1. 2. How does the film portray our HERO?
1. How does the 2007 Beowulf film portray the theme of punishment for sinful behavior?
2. How does the film portray
our HERO?
3. What is it about the monsters
of the film that scares us?
What does the film suggest
we fear the most?

2. Sinful Behavior “High Times” in Herot: Excessive drinking
Recreational fornication
Adultery (Hrothgar, Beowulf)

3. Sinful Behavior
Lack of respect for
“sacred things”:
marriage
new god: “Christ Jesus”
honesty and truthfulness

4. Punishment Grendel’s massacres Grendel’s mother’s revenge/manipulation
FB Dragon’s massacre
Conscience – Kings are tormented/self-destruct

5. The archetypal Anglo-Saxon HERO is
What About a HERO?
The archetypal Anglo-Saxon HERO is
Brave
Strong
Agile/Skilled
Capable of Incredible Feats
Dignified & Respected
Altruistic

6. What About Modern-Day HEROES?
We like our HEROES a bit more
“down-to-earth” and not-quite-perfect.
Why?
We can better identify with them .
We can aspire to become a hero.
We can practice our “feel-good” virtues such as forgiveness and mercy.

7. Our HEROES of Today . . . Have a strong desire to do the right thing.
Are flawed/make mistakes.
Attempt to correct their mistakes or right their wrongs.
Are defined by their selfless deeds, not by their unblemished records.
Still reflect our values.

8. MONSTERS
Grendel takes human form, allowing us to identify with him. He is
bipedal
upright
can speak
has intelligent thought
can feel

9. MONSTERS Grendel is frightening because we identify with him, yet
he is deformed and asymmetrical.
he is in a state of decay --
He looks a lot like a human whose
flesh is rotting, reminding us of our own MORTALITY
he is unable to communicate effectively with the world around him.

10. MONSTERS She represents TEMPTATION. BAD DECISIONS. PUNISHMENT.
Grendel’s Mother also takes human form, but is frightening not because she is repulsive, but because she is attractive.
She represents
TEMPTATION.
BAD DECISIONS.
PUNISHMENT.
Lack of
self control

11. MONSTERS
Grendel’s mother is portrayed as a “femme fatale” or a woman who uses her sexuality to “play a man for a fool.”
How does this reflect our society’s take on powerful women?
How do we define “attractive” women? “Successful” women?
Does our society hold men responsible for their own actions when it comes to sex?