Legendary vs. Modern Day Heros
Heroes have been around for ages and they all seem to obtain characteristics that captivate their people to view them as heroes. To be a hero means to rise above the troubled situation and become the bigger person. Beowulf was a hero for his people just as Katniss Everdeen was a hero for her people in thrilling novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins They were very similar in ways but differed in ways as well. Selflessness, bravery, and weapons used were just three of the things that symbolize their heroism.
Katniss Everdeen and Beowulf were both volunteers to protect their people. Katniss volunteered for her district, in place of her sister, to fight in the hunger games. There was a good chance that she would
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Katniss is brave by not only fighting in the games but also towards the media. In the games, the media would interview the players and most were all very fake about their beliefs but Katniss knew what was happening was wrong and she was not fearful about expressing that. She speaks her mind to the media, which was a very brave thing for a regular girl to do towards a high class media. Beowulf shows his bravery in the fights that he has with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. These are the only fights recorded in the story but it is said that he fought in more than just these three. During his fight with Grendel, he set aside his sword, Hrunting, because Grendel had no weapons so he was being fair. This was an act of bravery because Beowulf could have fought Grendel with his sword but he approached him with bravery. Both Beowulf and Katniss were rewarded for their bravery by gaining followers throughout their journey. The main difference behind their bravery is that Katniss had to be brave and Beowulf had the natural bravery in him. Although Katniss was being brave by speaking her mind to the media, she had to show bravery for her sister and her family to try and let them know that she would be okay throughout the game. Beowulf did not have to be brave for anyone but himself. He could have not fought the monster, the monster’s mother, or the dragon. However, it was a natural instinct for him to not be scared but to be brave
A hero not only needs to be physically outstanding, but he also needs to have integrity, moral values and needs to act without thinking in his own benefit. Beowulf has many characteristics of a hero but he also has some defects that make me think that he wouldn’t be considered a hero in today´s world. A hero concept evolves with a culture, Beowulf has many things that the Anglo-Saxons viewed as heroism but he misses many things that are important for a modern hero.
The clear definition of a hero is often open to interpretation and has never been clearly defined. In the translation of the epic poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, it is often debated whether the main character Beowulf is actually a hero or not. Beowulf displays hero-like characteristics through his bravery, loyalty, brute strength, confidence and protective nature. He is a crystal clear example of an Anglo-Saxon hero in his time period. In the present day he should be considered a hero as well. He displays heroism through his fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon while managing to protect his people and eventually sacrifice himself.
A true modern hero is able to set aside fear and act on the matter at hand, which signifies the quality of courage. Being Courageous can set you apart from others, because you are willing to carry out actions that are beneficial for the greater good. Any one can say they are going to do something, but when the claim is backed with actions they truly display courage. Beowulf is the epitome of being courageous. He voluntarily
Bravery is a trait that every young boy wishes to have. It is a desire that is embedded into each human being. It is only whether or not he or she acts on this desire to be brave that matter s. Aristotle writes, “{Bravery} courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.” When Beowulf heard of the atrocities that Grendle was committing to the people of Herot, it was bravery that brought him there as their savor, and without fear he would
society. In Beowulf, Beowulf shows extraordinary courage and strength that gives him special status. This notion is shown, when Beowulf fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother, but it is especially noticeable when he fights the dragon. When Beowulf fought Grendel others had the courage to attempt to fight him. The same is true with Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf goes to fight the Dragon, the other warriors cower away into the woods. Beowulf shows his courage by fighting the Dragon. Even when Beowulf is fighting the Dragon and realizes that his sword can do no damage he continues to fight. After Beowulf is on the verge of death he shows a combination of courage and strength by delivering the death blow to the Dragon, and not just laying down to die. Beowulf’s strength is shown when he is able to actually do battle with the Dragon; any normal man would have fallen to the dragon immediately.
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
Beowulf clearly showed that he was truly a hero because he had wisdom and fortitude. There are many types of heroes and Beowulf may not be a hero like Superman or Spiderman, but there is no doubt that Beowulf was a hero beyond compare. Many of the above examples heroism were closely related, this is because a true hero needs to be able to have the wisdom to know what to do and fortitude to do it.
What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind.
The epic poem Beowulf provides the comparison of two major battles with Grendel and the Dam. The two battles, although under different circumstances, provide proof of Beowulf’s strength and heroic traits. In the first battle Beowulf protects the Danes against their enemy Grendel, in a fair and defensive fight that resolves the issue. In less than a day, the Dam strikes and Beowulf is determined to defeat her. In the mere Beowulf is the aggressor and almost dies, but courageously continues and obtains a victory. Beowulf is known for his courage, bravery, and not only physical but also mental strength. We learn from both battles that Beowulf embodies the qualities of a true hero. Beowulf’s strength in both battles complete his own hero development and his mission.
Most of us have heard of heroes such as Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and even Hulk. All heroes fight for a good cause and they possess the qualities of bravado, strength, ethics, and most notably, they fight against evil. These traits apply to Beowulf, and to a modern day hero like Batman. Even though these heroes have different backgrounds, they had same traits and had a great impact in their society. One of the distinct similarities between Beowulf and Batman is that, they used their strength to fight evil in the society, since none of them had super powers. Their disparity lies in the reason why they are fighting evil in the society.
Everyday people have to face danger, and they have to show off some type of bravery. Bravery is a huge factor for the characters in Beowulf,
There many ways to describe a hero but in my words the way I describe as is someone who risks dieing everyday for the ones they love or for the people and someone who isnt afraid to stand up to a very difficult task at hand.Beowulf is an excellent example of an archetypal hero in the following in the following three ways: he risks death and glory for greater good of society,he has super human strength,he decapitated grendels mother, and he is a strong responsible leader.In conclusion those are my examples of why beowulf is a hero.
Beowulf also shows courage in all of his battles. His intelligence is far above any others. He used the sword made by the giants to kill Grendel’s mother. In lines 210-222, it describes how he was quick and saw the sword “hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic…and struck with all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through…”
The second comparison is how they are both get rewarded for doing the right thing. After Beowulf destroys the monster he gets a boat load of treasure to bring back to his people. The soldiers get rewards for helping out like a lot of money for joining, they get their college education paid for, and they get better jobs later on in their life.
A hero is someone that helps others no matter what the situation. There are many qualities that a hero must posses such as bravery, courage, strength, intelligence and honor. These qualities alone are not enough to make a hero. They must also be pure at heart, fight for the good of mankind and only fight when it is to protect the people and not out of revenge. Beowulf is everything a hero should be, but contains a few qualities that a hero should not posses. When Beowulf sailed with his men to Herot he had one goal, to rid the hall of Grendal. Beowulf was under no obligation to destroy Grendal and never asked for anything in return for his services. A true hero would never ask for money or anything of value. He put his life at risk to save the people of Herot, who he didn’t even know, out of his own good nature Great strength has been a trait that has been identified with heroes in many stories and legends. Than he saw hanging on the wall, a heavy Sword, hammered by giants, strong And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons But so massive that no ordinary man could lift... (II. 1557-1560) Beowulf possessed great strength that separated him from other men. Being able to use a sword that no ordinary man was able to carry gives the feeling that Beowulf is something more than a human being. It makes him special and causes him to stand out from all other men. Fame is something that makes a hero more noted. Beowulfs popularity had spread all over the world. He never let this go to his head and he never thought that he was better than everyone else because of it. “Your fame is everywhere, my friend,/Reaches to the ends of the earth, and you hold it in your heart wisely...” (II.1704-1706). A hero should not be foolish or full of himself. Unferth said: You’re Beowulf, are you- the same Boastful fool who fought a swimming Match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud,exploring the deepest Seas, risking your lives for no reason But the danger? (II. 506-511) A hero should not have to prove to himself or to anyone else that he is brave, fearless or courageous. If he is pure a heart and his intentions are good then he can be considered a true hero.