Heroism: Beowulf Vs. Modern
Characteristics of Heroism: Beowulf vs. Modern
Heroism is a term not often used in modern society but is the theme for many historic novels and
epics such as Beowulf. The Webster Dictionary describes heroism as “courageous action.” While the actual term
is rarely used in daily conversations, there have been several heroic episodes in the last century that may be
compared with those found in literature.
The world was a very different place in 1942 when the United States entered World War II. After
the Japanese attacked Pear Harbor, every American citizen desired to do their part to help defend their country.
Many battles were fought on foreign soil with heroes living and dying.
One of the pivotal battles for …show more content…
They each went to a foreign land to aid people from monsters (Hitler and Grendel). Both episodes had climatic
results: Normandy gave the Allies a foothold in France and Beowulf gained the trust of Hrothgar and killed Grendel.
The Allied forces were detected and met with an unfriendly, even life threatening, welcome. While Beowulf experienced a probing welcome, his nor his troops' lives were endangered. The Allied forces consisted
of three different countries but Beowulf brought only his countrymen to Herot.
A more recent event which affected all of the United States and much of the world was the terrorist attacks
on New York City and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. The realization that the World Trade Center had
been hit by a plane was too much for many to bear but when the first tower collapsed, the nightmare became all too
true. While many ran from the gruesome sight that was Manhattan, hundreds of police officers, firefighters, and
rescue teams ran toward the disaster and danger. They realized their job was to help the people that were trapped
inside the falling towers and those suffering in the streets whom they had never met. Most of the heroes ran into …show more content…
He tells King Hrothgar “My people have said
that the wisest, most knowing, and best of them all, was my duty to go to the Danes' Great King. They have seen my
strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies' blood. I drove
five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting
monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one...” (244) He saved Herot from a monster who was eating the
people and therefore demolishing the security and livelihood of the kingdom. Beowulf also was responding to a
need and desperation of the people in direct response to the attacks by Grendel.
In comparing Beowulf to the heroes from the 9/11 attacks they both were willing to help people they did
not know. They also were fighting against enemies (terrorists) who attacked innocent people. Beowulf knew of the
enemy he was facing whereas the heroes of 9/11 just ran to help those in danger.
Beowulf's greatest objective for fighting Grendel was to make his name great and receive the treasures
Heroism is a term not often used in modern society but is the theme for many historic novels and
epics such as Beowulf. The Webster Dictionary describes heroism as “courageous action.” While the actual term
is rarely used in daily conversations, there have been several heroic episodes in the last century that may be
compared with those found in literature.
The world was a very different place in 1942 when the United States entered World War II. After
the Japanese attacked Pear Harbor, every American citizen desired to do their part to help defend their country.
Many battles were fought on foreign soil with heroes living and dying.
One of the pivotal battles for …show more content…
They each went to a foreign land to aid people from monsters (Hitler and Grendel). Both episodes had climatic
results: Normandy gave the Allies a foothold in France and Beowulf gained the trust of Hrothgar and killed Grendel.
The Allied forces were detected and met with an unfriendly, even life threatening, welcome. While Beowulf experienced a probing welcome, his nor his troops' lives were endangered. The Allied forces consisted
of three different countries but Beowulf brought only his countrymen to Herot.
A more recent event which affected all of the United States and much of the world was the terrorist attacks
on New York City and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. The realization that the World Trade Center had
been hit by a plane was too much for many to bear but when the first tower collapsed, the nightmare became all too
true. While many ran from the gruesome sight that was Manhattan, hundreds of police officers, firefighters, and
rescue teams ran toward the disaster and danger. They realized their job was to help the people that were trapped
inside the falling towers and those suffering in the streets whom they had never met. Most of the heroes ran into …show more content…
He tells King Hrothgar “My people have said
that the wisest, most knowing, and best of them all, was my duty to go to the Danes' Great King. They have seen my
strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies' blood. I drove
five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting
monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one...” (244) He saved Herot from a monster who was eating the
people and therefore demolishing the security and livelihood of the kingdom. Beowulf also was responding to a
need and desperation of the people in direct response to the attacks by Grendel.
In comparing Beowulf to the heroes from the 9/11 attacks they both were willing to help people they did
not know. They also were fighting against enemies (terrorists) who attacked innocent people. Beowulf knew of the
enemy he was facing whereas the heroes of 9/11 just ran to help those in danger.
Beowulf's greatest objective for fighting Grendel was to make his name great and receive the treasures