The Hero Beowulf

Kimmel, Eric. 2005. The Hero Beowulf. Ill. by Leonard Everett Fisher. New York: Shearwater Books.  ISBN 0374306710

(Photo obtained from http://us.macmillan.com/theherobeowulf/EricKimmel) 

   Plot Summary

“Retold and adapted from the epic poem” Beowulf, this story follows Beowulf, a boy-now-man who has always bravely challenged a variety of creatures despite their size or obvious danger.  Now, he must confront Grendel, a monster who is terrorizing King Hrothgar.  Matching his wit to Grendel’s strength, Beowulf heroically slays Grendel.

Analysis

Kimmel’s adaptation, told through illustrations by Leonard Everett Fisher utilizing paint strokes as his main medium solidify the concept of classic literature.  The illustrations are striking and advance the storyline by portraying Beowulf as a normal man while the creatures are magnified in size and intensity. 

However, the text in The Hero Beowulf is long winded and although compromised mostly of simplistic words, is not recommended for beginning readers.  Kimmel has fashioned the story into modern prose which follows along closely with the epic poem while leaving out some of the harder to grasp kenning found in the “original.”  Attempting to maintain the overall theme, good versus evil, Kimmel lacks the definition to conserve the purpose of the tale.   

Review Excerpts

BOOKLIST – “The most effective spreads, though, emanate a potent grandeur; it's hard to imagine a better introduction to the epic tradition than the double-page depiction of Beowulf's sea journey, his longboat rearing "like a seabird" over inky waves tipped with white sea foam.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “Kimmel approaches the stylistic markers of the poem too timidly: "swan-road" would be livelier than "the sea," and "sinews snapped and bone-joints burst" better than "Grendel's shoulder burst." But let's hope that a Part Two from these collaborators will provide a chance to paint a dragon and to throw in litotes or kenning.”

Enrichment Activities

Coloring pages - http://www.printablecolouringpages.co.uk/?s=beowulf

Worksheet Printables -
http://www.hoover.k12.al.us/sphs/English/MVincent/Beowulf%20worksheet.doc

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