NiGHTMARE Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Apparently the writers' excuse for the film being so different to the Beowulf legend we're familiar with is that the legend we're familar with is very different to the original tale. The "modern" version of the Beowulf legend derives from a single manuscript created in 1010, but the tale is believed to have been passed down via oral tadition for three or four centuries prior to that. Scholars have supposedly found various clues which indicate many aspects of the story were changed between its original telling and the 10th century manuscript; in particular, it's thought the scribe who created the manuscript was a Christian (the original author of Beowulf most likely being a pagan) and re-interpreted the story to reflect Chrstian traditions of the time. Link to comment
Miloch Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share Posted November 22, 2007 Yeah, that's true with a lot of European epics of roughly the same period - Norse eddas, the Mabinogeon, etc. Literacy came with a high price. Link to comment
Avenger Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 If i understood correctly, this film spares Beowulf from being killed by the 3rd adversary, the dragon. Was there any version of the legend without the dragon? Link to comment
NiGHTMARE Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 The dragon's always been there, although (highlight for movie spoiler) he isn't Beowulf's son in anything other than this movie and its associated merchandise. BTW while the dragon doesn't kill Beowulf directly in this movie, he's certainly the cause of Beowulf's death. Link to comment
Miloch Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 Finally got around to renting Beowulf. I didn't know it was a cartoon from beginning to end. Poor, very poor. It seems to be getting above-average reviews... for being... 'provocative'...Provocatively poor, yes. Link to comment
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