Beowulf And Harry Potter Comparison Essay

In Beowulf and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, courage, mortality and good vs. evil is shown in many different ways. Both of the main characters come face to face with their own demise in multiple situations, and show courage through it all. In Harry Potter, Harry finds out he is a wizard when a friend of his parents goes to his aunt and uncle’s house to tell him and then to bring him to a school for witches and wizards. Throughout the books Harry defeats many foes in order to defend his school and his friends who quickly became his family, making himself the hero. In Beowulf, he must defeat 3 monsters who are terrorizing Herot, often without an army. Beowulf actually dies in the act of trying to protect Herot. Both Beowulf and Harry Potter show courage, mortality and good vs. evil, though they seem like very different stories, they have many similarities. In Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling presents courage when Harry defeats Voldemort or when he goes to the Chamber of Secrets. Plus, all of the main characters are in the Gryffindor house, which is known for their courageous students. “You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart” (J.K. Rowling)
“Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgement by God.” (Beowulf Lines 440-441) In Harry Potter it is shown by the death of his parents and Harry’s ultimate destiny to die, the shadow of death is always following Harry. “Nameless forebodings crept upon him as he sat there in the dark: He tried to resist them, push them away, yet they came at him relentlessly. Neither can live while the other survives.” (J.K. Rowling) In both books the main characters both come face to face with their deaths and never once do they doubt it because they know that what they’re doing is ultimately good and they are protecting those who they