Merriam-Webster defines a superhero as “a fictional character with amazing powers”. In our culture, when we talk about a superhero, we usually imagine Superman, Spiderman, or Captain America. These are extraordinary people who show incredible strength of body and mind, value honor and glory, succeed, and are well-known/well-liked. Two fictional characters I think exemplify these characteristics are Beowulf and Odysseus.
Superheroes are not superheroes without strength of body and mind. Beowulf exemplifies strength of body and mind in how he never turns down a challenge and always wins a fight. Even at an old age, when he is met with the challenge of fighting a dragon, he agrees. This shows his bravery and strength of mind. Instead of being overwhelmed with the
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When his honor or glory is damaged because of other men inhabiting his home, he finds a way to discredit them and reinstate himself. It is expected for Odysseus to avenge himself on the suitors because they had made him look less than the perfect hero. This is one of the many ways that Odysseus is shown to value honor and glory.
Lastly, superheroes are always victorious. When you think about the idea of a superhero, you imagine someone successful and not a failure. Both Beowulf and Odysseus are mostly successful. However, Beowulf is never once described as making a mistake until the last battle he fought. Even so, Beowulf’s battle with the dragon cannot be described as a failure because the dragon is still defeated. Beowulf is mortally wounded in battle but through no mistake of his own. Rather, the author or orator says the reason of Beowulf’s death was because he was“fighting against fate”.
Odysseus makes many mistakes in the Odyssey. One mistake he makes is his boasting to the cyclops, Polyphemus. Another mistake is when he chooses to stay on Circe’s island. He seems to forget his men and loses much of his time during his stay with
Beowulf displays many characteristics throughout his adventurous journey. Strength was the first characteristic that I applied to this strong beast. (3 Examples) (1) In the first battle with mankind’s enemy, it was the
The term superhero is by Merriam-Webster definition a figure character who has incredible powers. There is no one particular type of superhero they come in all forms; short, tall, big or little history proves that physical appearance is what makes the hero super. All the duties performed by these characters shows how the impactful the role they play is and giving a reason for why they are super. Superheroes date back for many years, and people began their fantasies over superheroes in the comic books. People have always looked to them as an escape from reality during World War II.
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.
Overall, Odysseus is often portrayed as a “model hero”, but in reality he has many faults such as being untrustworthy, arrogant and
Odyssey Argumentative Essay Odysseus is an arrogant egotistical warrior who hardly ever takes the blame for his own actions. Since he does not take responsibility it shows his weaknesses that could be used against him if this were a war. Odysseus’s weaknesses are shown equally in the literature and the movie. In some ways the literature showed it better or explained it better than the movie did. But in some ways the movie outlined his weaknesses than the movie because it is more visual than when you are reading the story.
The Webster's definition of a hero is “A person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities”, this also happens to be one of the qualifications of being an epic hero. There are many things that can be used to compare and contrast Beowulf as an epic hero and a modern day hero, but you’ll find that the human idea of a hero was primarily the same in 700 CE as it is now although the job descriptions of hero’s have changed. In today’s time a person is usually considered a hero if they help the public good, like a police officer, soldier, firefighter and so on. In Beowulf’s time a person was considered a hero if they were a great warrior. When looking at the characteristics of what makes Beowulf an epic hero and the characteristics
In the beginning Odysseus proves to be heroic in line 360-361, “My name is nobody: mother, fathers, and friends.” Odysseus' heroicness reveals that he is a hero because he kept his name a secret from polyphemus to protect his men . This shows that he puts his men first before him. Another time Odysseus is heroic is when he “I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics reasoning as a man for dear life until a trick came and it pleased me well. The Cyclops rams were handsome, fat with heavy fleeces, a dark violet.
Beowulf shares the same traits with as many other heroes I know about. For example, Beowulf 's willpower can be compared with Henry Cavill 's Superman (Man of Steel). In Beowulf: "The Battle with the Dragon", Beowulf battled the dragon and he noticed that his weapons started to fail him and that he was weakened by his age. In spite of that, Beowulf 's willpower enabled him to continue fighting the dreadful beast. Eventually, after his ally Wiglaf provided Beowulf with some assistance, he was able to break through and deliver the killing blow to the dragon.
I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (2511-2515). In conclusion, Beowulf is an epic hero. Although he made risky decisions, he did them for his people. He possessed the qualities of a hero; bravery, loyalty and fearlessness.
Near the end of his life as a king, Beowulf found that his citizens were being terrorized by a dragon. Although he was old and grizzled, the king took it on in battle. He showed tremendous courage even when knowing the odds were not in his favor. Previously, during his time in Denmark, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother with the sword made for a giant. This showed his superhuman strength because as an ordinary human being Beowulf was able to handle and control the giant’s sword.
What qualifies a person to be called a hero? Officially a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Most people think of a superhero, like Batman or Spiderman, or someone closer to them such as their mother or their life-saving doctor. Heroes tend to be the main character in a story. Beowulf and Odysseus are two famous epic heroes in the texts Beowulf and The Odyssey.
I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." (52) To Beowulf, even as an older and supposedly wiser man, his main reason for fighting monsters continues to be to gain more fame. Other heroes, like Gilgamesh and Odysseus, usually do heroic deeds to help their kingdoms and men. For example, Gilgamesh kills the heavenly bull to avoid a famine from wrecking his kingdom, while Odysseus works to save his men throughout the story multiple times. Loyalty towards himself before anyone or anything else, is one of the qualities that separates Beowulf from other traditional heroes.
In terms of subjectivity, Beowulf has human flaws that can be said to have led to his downfall, but he is also the perfect hero who exhibits only the proper values of an Anglo-Saxon warrior. The scop who wrote this story depicted Beowulf in only a positive intended light, as this epic is meant to be the warrior?s story retold, highlighting their great feats and accomplishments. This being said, a hero to the Anglo-Saxons only had faults if they were unfaithful to their people or greedy, and Beowulf displays none of these qualities. Beowulf only acts in accordance to what he feels would be best for his people, his altruism exceeding those before him, and setting a precedent that no other could reach. While it is possible to interpret Beowulf as a hero with faults, he was not originally meant to be depicted that way.
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.
Webster’s defines superhero as “a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers”. Batman, Spiderman, and many other characters fall into the group of being a superhero. Even Beowulf from the time of the Anglo-Saxons is a superhero. These characters embody the culture they are created in. Writers use their influence and ability to discuss controversial topics and important issues of any time period, specifically seen in the Superman and Captain America comic books.