Throughout the years, Beowulf has been compared to many modern day super heroes. However, the super hero that Beowulf is most easily compared to is Superman. Although there are multiple differences amongst these two characters, there are a few similarities as well. Such similarities exist in appearances, as well as supernatural qualities. Moreover, Beowulf and Superman are both portrayed as heroes for their time. Both Beowulf and Superman travel far and wide to defeat villains, save people, and encourage others. Their appearances are similar as well. Superman and Beowulf are dry, muscular, and strong. In fact, most people during their time would have considered them handsome.
Both Beowulf and Superman have supernatural qualities. Beowulf has the ability to breathe under water. This is portrayed when Beowulf goes to kill Grendel’s mother, and he is drug into the monster’s liar. “With that, Beowulf dives into the lake. It takes him nearly a day to reach the bottom. From her lair, the monster senses the presence of a human. She grips Beowulf hard, but his armor saves him from injury. But she drags him to her lair. He is attacked by sea beasts.” Along with his ability to breath under water, Beowulf also has super strength. We are shown this after Beowulf has been drug into the monster’s
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An example of Superman’s super strength would be when he is fighting the bad guys and picks up cars and other heavy objects to use as weapons. Even though both heroes share the power of super strength, Superman possess other attributes that are unique to only him. Superman has the ability to fly anywhere he wants. An example of Superman flying would be when Superman is flying around to help save the towns people during a fight with the bad guys. Superman is also immortal, unlike Beowulf. Immortality is a power that everyone wants, but only a few possess. In DC comics, Superman is part of a select few who has the power of
Thesis: Because of Beowulf’s excellent characteristics and values not only is he considered a hero in his story, but he is also considered the basic model for modern day superheroes like Captain America. I. Captain America has similar physical characteristics to that of Beowulf because the character of Captain America was based off the story of Beowulf. a. Captain America i. A blonde, blue-eyed, muscular man with a sculpted physique. ii.
Beowulf displays a strong sense of superhuman strength based on his actions. Beowulf’s objective for his quest is to defeat Grendel and his mother. He eventually defeats both of them but is killed while fighting the dragon. Although, while he was battling Grendel’s mother, he defeated her by using force instead of a weapon.
When people are in trouble he finds out where they are and he goes to help them out no matter what the problem is he will fight till the end when if he is hurt and can barely fight. Batman and Beowulf are hero’s in society because they will both risk their lives to save innocent people that need help no matter where you are they will always know if good or bad is around due to their superhuman strength. In conclusion I
Compare and Contrast: Heroism When people hear the word “hero,” Thor, X-Men, Captain America, Superman and several others may come to mind. Heroes do not have to own supernatural powers to be mighty but need to make an impact. Heroism is manifested in the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Beowulf by staying true to their beliefs. Nothing was able to stop their way of life.
Superman has seen iterations from the pages of comic books to action figures to movies to t-shirts to everything. What they stand for, courage and fighting for what’s right, appeals to everyone and is easy to convey both artistically and commercially. Not to mention the forms of literature and art they appear in make it easy to spread through a society. Beautiful murals of Perseus or exciting action scenes of Superman make it easy to like them, and even makes the viewer want to be like them, full of bravery and righteousness. The historical context of both heroes’ creation in archaic times and pre WWII respectively, were both times when the societies faced a struggle, and having a hero to look up and stand behind, even if he was fictional, was welcomed.
An Epic Hero is a character who’s legendary or heroic actions are central to his culture, race or nation. Beowulf and Odysseus both share some of the seven hero traits; for example being superhuman, fighting monsters and going on a quest. They do not exhibit the exact same traits or in the same way, for example the intervention of the divine world, but they both demonstrate the qualities of an Epic Hero. Both Beowulf and Odysseus prove they are superhuman. Beowulf is able to take down Grendel and Grendel’s mother.
Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.
In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Superman 's willpower also allowed him to defeat the monster known as Doomsday. The Man of Steel was weakened by the weapon he held in his own
He shows his great strength and humility throughout the story. For example, when he fights Grendel in the mead hall, he chooses not to use any man-made weapon because Grendel does not use any weapon. An epic hero also has to journey to an unknown, usually dangerous land. Beowulf goes on a journey to the swamp and descends into Mama Grendel’s lair. He showed his bravery and courage when he fought and defeated Mama Grendel.
Compare/Contrast Essay Beowulf is an epic hero, who is a strong and powerful man who comes from Sweden to Denmark to help a village that is being attacked by a man-eating monster named Grendel. Arthur, is a romantic hero who is the courageous king of Camelot who is a devoted leader and will do anything to protect his kingdom and people. Even though Beowulf and Arthur are two different heroes, they both share similar traits such as devoted followers, the use of magical weapons, and courageous traits throughout the story. Both epic and romantic heroes had devoted followers that helped them throughout battles. Beowulf was very strong, but when the people of Denmark thought he needed help.
Beowulf is an epic hero because of his strength. His strength isn’t the same as an ordinary man, “He twisted in pain and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped muscle and on split and broke” (lines 337-340). No ordinary man would be
Beowulf and King Arthur are both portrayed as heroes and someone to look up to. Some similarities are both of them are very brave. They are also both very compelling leaders in their own respective ways. Even with their similarities they have differences in their heroic qualities such as Beowulf not really being a human in the sense that he can do superhuman things and King Arthur being a normal human being. It's also interesting to note that King Arthur was more of a hero for his character whereas Beowulf was more of a hero in the sense that he slays monsters and dragons.
Beowulf the mightiest hero, he kills demons, fights dragons, and does everything he can for the people, but how does he stack up against today's heroes like Spider Man. Beowulf can kill monsters, demons, and demons mothers, but what about if the circumstances were swapped. What if Beowulf had to fight some of the villains that a hero like Spider Man fights? Would he still be able to boast about taking them on bare handed? Comparing Beowulf to some of the villains of the comics may not make him seem as strong or have as much battle prowess.
As has been noted, many of Beowulf 's characteristics are also shared by traditional epic heroes. He 's brave and never "cowers", defeats previously unbeatable monsters, comes from nobility, and has incredible superhuman strength. Beowulf can be compared to any other epic hero, and the similarities found between them will be never ending. However, there are other characteristics that the king of the Geats possesses which make him be very different from most epic heroes. First, there is the issue with Beowulf 's lack of a moral compass.
Heroes are often portrayed as being perfect and not similar to humans. This is not actually the case in which every hero has some kind of weakness or flaw. This is the reason that one feels connected to heros. In Robert Nye's Beowulf: A New Telling, the theme is that even heroes are not perfect. This applies to Beowulf because although he saves the Danes from Grendel, he still has imperfections.