Selfless Heroes In Beowulf And The Kite Runner

Selfless Heroes The word “hero” creates powerful emotional responses, and in today’s society heroes are needed now more than ever. Heroes are needed for inspiration and to make a difference in the world. When thinking of a hero, some may envision imaginary figures such as Superman or Wonder Woman, while others may think of an individual who has helped them through a hard time. Today, the individuals that people look up to may not classify as true heroes, and society needs a better understanding of what truly makes a hero. A few traits that are consistent with all heroes include bravery and fearlessness in challenging situations. Beowulf, the main character in the epic poem Beowulf, Baba, the protagonist Amir’s father in The Kite Runner, and

Beowulf is fearless and courageous. He takes on any monster, no matter how gigantic and powerful the monster may be. Beowulf states, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought endless battles. I am old now. But I will fight again, seek fame still” (Beowulf lines 685-687). Even though Beowulf is old when he fights the dragon, he will still fight it. because of his fearlessness. This takes a lot of courage, as Beowulf might lose the battle and die. Beowulf begins to battle the dragon but is about to be defeated for the first time in his life. He knows he is getting crushed by the dragon, but still fights with great intensity. The narrator states, “... And for the first time in his (Beowulf’s) life that famous prince // Fought with fate against him with glory // Denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword and struck at the Dragon’s scaly hide” (“Beowulf” lines 680-682). Beowulf fights with all his might and ends up dying trying to protect his people from the dragon. Beowulf shows true compassion by fighting for a purpose that was bigger than him, just as Baba showed by standing up for the woman who was about to get raped. Beowulf’s courage, fearlessness, and compassion make him a hero that should be famous around the world like Superman or Spider

Through Baba, Beowulf, and Mariam, one gets an idea of what characteristics heroes have. These characters represent the epitome of a hero in literature. Through vivid scenes in each of these literary works, one sees each of these characters exemplifying courage, compassion, and fearlessness in the most daunting situations. These characters deserve not only a round of applause, but also recognition as elite literary heroes. FIX CONCLUSION TO MATCH