Preview

Beowulf vs Hercules(Disney) WHo is a better hero?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1341 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Beowulf vs Hercules(Disney) WHo is a better hero?
A True Hero

What is the definition of a true hero? Many people have been considered heroes for many

different reasons. Both Hercules and Beowulf have both been regarded as heroes. Beowulf was a

great warrior who lived in the time of the Vikings. Beowulf traveled the face of the earth fighting

monsters and beasts in search of money and fame. Hercules was also a great warrior but he lived

during the time of the Greek gods. Hercules was born a god but he was stolen as an infant and

turned into a mortal by his fathers nemesis, Hades. Hercules retained his godlike strength and now

he must prove himself a hero. This is the only way he would be able to reunite with his family of

gods. In the Disney animated film "Hercules" the character is a far greater hero than the character

Beowulf from the epic poem "Beowulf" because he had more of a desire to be a hero, he fought

his battles with better motives, and he had stronger friendships in his companions.

Beowulf's desire to be a hero had mostly selfish reasons. In one of Beowulf's speaches he

states, "Let me live in greatness and courage, or here in this hall, welcome my death." Although

this might sound heroic, he shows how he wants to be a hero to gain fame. This shows that he is

more worried about his personal image than the people he plans to protect. Beowulf also says,

"My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to." Any

warrior, no matter how noble, knows he must have advantages over their enemy to win and

showing up to battle without proper equipment is a dumb thing to do. This shows how he is more

worried about his personal image than the safety of the people. In Beowulf's death speech he

said, "I sold my life for this treasure, and sold it well." He does not mention the people he saved,

only the treasures he gained. This shows his goals in life are material. A persons desires to be a

hero should have more meaning than a persons ego and material wealth.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Beowulf's reason was to go and help the famous king. This shows that he is brave and has a good heart.…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Do you know Hercules?Hercules is one of the best known heroes in Greek and Roman mythology. The name Hercules arrived from Etruscan named Hercle. Hercule means "Glory of Her". Hercules had two step - fathers. His first father is Amphitry and his second step-father is Radamanthes another of Zeus sons. Hercules first wife was Magara daughter of King Creon. Hercules had three sons with Magara. The names of the three sons where Creontidas , Thersimachus , and Deicoon . Hercules is an epic hero because her is self- confident , courageous , and strong.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beowulf also has the heroic characteristics of being brave. Beowulf would go and fight taking a risk of his own life on the line just to help out others. not for himself.. at all. But others around him. Beowulf went into it knowing that this nasty slaying dragon was bigger than him but he still didn't have a doubt in his mind going in to fight this dragon.…

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beowulf also has the character trait of bravery. He goes before all others when things go bad. He would rather risk his own life, than to see someone else risk theirs. He asked a favor to the ruler…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    G Detail/Example: “My purpose was this: to win the good will of your people or die in battle”(43). From this quote, It show that Beowulf was already planned what he is going to do and it is a honorable behavior as a heroic warrior.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The qualities that make an epic hero are strength, courage a strong mentality, and the aspiration to achieve heroic acts. Many heroes are considered role models as they make brave decisions attempting to do something extraordinary. Heroes often fight against the causes of evil as they try to make the environment a better place. Hercules (son of Zeus) is one of the many known Gods to Greek mythology. He is supernatural and immortal. The hero has extraordinary strength, being the strongest man on earth he is sometimes he is unaware of the power he posses, Hercules is invulnerable. Although worshiped as a God, he was properly a hero.…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Herakles, the most popular figure from ancient Greek mythology. Hercules was the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and the mortal woman Alcmene. Zeus, who was always chasing one woman or another, took on the form of Alcmene's husband, Amphitryon, and visited Alcmene one night in her bed, and so Hercules was born a demi-god with incredible strength and stamina. He performed amazing feats, including wrestling death and traveling twice to the underworld, and his stories were told throughout Greece and later in Rome, yet his life was far from easy from the moment of his birth, and his relationships with others were often disastrous. This was because Hera, the wife of Zeus, knew that Hercules was her husband's illegitimate son and sought to destroy him.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hercules Research Paper

    • 383 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Historians agree that “it appears that the ancient world had settled on no common denominator for his true status” because of his ability to be both mortal and immortal at various times (Suhr 254). Hercules experienced pain and slavery in ways that other gods did not, such as with the case of Omphale or the king (Lopez-Ruiz). Even his parentage is questioned and up for debate, sometimes claiming him as the direct child of Hera and Zeus because of her feeding of him as a babe and the lack of malevolence towards Hercules when he finally is welcomed on Olympus (Loraux 131). This juxtaposition though seemingly unrelated to humanity as a whole, reflects humans’ divine characteristics over the earth, having the ability to destroy or save the planet along with the animals and other people who live. Like Hercules’, humans have been called gods throughout history for their varying abilities that other natural creatures fail to have. In presenting Hercules’ story as a inconsistency as a god and as a human, there is a scope placed on humanity that begs the question: what is a human and what is a god? The differences between the two though vast, seem small in comparison to the distances between animal and man or plants and animals. Hercules’ represents that humanity is qualified for divine and earthly…

    • 383 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf had much pride, which was rare for his time. His pride is always fighting his responsibility to the people around him. He never asks for help, even if he may need it. Beowulf is reckless and races Brecca in the open sea for seven days to satisfy a foolish bet. His pride was the reason he battled all the monsters. He wanted to secure the protection of his people. After hearing…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    First, however, I would like to start by giving a little bit of background information on the hero known as Hercules. Hercules was born as the son of Zeus and a beautiful mortal woman named Alcmene, in the Greek city of Thebes. Due to his father’s divinity, Hercules was given the gift of extraordinary physical strength and courage. From the beginning, the events of his life were shaped by the wrath of the goddess Hera, who scorned the boy that was a reminder of her husband’s infidelity. As he matured he faced countless tasks and hardships, but through his victories he forever glorified himself in ancient literature. The stories of Hercules had quite a large impact on the early Greeks. Some, such as the ancient Spartans, believed they were descendants of the great hero and strived to be like him on the battlefield and in the gymnasium. Elsewhere, in Thebes, the Cult of Heracles was a religious group that was created which worshiped him as the divine protector of man. The cult constructed many shrines throughout the ancient world and even held festivals in his honor every year (theoi.com). Later on, the…

    • 1705 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    All About Hercules

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When most people think of Hercules, they think of the Disney character, however, he is much more than that. Son of a god, Zeus, and a mortal, Alcmena, Hercules was half god and half human. He also had a twin, Iphicles (“Hercules”). He was born and raised with a mortal family in Thebes, an ancient Greek city. He had a wife, Megara, and some myths say up to 50 children (“Hercules”). His character traits consist of extraordinary strength, courage and ingenuity. Hercules is very well-known mythical character. Wikipedia says, “Hercules was notorious for his strength and twelve labors.”…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    made him kill his wife and children. In horror and remorse at what he did,…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hercules: A True Hero

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Maybe others will still continue to think of Hercules as a monster because he killed his family, but he made a mistake. He later regretted it which is the reason he completed the 12 labors in order to gain forgiveness. It may have seemed that he was only doing the labors to clear his sins but along the way he helped others. Although Hercules was half mortal and half god only supernatural forces were able to defeat him. Despite the flaw that Hercules was self-centered he is still one of the greatest heroes in Greek…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After saying this much Beowulf’s breath gave out, the cowards who fled while the battle was going on came out of the woods, shameful, and Wiglaf then turned to them. He tells (lines 851-863) them that because of their cowardice and treachery, they are disgraceful. Their families too, will be regarded as people without honor, and “Death would be better for them…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Roman name for the Greek Hero is Herakles. This is considered to be the most famous and popular hero from the ancient Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus, king of gods, and his mother was the mortal woman known as Alcmene. Zeus was chasing after multiple women and one night took the form of Alcmene's husband and visited her in bed. Hercules was therefore born being a demi-god with great stamina and…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays