Can the medieval and the contemporary ever be compared? Although they were written many years apart, the great classics Beowulf and The Hobbit share several similar elements. J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, The Hobbit, was published in 1937. In contrast, Beowulf’s author is unknown, and the earliest manuscript dates back to about 1000 A.D. Written in distinct styles, the narratives differ since one is an epic poem and the other is a novel. Despite the age difference, parallels abound between the two tales, including brave protagonists, similar plot lines, and malicious dragons as the antagonist. This essay explores those similarities a bit more in depth.
One of the first parallels between Beowulf and The Hobbit’s protagonists, Bilbo, is the bravery
One of the first parallels between Beowulf and The Hobbit’s protagonists, Bilbo, is the bravery