Beowulf And Batman Comparison

Both the epic poem Beowulf from Anglo-Saxon England and the 2008 Christopher Nolan movie The Dark Knight are action-packed stories about a heroic man who defeats various enemies. While both Beowulf the character, and Batman from The Dark Knight trilogy have similar heroic traits, along with some personality differences, the two stories also contain interesting antagonists that represent the time period in which each was created. The mix of pagan and Christian factors in the Anglo-Saxons is comparable to the jumble of beliefs in modern society. Yet, the characters from Anglo-Saxon works do not completely mirror more recent characters because of the difference in values, beliefs and cultures. Due to the contrast in the societies of both Beowulf

Grendel is described as “a powerful monster, living down / In the darkness, / growled in pain” (Beowulf 1-2). His great strength dominates all the people of Herot, who, afraid of his monstrous traits, live life without him. He obviously doesn’t fit in with the rest of society, since he is described as a “demon, that fiend” (Beowulf 16). His physical looks are a standard in Anglo-Saxon stories, since great value is placed in strength and bravery. One must have great courage to fight a villain like Grendel, and Beowulf shows his heroics by participating in battles in a fictional world full of “spirits, / And fiends, goblins, monsters, [and] giants” (Beowulf 26-27). Similarly, the Normans who conquered England in the year 1066 had to show daring in travelling to a new land, and taking it

He is able to intimidate others without using supernatural means, saying “Well, you look nervous. Is it the scars?” (Ledger) to an individual at a party. His odd look, although human looking, is still strange enough to other characters to make them uncomfortable around him. Referring to the deep indents around his mouth, he goes on to tell the gruesome story of how he got them, stating: “ I stick a razor in my mouth and do this.” (Ledger) As a criminal, he is well aware of the fear he puts into people, telling Batman “I’m not a monster.” (Ledger) His irregular green hair and pure white makeup, along with his purple coat and clown shoes show his chaotic nature. While he may not be an abnormally large or strong character, little details of his physical make-up allow The Joker to be as intimidating as Grendel. Although it is common knowledge that no mythical beasts are present in the modern world, The Joker presents himself as “stranger” (Ledger) than most, making him somewhat similar to the colossal