Heroes In The Story Of Beowulf And Grendel - 1252 Words

â€Å"I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.†-Maya Angelou. This quote is very relevant throughout the stories of Beowulf and Grendel. What does it take to be a hero? What type of people are usually heroes? What qualifies anyone to be a hero? These are just a few of the many questions that need to be kept in mind when trying to determine what makes a person a hero. Usually, when people think of the word â€Å"hero† it has a positive connotation, and is often times associated with super powered beings or humans with extraordinary skills, such as Superman or Wonder Woman. According to Merriam-Webster the definition of a hero is, â€Å"a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with†¦show more content†¦Let me live in greatness/ And courage, or here in this hall welcome/ My death! (Raffel, pg. 29), Beowulf claims that his only reason for being there is to defeat Grendel and to â€Å"win th e goodwill†, that is hard to believe. Grendel is basically an indestructible evil giant with razor sharp teeth and huge claws. This is probably one of Beowulf’s greatest challenges. What better way to gain fame and glory than by killing his greatest monster yet? Your actions are things that you do to be a hero, but your motives and intentions determine if those actions actually matter. For example, two children want to help an elderly woman find her dogs. There is a cash reward for $100 per dog. They each find one dog. They are both awarded the reward money. The first child helps find the dog because she loves dogs and thinks no dog should be lost and away from there owner. The second child helps find the dog because he just wants $100 dollars. Who is the hero in this case? They both found a dog, so what does it matter, right? The story of Beowulf portrays Grendel as this ignorant, bloodthirsty killing machine. Grendel s hatred began, /...the monster relished his savage war/ On the Danes, keeping the bloody feud/ Alive, seeking no peace, offering/ No truce, accepting no settlement, no price/ In gold or land, and paying the living/ For one crime only with another. No one/ Waited forShow MoreRelatedA Comparison Of Thor And Beowulf728 Words   |  3 Pages Beowulf has delighted and intrigued a wide array of people for centuries. The timeless nature is visible in modern-day extensions of this epic, through heroics and battles of good versus malevolent forces. Beowulf continues to appeal to sophisticated audiences because it tells the story of a great hero prevailing over evil, a timeless theme valued by society and portrayed by his counterparts in modern media, although these new heroes display more complex qualities. Beowulf can be compared to MarvelRead MoreBeowulf As An Ultimate Hero933 Words   |  4 PagesEmon Nguyen Mrs. Hunter English 12 19 September 2017 Beowulf: the archetypal (ultimate) hero Archetypal heroes are found in many literary works, and in varied forms. In literary terms, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is defined as a character that goes against adversity, has great strength, courage, bravery, and who makes unselfish sacrifices, usually for the greater good. The Collins English Dictionary defines â€Å"archetypal† as a perfect example of something. Archetypes in literature was firstRead More Comparison of Beowulf and Rustam in as Heroes Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesA COMPARISON OF RUSTAM AND BEOWULF Shahnameh or Epic of the Kings was written about ninth or tenth cetury AD by Iranian epic poet ,Ferdowsi, who was a Muslim . Ferdowsi write about a hero,Rustam whose religion during his time was Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism believed in God and the life after death . 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The case is no different in the story of Beowulf, the mighty Geat king and his nephew, Wiglaf. They are two men who risk their lives for others, and truly care about the well being and state of life of their friends, family, and people. Gold and fame are usually motivators for most so called â€Å"heroes†, but there are three traits required of a true protector of the masses. Although one can make an ar gument that Beowulf and Wiglaf are selfish heroes for hire, their bravery, strength, and determination