Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Compare beowulf to modern hero
Compare beowulf to modern hero
Compare beowulf to modern hero
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Compare beowulf to modern hero
Hero, Heroes “In this far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats – greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world.” When the topic hero is mention, superman, batman, wonder women, or any other hero comes up to mind. But has anyone ever consider the police, military, or doctors as heroes? The heroes of today and the hero from the oldest fiction story from the English language, “Beowulf,” haven’t changed significantly throughout the years. For example, both are determine, get respected and make the world a better place. Although they have a few similarities, the also have some differences; for …show more content…
In lines 251, from the story, “From Beowulf,” it mentions Beowulf’s father accomplishment and reputation, as well as his king, Hygelac, and his people the Geats. As some people might best think of fame as reputation. Fame is just a positive quality, having to do more with earning respect. Beowulf is also determine to defeat Grendel, to get more fame, Also, on lines 247-248, Beowulf is described as “a mightier noble.” This proves Beowulf as a strong and brave noble that was brave enough to defeat Grendel, the horrifying monster, using his own bare hands. As compared to the fiction heroes, realistic people can be considered a hero as well. For example, parents, can too, be describe as determine. They have the determination to work hard for their kids, in order for them to have their needs. The military are known for their braveness. They fight in war with the enemy, risking their lives for the sake …show more content…
He then later becomes the king of all Geats, “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world.” As the last line of the heroic poem states, “He was the bravest of us. He was the prince of all warriors His name will live forever.” This proves that Beowulf will forever be respected for his braveness. Correspondingly to the Civil rights movement, there were many who got respected from this movement. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. was forever remembered for his famous, “I have a dream,” speech; in which he calls for an end to racism in the United States. He was one of the most important civil rights movement leaders, whose name will forever be remember. Another example would be Sojourner Truth. Although she was not a part of the civil rights movement, she is well known for fighting to get the rights for women to vote. She made a speech known as ‘And ain’t I a women?” that impacted the way people feel about African American women and how they were treated. Fighting, slashing and wining, Beowulf dies defeating the horrific dragon for the safety of his kingdom. Beowulf who shows qualities that his people admire. He is brave and loyal, has honor, strength, integrity and determination
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
The greatest value of Beowulf is his bravery, some may say bravado. There is no doubt that he is a great warrior. Beowulf's heroism belongs to a different time than that of King Arthur or Sir Gawain. For that reason his bragging about his prowess might seem decidedly unheroic. When he tells Unferth "I count it true that I had more courage, More strength in swimming than any other man" (514-15 (41) it might be interpreted in a poor way. What he is saying though is true. In addition, in order for him to succeed he must orally deliver his resume. Nevertheless, bragging aside, Beowulf is undoubtedly a brave man. When Beowulf sets out to kill Grendel's mother he simply "donned his armor for battle, Heeded not the danger..." (1328-29 60). When his sword fails him he uses his physical strength: "On the might of his hand, as a man must do Who thinks to win in the welter of battle Enduring glory; he fears not death" (1420-23 62). Certainly he is in search of fame. Though this is true it must not discount his brave actions. He gains his fame truthfully by doing battle with menaces to society. He does not lie or manipulate to achieve fame, he uses what is rightfully his, his bravery. Beowulf's bravery differs from that of King Arthur's for several reasons. King Arthur by being king must be brave, to rule the state people must respect him. Beowulf's bravery carries the story. One because it details his ascension in fame and secondly it also outlines his downfall.
This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and a modern day hero. I consider any American soldier to be my modern day hero. In this essay I will explain in three paragraphs of how my modern day hero is like Beowulf. With in these three paragraphs I will go over how they are both fighting for a good cause, how they are both rewarded for what they do, and how they are both treated with much respect.
The great heroic story of Beowulf gives many examples of the traits a great leader should have. At the end, those same traits were demonstrated by Wiglaf who then became the king of the Geats. This proves that these traits were essential to the Anglo-Saxon culture; however, this also makes Beowulf contemporary. The poem has many themes that are still applicable today. Natural respect and trust are fundamental parts of character in Beowulf and in today's society. This is a great reason to keep reading Beowulf and take it as an example of honor and loyalty. Beowulf is a great hero but also a great example along with many of the characters. The poem itself teaches the reader about respect and
The character of Beowulf stands as a hero to the ancient Danes because of his actions. He is constantly being cited as a "war-chief" and a "gold-giver" (61). Beowulf has achieved fame through what he has done with his own hands. His identity as a leader is based upon the Danish society’s emphasis on personal action, as opposed to the delegation of responsibility through conscious thought. It is this very sense which spurs Beowulf to fight the dragon: "In my youth I engaged in many wars. Old guardian of the people, I shall still seek battle, perform a deed of fame, if the evil-doer will come to me..." (59). Beowulf derives his power from a strong link to the past. Without his history of glorious deeds, he would see himself bereft of the very power which qualifies him to be a good King. Beowulf’s bravery never comes in to question, he does meet every challenge head-on, with deadly attention. The society which labels Beowulf as a legendary hero, recognizes his actions and his bravery as a integral part of his definition as a hero. Without the society to support th...
Beowulf is a great tale but as a person, he isn’t that all that people make him out to be. In his older years his need for attention and glory ended up with the death of him. He fought the dragon alone and in return, ended up killing the dragon, but also sacrificed himself. Even as he died he asked for one thing, his people to build him a memorial near the sea so everyone could see the person that he was. His need for attention, lack of planning, and need for glory caused him to be just a prideful man, not a
In conclusion, although Beowulf possessed many heroic qualities he would not be considered a hero in today’s world. A hero varies from culture to culture. The Anglo-Saxon appreciated different things in a person that what do not we appreciate today. Many things have changed a lot with time, the requisites for being considered a hero have also changed. Today we do not like to solve problems with war. Pride and honor are not as important as the willingness one has to help others. Beowulf is not feeling that contact with people he doesn’t identify with them because he believes himself better, a part of a hero´s cycle is to be identified with the community. To be part
Most of us have heard of modern day heroes such as Spiderman, Superman, and the Hulk. Each is a hero to many children. Heroes are introduced to people early on in life usually as fictional characters, but as children grow older their perceptions of heroes alter. The characteristics of a hero are usually based around the ideas of a society or culture. In the epic Beowulf, the main character is thought of as a hero. Beowulf, a pagan warrior and the main character of the epic, shows certain characteristics such as bravery, loyalty, and generosity, which portray him as a hero. It is interesting how modern day heroes show the much of the same qualities as Beowulf.
Throughout the epic Beowulf attempts to introduce himself as someone worthy of glory by boasting of his skills and deeds. These boasts show Beowulf’s glory seeking tendencies. One of these boasts
At the beginning of the novel, Beowulf represents a savage warrior, displaying mostly his strength and bravery by defeating Grendel and his mother. However, as Beowulf ages, he begins to change into a different kind of hero. After becoming King of the Geats, Beowulf matured and took on more of a leadership role in the community, as opposed to a warrior. Even though Beowulf was still a hero, he began to lead an army of geats and acted for the good of the people. In both cases however, Beowulf was respected by others for his admirable
In praising him, even, they herald his desire to be praised so; for he was “the man most gracious and fair-minded,/ kindest to his people and keenest to win fame (3181-3182, emphasis mine). Beowulf's glory is twofold: what he has done, and what is being said of him. He has joined the long line of famous kings who are spoken of throughout the poem, and his deeds will be praised for years to come.
Beowulf displayed great courage and honor throughout his journeys and battles; he was an epic hero. An epic hero is a person who is viewed as larger than life and possesses values of a certain society. From the time of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel to his brawl against the dragon, he has showed everyone what being an honorable hero looks like. His heroism is revealed through both youth as a young warrior and wisdom as a reliable king. He never backed down and didn’t give up when situations were tough. Beowulf had obligations to fulfill and went about every aspect of his life with courage and strength. He cared for his people and was willing to take on anyone that threatened them or his kingdom. He sincerely was the hero of his time.
According to google.com a hero is someone who “is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievments, or noble equalities.” (google.com). For example, superman , superman is an all time american classic modern hero who is admired for his courage and for saving earth multiple times from super villains. Another example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was created around 1000 AD and was known far and wide throughout the lands for his selflessness,bravery, and courage .
Heroes and protagonists of early English literature may be interpreted in terms of the values of their culture. Indeed, an analysis of their moral endowments as well as their demonstrated flaws (or lack thereof) may well unfold the true meaning of what these heroes represented during their respective time periods. In particular, the actions and motivations of the two protagonists Beowulf and Sir Gawain, the heroes of two of the most significant narrative poems from the Early and Late Middle Ages, suggest cultural similarities and differences between both early and late time periods. The two cultures share a cultural paradigm shift and several archetypal studies between both heroes. The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf, known as the strongest
Every society and culture has their own version of a “superhero”. Whether it is Gilgamesh, Achilles, Sherlock Holmes, or Captain America, each civilization’s heroes represent their ideals and their beliefs. They are loved by everyone and their stories are told to all of the society’s children. “We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.” (Morrison) Each hero falls within the expectations of that society, you could say they are the perfect role model. The same principle applies to the medieval times, when the Anglo-Saxons controlled Britannia. The epic poem of Beowulf