Beowulf As A Hero In Harry Potter

Harry Potter, created by J. K. Rowling, probably is the most well-known Christ figure in the modern literature. Harry Potter’s life parallels that of Jesus Christ in many ways: a special genealogy, the great adversary, death and resurrection, and the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the world. Most hero stories have similar factors because the life of Christ is so epic and even mind-blowing. The heroes often have a gracious purpose that eventually helps the world. However, Beowulf, a fictional hero character from an old English poem, is an ironic exception. Although written in Christian England, the title character in the poem Beowulf does not resemble Christ as many other titular heroes do because his purpose is very different from that

When king Hrothgar gives weapons and jewels as gifts to Beowulf, “Beowulf/drank to these presents, not ashamed to be praised,/richly rewarded in front of them all” (lines 1024-26). Beowulf believes that he deserves the praise and the reward as a hero. Beowulf’s courageous acts are derived from a simple desire for that glory and honor, not from a compassionate heart. The actions of Christ, on the other hand, had one and only purpose: to fulfill God’s plan and glorify Him. Harold Bloom, professor of Humanities at Yale, argues that motivation of Beowulf is to prove himself and receive praise for it: “[Beowulf’s] glory has little to do with worship, unless it be justified self-worship, and he fights primarily for glory, to increase his fame, to show that he occupies the foremost place among all Germanic heroes” (“Bloom” 2007). Christ worked for the honor of God and kept himself away from the earthly fame and praise. Beowulf rather pursues those earthly glories that makes him feel

Rather than humbling himself before God and asking for help, he trusts in his own strength and take a big, unexpected leap. He loudly declares to King Hrothgar and the Danes in the mead hall that he will wait for Grendel “weaponless” and “unafraid” to make the fight fair for Grendel who does not possess any weapon (line 682). Beowulf shares this decision to show off his boldness and power to those who have been defeated by Grendel for years so that they will celebrate his name and life. An academic editor for the well-known Master plots volumes from Salem Press, Lawrence W. Mazzeno argues that Beowulf is dependent on God when he enters a battle, yet he is hardly like Christ who put his full trust on God only. Although he says that the almighty God determines his fate, he does not trust that it is God who brings him victory. Beowulf uses God more as an insurance he can use or even blame for time he loses a