Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Beowulf-1

1.2 The Film of Beowulf in 2007-1

1.3 Literature Review-3

1.4 Thesis Structure-3

Chapter Two Heroism-4

2.1 Features of the Old Heroism in the West-4

2.2 Features of the New Heroism in the West-4

2.3 Evolution of Heroism in the West-5

Chapter Three The Film’s Creative Adaptation of the Epic Beowulf-6

3.1 Creative Adaptation in Beowulf’s Hero Image-6

3.1.1 Hero of Humanity-6

3.1.2 Hero of Defect-6

3.2 Creative Adaptation in Plot-7

3.3 Creative Adaptation in Theme and Connotation-7

3.4 Creative Adaptation in Negative Character-8

Chapter Four Conclusion-9

References-10

Abstract

Beowulf, a long heroic narrative poem, which was completed in about 750 AD, is recorded as the oldest legend in old English. It focuses on the serious matter by describing Beowulf's heroic acts and events with great significant to its culture and nation. In 2007, Director Robert Zemeckis adapted it to the film with the same name. After the film was aired, the hero Beowulf's heroic image had always been a hot topic for film critics. They focus on the humane, rational heroic image with even weakness, which just reflects the authenticity and inevitability of the heroic image. The film breaks the traditional commercial films’ approach of “hero myth”, and unlike traditional commercial films, it also gets rid of the optimistic views of human nature. In addition, in contrast to traditional epic with a simple binary opposition of good/evil, brave/cowardly, the film has creatively adapted the epic’s theme by endowing the hero with more real emotion, making the hero step off the altar, and hence shows the new connotation of the concept of hero.

There is a long history for the academic studies on the epic Beowulf. Most of them study it from the aspects of heroism, religious thought and artistic characteristics. However, few scholars are concerned with comparative study between the epic and the movie. Some scholars are beginning to focus on the similarities and differences between the two, but most of them just compare them in film techniques and social background, while lacking overall arrangement. The paper will focus on the evolution of heroism as a starting point. Through a comparison of the movie and the epic, it will analyze the creative adaptation of the epic by the film especially by focusing on the evolution of concept of hero in a historical point of view, and discuss and evaluate it in terms of social background and moral standards. 

Keywords: Beowulf  heroism  creative adaptation