Beowulf Hero's Journey

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Hero's Journey Analysis The Hero’s Journey, often used by Joseph Campbell, is a common path adventurers take in stories. It shows up in almost every quality tale you see, whether it's from hundreds of years ago or published last month. Beowulf is a great example of this as it implements the hero’s journey into its story, yet it is known as one of the older stories in mythology. This essay will explain why this is true and how other novels and films are similar, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Harry Potter. Beowulf’s story is a perfect example of the Hero’s Journey. It starts with the Call to Adventure when Beowulf hears about how Hrothgar has trouble with Grendel. This moment is similar to when Harry Potter gets his letter to Hogwarts and discovers he’s a wizard. …show more content…

Beowulf's decision to help Hrothgar marks his Crossing of the First Threshold, similar to Harry Potter accepting the letter and going to Hogwarts, showing that they are ready to become heroes. The Tests, Allies, and Enemies part of Beowulf’s journey happens when he fights Grendel and their mother. These battles test his strength and bravery. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the turtles face similar tests when they fight enemies like the Shredder. These challenges are important because they help the heroes grow and prepare them for even bigger battles ahead. The climax of Beowulf’s journey is his fight with the dragon, which is the Ordeal stage where the hero faces their biggest challenge. This is Harry Potter’s final battle with Voldemort, where Harry has to use all his courage and skills to win. Both Beowulf and Harry face huge dangers, and their victories come at great cost. Beowulf dies from his wounds, and Harry nearly dies before defeating Voldemort. These moments highlight the hero’s selflessness and the importance of sacrifice. So why is the hero’s journey so common in

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