Soldier And Beowulf Comparison

A hero is someone you look up to, someone who has done something to inspire you, someone who is your role model. In our society, there are many different types of heroes—family, friends, teachers, firefighters, and police officers to name a few. But a hero that stands out to me is a U.S. soldier. Soldiers risk their lives every day just so we can have our freedom.
A soldier and Beowulf are similar in many ways, for instance, they are both strong and brave. A soldier shows strength and bravery when he/she fights for the safety of our country by going to war against countries that mean us harm. Beowulf showed strength and bravery when he fought Grendel, a demonic monster who killed many of the Danes’ people. Unarmed and with the strength of just one hand, Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel. Throughout the poem, Beowulf fought in two more major battles; Grendel’s mother and a great dragon. Another similarity is that both, a soldier and Beowulf, are/were passionate about serving and protecting their people. Soldiers are dedicated to protecting those around them on the battlefield, as well as our society as a whole. Beowulf was not only dedicated to protecting his own people, but also those who had done right by his father.

Just like the two are similar in many ways, they are still very different.

Today, a solider fights for a much larger society than Beowulf ever did. With the advancement in technology over the years, a solider has access to a slew of weapons, such as guns and grenades, to fight with. Yet, Beowulf only had access to swords and shields, and more often than not, his bare hands. Beowulf did not have to leave his family behind for long periods of time, however, it is very common for a soldier to be deployed for long periods of time. Some soldiers are unable to see their families for years because of their assignment and where they are stationed. A soldier fights against other men/women, while Beowulf only fought against

monsters.
Strength, courage and loyalty are three values that our society shares with Beowulf’s. When tragedy strikes, we assume our soldiers are going to fight for us and keep us safe. Beowulf’s society looked at him the same way we look at our soldiers; we expect them to keep us safe and win their battles. A soldier is selfless and is willing to die for any one of us; and yet asks for nothing in return. Beowulf was selfless in the sense that he wanted nothing more than to protect his people, however, Beowulf gloated and expected treasure and a feast after the first two battles in the poem. Yet, as Beowulf matured, he proved to be a wise and effective ruler.
In my opinion, a U.S. soldier is more of a hero than Beowulf. Soldiers put their lives at risk, so we can have freedom in our country. Their love for our country shows through their strength and bravery. To me, a soldier defines the word Hero.