Why Is Beowulf Be Considered To Be A Hero

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A hero is someone that is idolized, admired, or publicly recognized for their courageous and outstanding achievements. The connotation of the word “hero” has slightly changed from the time of the Anglo-Saxons who reigned in Britain during the 5th century to the current time period of the 20th and 21st century. Societies tend to rely on heros to receive hope, save them from troubles, deliver justice, and sometimes entertain. In order to be considered a hero in the 5th century, one would have to fit strict, rigorous qualifications however, in modern day the term hero if flexible and many different qualities and achievements can shape someone a hero.

In the 5th century the Anglo Saxons invaded England and conquered the new land to call it their …show more content…

Anglo Saxons needed to trust one another to ensure that their community would not be in danger. The story of Beowulf is an epic poem that displays the attributes of what was considered to be a hero in the time of the Anglo Saxons. The protagonist, Beowulf goes on a journey to save the public from terrorism and the spread of hate from Grendel and several creatures. In the inception of the poem the it states,“Proclaiming that he’d go to the famous king… now when help was needed” (114), this tells the reader that Beowulf is courageous enough to travel to an unfamiliar destination to protect the values of the residing civilians. With Grendel tormenting the civilians, the Anglo Saxons sense of community was in jeopardy. Later in the poem he displayed great supernatural strength, “He leaped into the lake…For hours he sank through the waves” (468). This section of the poem presents Beowulf with the ability to have combat underwater for hours, which is most certainly a supernatural power which draws back to the Anglo …show more content…

Most heros nowadays are based on personal opinion and don't need to meet strict regards to be considered heroic. For example sometimes celebrities and idols are often portrayed heroic for attempting a new fashion trend, pushing a new fad, or influencing ideas into culture. Also, musicians may be deemed heroic by their fans for creating songs that relate to them and get them through an obstacle or lessen their worries with the support the music may bring. In contrast, some modern day heros are still those with brave qualities. For instance, police officers, fire fighters, crime investigators, and teachers are rightfully considered heroes because of the difficulty and courage it takes to perform the tasks and jobs that come with their occupation. Those jobs require people to be tolerable to high stress and sometimes risk their lives to protect the lives of others. Moreover, in the mid 20th century the United States was suffering in the Great depression, a long term economic downturn. During the Great Depression unemployment was popular, banks failed, and housing and global trade plummeted. Franklin Delanor Roosevelt created programs and services which ultimately saved America from the depression and got the economy back on a healthy track. Roosevelt earned the title “hero” by rescuing American citizens from an economic crisis. Personally, I consider Obama my hero. He helped pushed for

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