Little Coloured Bricks

If you can’t seem to forget the utterance “I am Beowulf” and keep on watching the animated film or maybe even one of those B movies that have depicted the epic hero..

You are in luck because there is a diorama of Beowulf made out of the Danish bricks. This is a rather fantastic thing especially if you love epics or in this case –Lego bricks.

Don’t know Beowulf? Before the animated movie, Beowulf was only enjoyed by those who had a penchant for literature or at least those who did not have a choice but to read it because their English Literature professor would give them a failing grade.

Who is Beowulf?

Beowulf literally bee wolf or bee hunter is an Anglo-Saxon epic that was possibly written in between the 8^th century and the early 11^th century. The story survives as a single manuscript known to us today as the Nowell Codex. Its author is unknown and since it was forgotten for a certain period, its “popularity” was revived when it was printed in the year 1815.

In the poem, Beowulf battles three monsters. The first one is the head-ripping and rather moody Grendel who is known to have been attacking the warriors of the king of the Danes. Upon killing Grendel, the brave hero of the Geats had to face Grendel’s mother –another monster whom he kills. His last fight takes the story 50 years later when the then young hero is now an old king. In this last battle, he is wounded fatally and dies.

Historical Background

There are a lot of stories as to where the story comes from but one thing should always be kept in mind –Beowulf is a legend and as with other legends it was written for entertainment purposes and also includes historic events and characters.