Beowulf: A Modern Day Hero

On a dark and stormy night, Batman saves the jewelry shop by defeating the Joker and retrieving the jewels. Like most modern day heros, Batman is there to serve justice and help the people in the city. During the Anglo-Saxon period, the hero Beowulf was created to help people. Although he was an Anglo-Saxon hero, he shares characteristics like Batman and many other modern day superheroes. When people picture a superhero, they think of a person who is always there for his people, superpowers, colorful outfits, ect. In his battles, Beowulf exemplifies the heroic characteristics of selflessness, hope, and bravery to protect people First of all Beowulf exemplifies his characteristics like being a modern day hero by his selflessness. Selflessness

Bravery is when you do something that most people wouldn't do. An example of this is when no one wanted to fight Grendel because their swords couldn’t penetrate through his skin and the people didn’t want to die. Beowulf took on Grendel not knowing if his idea of fighting with bare hands would even work. He said “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them, that my duty was 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 enemy’s blood”. (244-248) He did not have to listen to his people at all but he was brave enough to take on this challenge. He took on Grendel’s mother even though he wasn’t sure he was going to make it out alive and defeat her. Everyone else wouldn’t attempt this because they couldn’t swim for hours, battle sea monsters and then have to battle her. Even the dragon when Beowulf knew he was going to die because he was in his 80’s he still battled the dragon and all the men ran away except Wiglaf when Beowulf was being burned alive and needed help the most. He said before he went to battle the dragon “This dragon’s treasure, his gold and everything hidden in that tower will be mine or war will sweep me to a bitter death!” (647-649) He was brave knowing he could die doing this but he was never afraid of death. This clearly states that Beowulf