The !3th warrior

The 13^th warrior depicts the hero as a man from another world, it is extremely similar to the depiction of the hero in Beowulf although both texts are relatively the same, and the way in which the story of the hero is told is extremely different. From Beowulf with Grendel and the dragon to the 13^th warrior with the Wendol, both versions deal with the hero as a savier from across the sea. The 13^th warrior depicts the hero as an outsider from another land. This aspect of the depiction of the hero can be seen in both Beowulf and the Lord of the Rings. Ibn Fadlan comes across the rusiyyah and he initially sees the Northmen as savages. Their behaviour shocks Ibn Fadlan as it is not the behaviour he appears to be accustomed to. The 13^th warrior is another depiction of the tale of Beowulf although it is told in a different way.

Idn Fadlan goes with the North men to help other North men who are in trouble. The North men come from across the sea to fight the wendol like Beowulf comes across the sea to fight Grendel in other versions of the epic tale. The hero in both texts comes from across the sea, the sea almost has this magical effect as it brings with it heroes who help the king fight the evil. The 13^th warrior and Beowulf both deal with the evil lurking within the far depths, of the murky cave. The Wendol are perceived as savages by the North men. They are thought of as inhuman and cannibals, eaters of the dead. They are the unknown that the people fear and the hero does not. The North men have an enemy different in terms of structure and code of their society. This aspect is similar to that of Beowulf where Grendel attacks the people at night in the great hall. Similarly the Wendol attach when it is dark and foggy in the 13^th warrior. The hero however in both texts is not afraid of the creatures that lurk in the night, they are brave and ready to fight to the death if needs be.

Both texts deal with similar issues. The symbolism of dying is important in both texts especially in the 13^th warrior. The dying king at the beginning of the 13^th warrior has great significance. The king is of great importance and Ibn Fadlan describes this importance in his text. When the king dies all of his belongings such as his sword and jewels are put next to him so he will have them in the afterlife. The king slave girl is killed so she can accompany the king on his journey. Ibn Fadlan describes the brutality of the slave girls sacrifice in his text. “Six men entered the pavilion and all had intercourse with the slave girl. They laid her down besides her master and two of them took hold of her feet, two her hands. The crone called the angel of death placed a rope around her neck...and handed it to two to pull it. She advanced with a broad bladed dagger and began to trust it in and out between her ribs” Here we see the savagery of the North men as seen and described by Ibn Fadlan. Here we see the for a female to be a hero she must be sacrificed with a man, women as it would appear are not seen as heroic for their actions unless it involves a man. Women are second class when it comes to their men.  The hero is depicted as something only for the men.  There is a huge importance of men in the North men society as there is in Beowulf. Women in both the 13^th warrior and Beowulf are a huge feature in both societies however women are never depicted as the hero of the day and they are seen as the peace makers, caregivers  and only the Queen is seen as an advisor.