A hero is someone who has heroic qualities and is looked up to for their deeds and actions. Heroes may seem very different from each other, but in the end, it comes to their heroic characteristics that make them a hero. In the epic Beowulf, Beowulf of the fifth century is an Anglo-Saxon warrior and hero for using his immense strength to fight monsters. Born in 1954, Ruby Bridges was a hero by going to school which helped in making a change in society. Ruby Bridges is a better hero because she is brave, determined, and a leader. Ruby was brave enough to go to an all-white school. Ruby Brudge’s mother wanted her to receive an education that her parents never had, so they sent Ruby to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. …show more content…
Ruby was determined to go to school. People of color often did not go to the same schools as whites. Because of this “Ruby faced blatant racism everyday while entering the school.” Nothing stopped Ruby from attending school, not even grown adults that were saying vile and unkind things. Ruby was determined to get a better education, but in order for her to receive it, she had to pass a test. The test was meant to be taken only by African American students in order to go to the all-white elementary school: “Bridges passed the test and was selected for enrollment at the city’s William Frantz Elementary School.” Ruby was set on receiving better education, which helped her pass the test. Some may argue that Beowulf is a greater hero than Ruby Bridges because Beowulf was not brave, determined, or a leader like Ruby, but he did have great strength. However, Beowulf knows that he has this strength and is used to using his strength when needed: “They have seen my strength for themselves. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from Earth” (Bede 245). Ruby was a better hero because she was a