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Beowulf

Narrative and Character Types

There are lots of theories on the ways that stories work: some people say that most stories or narratives have similar themes, and similar characters. The following 'character types' come from Propp's work on folk tales:

HERO: Individual whose quest is to restore the equilibrium.

VILLAIN: Individual(s) whose task is to disrupt the equilibrium.

DONOR: Individual(s) who gives the hero something e.g. advice or an object.

HELPER: Individual who aids the hero with their set task.

PRINCESS/PRINCE: Individuals who need help, protecting and saving.

DISPATCHER: Individual(s) who send the hero on their quest.

FALSE HERO : Individual(s) who set out to undermine the hero's quest by pretending to aid them. Often unmasked at the end of the film.

Student Task

Can you match the characters from the film to the roles above? Write their character types in the boxes below

Head and shoulders shot Beowulf, wearing a red cloak and a crown


Still image from the film, of King Hrothgar, who wears a norse-style crown and has a long beard


Close-up of Wiglaf, who wears a helmet.

Image of Grendel reaching out toward the camera


Close-up shot of Wealhtheow, who wears a crown. She has a concerned look.
Close up profile shot of Grendel's mother, almost in profile


Head and shoulders shot of Unferth, who has long dark hair and a black goatee beard. he looks startled.

Justify your decisions based on evidence from the film, poem or both.  Do some characters fit into more than one role?

Jealousy, Greed, Power

How does Unferth behave towards Beowulf? Why do you think he acts the way he does? Explore the following details from the poem to give you some ideas:

"Beowulf's courage, his steadfast strength
Was a burden to Unferth; envious man,
He could not bear to be bettered"

Why do you think Beowulf agrees to kill Grendel and go after Grendel's  mother? Do these images from the film give you any further ideas?

Two-shot of Wealhtheow and Beowulf Two-shot of Beowulf with King Hrothgar

  • If you are familiar with both the film and the poem, you could think about the differences between them - what motivates Beowulf in each version?
  • What guesses can you make about the 'values' of warriors and kings at the time the poem is set? What was important to them, do you think?
  • Do you think the old king sets a good example to his young warriors?