Beowulf Essay

Compare Beowulf with a modern hero, both as characters and as symbols of the times in which both were created.  Support your thesis with at least three (3) literary techniques and three (3) textual examples that strengthen and illustrate your ideas for your readers.




    Modern Heroes of today are thought of individuals with powers and some sort of ability to stand out, but to be a hero doesn't require the super human strength like most kids believe. Beowulf was known for his display of  extreme power to gain something in return, but the heroes of today are cliché type, they are ideal with little to no flaws. Heroes are the image of what people in society want to be, or hope to become someday, such as gaining wisdom, cleverness and bravery. The idea of heroes for the past and present vary differently based on the characteristics of what society aspires to be.
     Beowulf is estimated to be created between 700 and 1000 A.D. where the values of the people from this time period admired courage, and bravery. Beowulf demonstrates these attributes by without even contemplating, laying his life down for the people of another man's kingdom. He completed two fights, one with Grendel, and Grendel's mother successfully, with extreme bravado. The Danish warriors and people of the village honor him, and are stunned at his accomplishment, therefore this demonstrates how people of the time value the bravery and strength radiating off of Beowulf. In modern society, some of the same attributes are still valued, the heroes are expected to be strong, courageous, brave with little to no flaws, or some kind of hero with a twist. Wolverine from the X-Men falls into the category of hero with a twist, he is a hero still but his attitude doesn't always seem like it. He is admired for his bravery and courage just as Beowulf because Logan also without thinking saves others while disregarding his own safety. Wolverine shields a guard from a blast which turns out to be the second atomic bomb or Wolverine vs. Lady Deathstrike, where he persevered through it, and was about to outwit her through a clever means. Overall, the indirect characterization that the authors use allows you to infer the hero's attributes and realize that Wolverine and Beowulf are similar.
     Heroes in past or present both have a purpose and reasoning for their quest to conquer evil. Beowulf never seemed to have a pure purpose. He rescued, or attempted to rescue people for his reputation to remain stable, unbreakable Beowulf it seemed. Through his completed matches versus the monsters, he received praise and recognition. The admiration and acknowledgement of his strength and bravery were his purpose. On the other hand, Wolverine's purpose at the beginning of his quest was for self discovery, find out who he was, and recollect his past. He fought several individuals for answers, where majority of the time no responses to his question remained. Though they both are considered heroes from different times, heroes vary in purpose.
          Stories that are produced during a specific time period, hold the ideal people or well respected individuals of that time. Modern and past, both periods recognize that bravery and courage are what society considers ideal, though over time Modern day heroes in movies are some what cliché with the strange occurrences to make the Super heroes, but the purpose always varies.