How Is Beowulf Similar To The Epic Journey

There are many ways that the epic journey of Beowulf is similar and different to the epic journey of Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series. Both epic journeys exhibit a call to adventure, a threshold, and tests and trials. The qualities of the characters, their journey, and the people around them complete the idea of an epic hero on an epic journey in both Beowulf and Harry Potter.

Beowulf and Harry Potter are the definitions of epic heroes living the epic journey. Beowulf is strong, honorable, rules justly, noble by birth, courageous, and exhibits supernatural forces. Beowulf is strong and is known to possess a power greater than any normal force. He shows his super strength when he defeats the sea serpents, rips off Grendel’s head, and

While he rules the kingdom, the people and city of Herot live in peace and this proves that Beowulf is capable of justly ruling a kingdom. Harry Potter had an unusual birth, was born with supernatural abilities, “noble” by birth, humble, and he is always on the road. Harry Potter’s mother sacrificed herself in order to give her son “eternal protection.” This is very important to Harry’s journey because he could have been killed, but because of his mother he was marked with eternal protection and was born into a “noble birth.” A noble birth is very important to a hero’s epic journey because those of higher ranking usually have the most people paying attention to them and their story. Harry was born with magic powers just like his parents, who were among the greatest wizards, and that is why Voldemort wanted him killed because Harry is the biggest threat to him. Harry’s supernatural abilities include: making things disappear, speaking to animals, riding broom sticks, and casting spells. Harry’s supernatural abilities allow him to complete tasks that normal people cannot. Just like Beowulf, Harry Potter exhibits another trait of an epic hero on an epic. Harry, like Beowulf travels from what they call home to an unknown place in order to make themselves better for the sake of establishing his street

The crossing of the threshold is when Beowulf arrives at Daneland, and the guards allow him and his men into the country, “He welcomes you here to Herot and salutes your arrival from across the sea” (Beowulf). Beowulf is then tested of his heroism with many trials including the fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The first fight, Beowulf against Grendel, was also the most significant because it led to the other two fights. The fight with Grendel proved to the people of Geatland that Beowulf was all that he had been said to be, “the captain of evil discovered himself in a hand-grip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of earth” (Beowulf). After all his years of fighting, Beowulf and others acknowledge he is too old to fight anymore, “I can look upon it in triumph at last. Take your place then with pride and pleasure and move to the feast. Tomorrow morning our treasure will be shared and showered upon you” (Beowulf). Beowulf is recognized an epic hero on an epic journey because of his strength, courageousness, and nobility. Beowulf dedicates his time and safeness to protecting other people and he does not ask or want praise from it. His characteristics and his call to adventure, threshold, and tests and trials are what make him an epic hero on an epic journey. Harry Potter is also an epic hero in an epic journey because of his call to adventure,