Beowulf Essay

From Beowulf to Superman our cultures have always created heroes. They help define who we are and what we want to be. They give us hope and inspire us to head in the right direction. They show us that good will always triumph over evil and that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Heroes give us the inspiration we need to overcome problems in our own lives and that is why we create them. Beowulf perfectly embodies the idea of a hero. He defeats the evil Grendel and his mother, slays the dragon, and saves his people. Beowulf is strong, brave, moral, and inspiring. All of these traits fit perfectly with the traits of a hero. In a way, one could say Beowulf was the hero of hero’s not only inspiring the people of his time, but inspiring the heroes who would later be created in his image.

Superman must travel to other planets and other galaxies to help those that need him. Superman, as a child, is sent away from the planet of Krypton, where he is powerless, to the town of Smallville. While he is there, he realizes all his powers. He would not have superpowers if not for his relocation, and a super man would not have existed. Superman defends Metropolis against disaster but also flies into outer space to fight off the crazy Brainiac and save a city from his own planet. Many times, he makes the trip to other universes to aid those in distress. He is able to use his remarkable abilities to better the lives of others. Strength and physical attributes are the characteristics that men praise in both Beowulf and Superman.

Beowulf begins as many epic tales do, by introducing the hero. The author tells the reader of how Beowulf has trekked oceans and slain monsters; right from the beginning it is made obvious that Beowulf is no ordinary man. However, with any tale, the hero must face some type of adversity, an evil that must be overcome. In Beowulf’s case, he has three, the hideous monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the foreboding Dragon. So while there may be three physical antagonists, one can argue that they metaphorically represent one thing, societies shortcomings. In John Gardner’s “Grendel”, the monster is said to harbor feelings of lust or jealousy of the inhabitants of Hrothgar’s mead-hall and attacks them due to his feeling of exclusion.

Both Beowulf and Superman give people a sense of hope. Beowulf possesses extreme amounts of physical strength. Despite the probability of death against Grendel and the fact that many men have failed, he insists on attacking him and defeating him. Beowulf's unusual and courageous method of killing Grendel demonstrates his bravery and physical strength because he kills him with his own two hands. Just like Beowulf, Superman also holds an unbelievable amount of strength. Neither of these heroes shy away from adversity or evil. Beowulf was faced with a choice to run and hide or be courageous, even when the odds were against him he went and fought. In the end he came out victorious and showed that if you believe in yourself anything is possible.

Beowulf and Superman both use what they are given to protect and give others a sense of security. They also inspire others to be courageous and to believe in themselves. In theses stories the people know as long as these guys are around they will be safe and protected. Even though Beowulf was written a long time ago and Superman is a modern story. both of these characters are perfect representations of heroes.