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Contribution of women in literature
Contribution of women in literature
The traits of a hero
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Brave Ones
Heroes are often the protagonists in a story. Their journeys are crucial to a book or movie’s plot and purpose. Real-life heroes are even more so the center of attention. They inspire news stories, unified cheer, and even actions of heroism from other people. Regardless if a hero is real or fictional, his or her story can often involve several stages. Within those stages, these heroes reveal the characteristics that make them heroes. The fictional Beowulf was a classic Anglo-Saxon hero, and Amelia Earhart was a trailblazing female pilot from the 1930s. Although they are unlikely comparisons, both Beowulf and Amelia exhibited the necessary stages a classic hero endures, as both experienced the call to adventure, a road of trials, and a refusal to return.
Beowulf and Amelia Earhart both felt the call to adventure. For Beowulf, he felt the urge to help Hrothgar and his people. It was
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almost an automatic call for Beowulf; he went “straight to that distant Danish shore” (Beowulf 124). Beowulf accepted the call as his personal obligation and did not hesitate to leave his homeland. Amelia also knew that she was headed down a certain path. At age twenty, Amelia watched a pilot in a clearing. As a mixture of emotions overwhelmed her, she said “I believe that little red airplane said something to me as it swished by” (“Biography” Amelia Earhart.com). Both heroes accepted their destinies, despite obstacles or dangers. Both heroes experienced many trials.
Beowulf may have been the first formidable opponent for Grendel, but the task was not easy. He encountered criticism from Unferth, loss of his fellow soldier during his battle with Grendel, and a strenuous battle with Grendel’s mother. The battle against Grendel’s mother was challenging, as Beowulf realized that “no sword could slice her evil/Skin, that Hrunting could not hurt her, was useless” (Beowulf 599-600). Despite the trials he faced, Beowulf never allowed defeat, determined for glory. He found another way to overcome Grendel’s mother, as he did with all of the trials he faced. Amelia had her share of setbacks and difficult circumstances. Financial struggles alone kept her from purchasing any aircraft until “six months after graduating from college” (“Biography” Amelia Earhart.com). Earhart also struggle to maintain success and credibility against male and even female prejudices (“Achievements” Amelia Earhart.com). Despite these trials, Amelia is recognized for her achievements. Both heroes endured, despite difficult
challenges. Lastly, both Beowulf and Amelia Earhart refused to return back to their lives before becoming heroes. Beowulf may have returned back to his homeland, but he did so as an even greater victor and with a soon-to-be crown. He also was determined to fight his battles alone, even to his death. At the end of his days, he alone chose to attack an angry dragon who was “laying waste” to his land (Beowulf 43). Amelia Earhart refused to give up her calling as a trailblazing pilot. Vice President Charles Curtis even made note of her determination and influence, saying Earhart displayed “heroic courage and skill as a navigator at the risk of her life” (“Amelia Earhart” Biography.com). Despite the danger, Amelia kept flying until she ultimately disappeared on a trip round the world. Both heroes refused to return to a normal, everyday existence. Beowulf was a fictional, epic hero. Amelia Earhart was a legendary female pilot. Together, these two figures were effective examples of heroes. Both accepted the call to heroism and both continued to be heroic despite obstacles and temptations to flee. Perhaps most significantly, these two examples were determined; they never quit, never stopped their journey intentionally. These two may be as different as night and day, yet they both shine light on heroic tendencies and the hero’s journey.
Varying from time, location and person, what it takes to be considered a hero has remained for the most part unanimous and throughout time has been represented in multiple ways. Most present in dated writing, a hero 's image and pride make up a big portion of most heroes. Their heroes aren’t so humble and they aspire to keep their title of "hero". On the contrary, most heroes in literature today are quite modest and don 't expect to be viewed as or considered heroes (more often than not they themselves do not classify with being heroes). As is the case for Beowulf and Katniss Everdeen, both different and yet also similar in terms of action, motives and thought (their personality being what really separates the two). Perhaps the biggest part of how a hero is treated and acts depends on what their society is like. Throughout time, the overall qualities of a hero have remained very similar. What has changed, is
The human need to be relatable is unquenchable. We love to be able to see parts of ourselves in others, and to be able to feel like our idols are not untouchable. The Hero’s Journey format is one that can be found in almost any story, even in real life. Overall, it is the perfect recipe for keeping readers engrossed. Another place the journey has shown up is in Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Odyssey by Homer. These two stories—one a biography, the other, an epic poem—are so effective in their storytelling, it is easy to see how authors today continue to use the same method to make stories that grab the readers’ attention. What makes them most alike, however, is the emotions and thoughts they have the power to provoke.
What is hero? A hero, under the Merriam-Webster definition, is a person who is admired for brave/great acts or fine qualities. This is a very broad definition that combines both ancient and modern belief of what --or who-- a hero should be. Beowulf is an epic poem that focuses on an Anglo-Saxon hero. As such he embodies the traits that his culture valued most. Deadpool, on the other hand, portrays the most recent ideas of what traits a hero should embody. With these examples from contrasting periods, we are still able to see similarities and differences that shows how modern and Anglo-Saxon idea of heroism reflects its culture.
Beowulf embodies several respectable traits that make him an epic hero, but there is another hero that possesses even better traits. Her name is Diana, but is known as Wonder Woman; she comes from an island in the Amazons called Themyscira. Although Beowulf and Wonder Woman has similar qualities, there are several that make them different.
This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and a modern day hero. I consider any American soldier to be my modern day hero. In this essay I will explain in three paragraphs of how my modern day hero is like Beowulf. With in these three paragraphs I will go over how they are both fighting for a good cause, how they are both rewarded for what they do, and how they are both treated with much respect.
The mighty warrior Beowulf volunteered to help fight off the monster, Grendel. Beowulf showed great bravery because even though Grendel over sized Beowulf, he still accepted the challenge. He also showed strength, Grendel’s head was so massive that four men each had to carry it, but Beowulf could handle the head all by himself. Lastly, Beowulf revealed loyalty by coming to Hrothgar’s assistance, to help with defeating Grendel. Even after Beowulf became King he went to his last battle to defeat the dragon without any help from his
Heroes are found everywhere in the world. They are seen in movies, on television, in books, and in reality. A hero can be anyone, from a friend to a fictional character. To be considered a hero, one must make selfless sacrifices, develop and learn, overcome challenges and temptations, and ultimately present their known world with a gift of any kind. Homer’s
“The Hero’s Journey.” Ariane Publications, 1997. Course handout. AS English I. Dept. of English, Woodside High School. 26 October 2013.
“I wish I could be a hero!” Many adults in today’s society hear small children wishing they could become heroes. Children wish to be more like heroes for the reason that heroes are the type of people who risk their lives to help others. Throughout history, children have had a positive connotation with the word “hero.” The heroes many small children talk about are the fictional ones who protect cities from villains: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and others. However, these are not the only types of heroes in today’s world. Firefighters and policemen are also considered heroes because they save the lives of those in danger. Many adults consider their inspirations to be heroes, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Michelle Obama. Heroes do not always have to be real; for instance, they can also be literary characters such as Atticus Finch, Jonas, and Odysseus. Heroes, fictional or not, only have one purpose, to help people in need. These motivating people are in the rare category of people who willingly spend their whole lives helping people achieve their dreams. Heroes are the people who unselfishly help people live their lives in a peaceful manner. Many children wish they could become heroes, such as Bilbo Baggins. In The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien explores how Bilbo Baggins matures and ultimately becomes a hero.
Beowulf takes on the challenge of killing Grendel and later Grendel’s mother because he wants to show everyone how tough he is and that he can take on anyone if he wanted to. In other words, he is trying to be this powerful man who no one can ever defeat. Beowulf does not look at the task as a challenge, but rather a way to show everyone that he is the strongest and heroic man of them all. When Beowulf goes into any sort of battle, he refuses help from anyone. He does not want to feel or look, he is so focused on himself and his pride that he does not see the elevating problem in himself. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain serve a king in their task, but they are taking on the task for different reasons that are instantly shown by their
From the beginning of time, mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life’s confusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, heroism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero.
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It was first identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces. Campbell also discussed this pattern in his interview to Bill Moyers which was later published as a book The Power of Myths. This pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds. Campbell detailed many stages in the Hero’s Journey, but he also summarized the pattern in three fundamental phases: Separation, Ordeal, and Return that all heroes, in spite of their sex, age, culture, or religion, have to overcome in order to reach the goal. Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, provides a good example of the Hero's Journey. This story describes the adventures of Alice, a young English girl, in Wonderland. Although she lacks some of the stages identified by Campbell, she still possesses many of them that are necessary for a Hero to be considered a Hero.
Wilhelm, Jeffrey D., et al. A Brief History of Heroes. 2004. Glencoe Literature. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009. 69-72. Print.
A person can be a hero for saving the life of one or of millions. Heroes are not only real people, but they are also fantasy figures. Children are extremely interested with legendary and fantasy figures because they take on such tasks as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering lost treasure, and changing the nature of the world through their singular acts of courage and selflessness. They also endure much resistance, hardship, and danger. Often the hero learns valuable lessons about survival and self-reliance. Not only do heroes teach valuable lessons they give a child a sense of belonging. To a child, a hero is an invincible person who will change the world.