What Are The Similarities Between Superman And Beowulf

Picture a hero, how he looks, acts, the way he talks. Did you picture any ordinary person with a pair of glasses and a slick nerdy haircut? Though those appearances may seem like an ordinary person they also describe the well known hero, Superman. Just like the appearances of Beowulf are the same as any normal person for the time period he was set in. Now if you begin to look deeper into the characteristics of both of them you find they both are very courageous, loyal, and gracious. Although Superman and Beowulf look ordinary on the outside they have superhuman characteristics and mortal flaws.

Beowulf and Superman had a similar upbringing, being for the fact that Beowulf’s father left his mother, and his mother abandoned Beowulf. Superman

lost his family and entire home planet when he was rocketed down on earth, leaving Superman abandoned and alone as was Beowulf. In the poem Beowulf; “At seven, I was fostered out by my father, left in the charge of my people’s lord. King Hrethel kept me and took care of me, Was open-handed, behaved like a kingsman. While i was his ward, he treated me no worse As a wean about the place than one of his own boys,” (lines. 2428-2433) as the quote says, Beowulf was left alone by his family when King Hrethel took him as his own. Superman had a similar fate, when Superman came to earth, the Kents took him in as their own son. Both of these heroes were abandoned but they were taught how to be good courageous men by their adoptive parents. Causing Superman and Beowulf to be heros in the worlds they lived in. “Venturing closer, his talon was raised to attack Beowulf where he lay on the bed; he was bearing in with open claw when the alert hero’s comeback and armlock forestalled him utterly.” (lines 744-748) In this section of the poem Beowulf is fighting the monster Grendel to save the people who are near Heorot hall. In this particularly section it shows how much of a hero Beowulf truly is. Everyone else who tried to take Grendel on died in the action, but Beowulf being just as strong as Grendel, if not stronger, is more capable to take on the monster than anyone else. Superman like Beowulf always faces monsters of all kinds and fights for the people on earth. Even though Beowulf and Superman have many similarities they have some differences that make very huge differences.
A difference which also becomes a similarity is, when Superman is exposed to kryptonite he then loses all of his powers and becomes a mortal like Beowulf.

Even though Beowulf has incredible strength which is shown when Beowulf is in battle. “The monster wrenched and wrestled with him bu Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: he relied for help on the Lord of All,” (lines 1269-1272) Beowulf was in no doubt stronger than any human or any beast, though Superman is still far different in the way that he is invincible. (excluding his weakness to kryptonite) Along with all of his other superhuman powers. Beowulf is also well known throughout the region for all of his success and strength “Beowulf’s doings were praised over and over again. Nowhere, they said, north or south between the two seas or under the tall sky on the broad earth was there anyone better to raise a shield or to rule a kingdom.” (lines 855-860) while Clark Kent (the mortal Superman) is not granted fame or acknowledgement for his powers and victories. Although Clark Kent had to keep his achievements and powers a secret. If he did not, since he was from a different planet he wouldn’t be accepted, but instead would be experimented on and become an outcast to the people he knew and loved. Other wise they both have one more similarity and that is, they both have very big accomplishments they are known

for.
Beowulf and Superman both have their well known accomplishments, Beowulf’s being Grendel and Superman’s being Lex Luthor. When you think of Beowulf’s best attack you think about Grendel. Beowulf could have easily used any kind of weapon to defeat him, but he decides to take him on in the most fair way possible, by not using any other weapons besides his own bear hands. “The captain of all evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth. Every bone in his body quailed and coiled, but he could not escape. He was desperate to flee to his den and hide with the devil’s litter, for in all his days he had never been clamped or cornered like this.” (line 749-756) In this quote you can clearly see that Grendel the monster being attacked by Beowulf is frightened of him. Grendel was the most powerful monster and so therefore he had to face the most powerful hero in order for the monster to be beat. Superman’s best victory is easily his win against his arch enemy Lex Luthor, the moment when he finally ends their long battle of back and forth and claims his victory over the villain. Though he could have killed him several times before he always chose to let justice have its way until it had just became enough and he ended the evil and put a rest to the chaos. Proving that Superman could overcome even the greatest of enemies which showed his true power and strength.
As you can see there are many similarities and differences between Superman and Beowulf. Even though there stories are from different time periods and One is mortal while the other is immortal. they’re ordinary looks make there superhuman abilities even more amazing. but they both still have their fatal flaws. Superman being Kryptonite and Beowulf's being that he is mortal. Showing that although Superman and Beowulf look ordinary on the outside they have superhuman characteristics and mortal flaws.