Beowulf.
In the end even with all the differences, the story is great. So what if Grendel has sensitive ears in the movie, or that his mother is human looking, or that Hrothgar made his own demised (Spoiler Alert: and death considering he committed suicide). In the end they are both amazing, but there is one question none of us can answer. Which story is the true version?
