Shrek - An Ogre's Medieval Roots

Fig.1 "Shrek talking to Donkey."

Summary:

The film, Shrek, is one that almost everyone has watched, or at least, has heard of. Shrek, an Ogre, is forced to travel to a far off land in order to protect the beloved swamp in which he inhabits, as it has been invaded by innumerable, infamous fairytale characters following their exile. His journey takes him on a quest to save a princess from a formidable dragon in order to deliver her to the suitor, Lord Farquaad, the man capable of protecting Shrek's swamp. The film is riddled with aspects of the medieval world, ranging from the setting to the fantastical characters, which makes it a profoundly inviting film to analyze. 

Setting:

Fig. 2 "Shrek's swamp."

The first aspect of Medievalism that comes through this movie manifests itself through the different settings and landscapes. We are first introduced to Shrek's swamp, with its fog, dense trees, and  murky water, it is a clear nod to the dark forests so often found  within medieval literature. Shrek himself, living here, can be connected to the medieval idea that trepidatious, daunting creatures live in these forests. 

This environment is then juxtaposed with Duloc, the kingdom ruled by Lord Farquaad. 

With the castle, the stone walls, and the stone town within the kingdom 

Fig. 3 "Duloc's knights and kingdom."

reflecting common medieval, gothic structures during the Middle Ages. There are also banners throughout the kingdom that displayed Lord Farquaad's power and superiority, another common part of castle and kingdoms in the Middle Ages. This goes hand in hand with the armor and weaponry present throughout the kingdom. Lastly, the tall, protected tower that Shrek's rescues Fiona from is a direct link to the damsel in distress trope of the Medieval period. 

Adventure Story and Fantasy Elements:

Arguably one of the most apparent aspects of the Medieval period is the idea of a quest. These quests test the knight and work to prove their status and worthiness. Throughout the film, Shrek embarks on a quest to save his Swamp, and in the process, must go on the truly medieval mission of saving the princess from the tower and the dragon that protects it. Interestingly, though, this connection also strays, as Shrek is an Ogre, not a knight. He also has no concern for his status, but only wishes to save his own interests. In this way, the film incorporates Medieval themes and ideas, but challenges them at the same time. 

Another interesting thing to note is the idea of exile in the film. Through extensive research into the Medieval genre of Old English Elegies, it has become clear that exile is one of the most prominent themes of the time, one that often acts as a catalyst. That is precisely what happens in the film, as the fairytale character's exile leads Shrek to leave his swamp and continue on the journey.

There is also the concept of talking animals in the film and Medieval literature. Innumerable works from the Middle Ages either feature, or even revolve around, animals that can talk. Donkey is simply named after the animal he represents, just as the owl and the nightingale are in the Medieval debate poem, "The Owl and the Nightingale,"which we read earlier this semester. 

Works Cited:

"Duloc's knights and kingdom." WikiShrek. Accessed 4 December 2024. https://shrek.fandom.com/wiki/Duloc_Knights

"Shrek's swamp." Airbnb Newsroom. Accessed 4 December 2024. https://news.airbnb.com/spend-the-night-in-shreks-swamp-now-on-airbnb/

"Shrek talking to Donkey." Siff. Accessed 4 December 2024. https://www.siff.net/programs-and-events/shrek-week/shrek