A hero is thought of being superhuman, however a hero is determined by the actions of the person. The common concept of a hero is often stated as a person with abilities that exceed what humans are capable of. Although this is true, a hero can simply be a person who dedicates their life in order to help improve a domestic or foreign community. Portrayals of heroes throughout history include Thor, Beowulf, and CNN heroes.
A hero is thought of being superhuman. However, a hero should rather be determined by the actions of a person. Although this is true in some sense, a hero can simply be a person who dedicates their life in improving a domestic or foreign community. Portrayals of heroes throughout history are best expressed in the stories Thor,
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Beowulf was considered the Achilles of his civilization. When Beowulf first encounters Grendel, the vicious beast who kills dozen of troops in Hall Heorot, he immediately grabs Grendel’s arm as the beast attacks him. The grabbing of his arm is described as the strongest grip in the world, hinting at the possibility that Beowulf is capable of superhuman strength. What further adds onto the possibility that Beowulf is a hero is the confrontation he had with the dragon terrorizing his people. Initially, this hero is able to avoid many of the fire breathing attacks launched by the dragon but he is ultimately defeated by the dragon. Despite all of the heroic characteristics Beowulf possesses, there are many instances that contradict this belief. A few examples include killing these beasts simply to increase his fame and honor in his homeland. Although he has many qualities of being a hero, the majority of his personality and actions identify him as not being a …show more content…
He is a god-like figure capable of summoning his mystical hammer, mjolnir, and summoning great lightning and wind storms. Throughout the movie, he also follows a personal path to regain his humility and ultimately reobtain the use of mjolnir after he loses it. Once reacquired, he uses it to defeat Loki and his evil acquaintances that threatened to completely decimate Asgard. He also is capable of showing compassion, like his love for Jane, and his protection of her and her colleagues. It is with this reasoning that Thor can be considered a hero, not only for his humble nature, but the fact that he is willing to sacrifice his own life in order to ensure the safety and protection of his true love and her friends. These combined help paint a picture with evidence that Thor follows the definition of being noble and
Recently, students of Olympian High School have stumbled upon the question, "What is a hero?" In the school's 2013 Young Minds Essay Contest, students are expected to consider universal concerns and ideas. Many times when people think of a hero, they think of Superman, Batman, and many other Marvel characters who display unattainable superpowers. However, heroes are prevalent throughout the world. A hero can be anyone who has the desire to help others, brave in dangerous situations, and does not look at exterior gain from helping others.
Beowulf is able to do something that no one else has ever done even though many people have tried. He is able to kill Grendel because he uses Grendels own size to hurt him. Beowulf grabs Grendels arm and pulls it until Grandel finally escapes. "He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split And broke"(Beowulf 34). Grendel was so big that when Beowulf pulled his arm there was too much pressure on it and it started to tear.
Heroes, the unordinary beings with extravagant abilities, from powers and competence to skills and talents. Heroes are people who are idealized by society for their courage and individuality. Iconic and well recognized heroes like Hercules, Superman, Spiderman and Achilles are some of the few heroes known around. All heroes have a similarity to each other, for example Beowulf and Batman. While both can be considered great heroes, they differ significantly, yet are similar in other ways.
There are many things to take into consideration when characterizing a person as a hero. Heros are typically seen as people who accomplish brave deeds and fulfill noble tasks for the greater good of things. In the epic poem Beowulf by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet a hero is revealed. What makes Beowulf a hero is his unbelievable strength and power. He does not get discouraged or let anything stear him away from what he feels needs to be done for the safety of others. In his battles with the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon Beowulf exhibits his strength and will to fight. Beowulf, is loyal to his people and his king. What I feel is the most important quality of Beowulf, though, is his willingness to risk his life for the good
He like to fight battles relying on his given strength, in one battle he chooses to use no weapon because it would be an unfair advantage. During another battle Beowulf fought underwater, everyone thought he had died because he was under for so long, but he brought back a victory. Explained in the epic, “In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful” (46). Beowulf was able to hold his breathe all day while fighting Grendel’s mother, he defeated monsters bare handed, ripping off body parts and out powering any average person. Beowulf explains, “Clear proof of this could be seen in the hand the hero displayed high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel’s shoulder and arm, his awesome grasp” (58). Beowulf definitely had the strength of an epic hero. His powers are described throughout the epic in every battle he’s involved in. Like the superhero Mr. Incredible, used his power and superhuman strengths to fight off bad people and keep residence safe. “Stopping crime, arresting crooks, saving people and helping the elderly, the muscular, broad-shouldered and blond champion of the helpless and innocent keeps his metropolis safe”(Meinel 183). Beowulf earned the status of a hero by doing similar acts as Mr. Incredible. Using his power to protect and save the Danes from evil monsters was a big step in finding heroism in his
Heroes. We all know them when we see them. The only question is what makes someone a hero? Characteristics of what it means to be a hero are shown throughout Anglo-Saxon core values. One of the most famous works from that time period is Beowulf. The story tells us of how one man, Beowulf, sails to the rescue of King Hrothgar and his people in order to save them from a terrible beast that is threatening not only their lives but also their way of life. The warrior Beowulf definitely shows characteristics of an epic hero through bravery, loyalty, generosity, friendship, achieving something of great value, providing people with a sense of security, and being intelligent.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (Christopher Reeves). In other words a hero can be anyone that is determined and helps other people. A hero is someone who can face challenges with determination, who can persevere or exceed beyond expectation, but is not always buff, or strong.
Beowulf is a warrior of Hygelac who was the strongest of men alive in that day. Beowulf was mighty and noble. He learns that a monster named Grendel is terrorizing King Hrothgar and his people, the Danes. He swears to kill the monster with his bare hands and travels to Herot to do so.
Beowulf embodies the traits of the quintessential hero. The poem shows Beowulf’s dauntlessness in two fashions, his juvenile years and his three progressively strenuous conflicts with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf’s heroic code can easily be seen throughout the three clashes but there is a conspicuous divide between his juvenile heroics as a unrestrained warrior and his prime years of heroism as a dependable, genuine king. Divided by fifty years, these two periods of Beowulf’s life correlate with opposite models of morality. Grendel is one of the monsters that Beowulf battles in the poem. He has a very ambiguous nature. Grendel has a plethora of animal like traits and a very mutilated and monstrous appearance. Grendel
A hero is defined as "someone admired for his bravery, great deeds or noble qualities". There are three categories to which all heroes can be classified into, one of which is the anti-hero genre.
Epic Heroes have qualities that mere mortals do not possess, such as astounding bravery, superhuman strength and intelligence, and a determination to succeed no matter how daunting the task. Epic Heroes often fight for the greater good or have an overall goal to accomplish. Moreover, Epic Heroes obtain their strengths by inheriting them, or having links to Gods or other Epic Heroes. In his epic poem, Beowulf displays like qualities such as courage, undoubting loyalty, and extraordinary strength.
Some definitions of heroes are people, who have noble qualities, and put the lives of others before their own life. They are expected to be reasonable and calm, during scary times, like when a shooting is going on, looking out for
Beowulf was a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. One of those victorious battles, was the battle against Grendel, in which Beowulf fought against a monster that had killed many men. “He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke” (31.389). Beowulf showed his great strength by ripping Grendel’s arm with his bare hands, which would be impossible for a regular human to do. When Beowulf fought Grendel's mother, who sought revenge for her son's death, he was able to defeat her as well. “From its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt, and then savage, now, angry and desperate, lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left" (38.535). He was able to slay Grendel’s mother by slashing the monster's neck with a giant's sword that could only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. After defeating Grendel’s mother, Beowulf decided to finish off Grendel by slashing the monster's neck with the giant sword. “Then struck off his head with a single swift blow. The body jerked for the last time, then lay still” (38.560). After Beowulf chopped off his head, he carried it from the ocean to Herot mead-hall with ease. The head was so enormously heavy that it would take four men to lift and carry it.
During Beowulf's youth, he is considered to be a great warrior, portrayed by his strength, courage, and bravery. Beowulf begins his legacy in Denmark with an evil monster, Grendel. Grendel is ruining King Hrothgar's kingdom and is ritually tormenting him. The monster breaks into the castle and eats as many of Hrothgar's men as he can hold each night. King Hrothgar calls Beowulf for help because the king has tried everything else. Beowulf arrives with a ship of his warriors to help King Hrothgar in stopping Grendel. King Hrothgar accepts Beowulf's pledge to kill Grendel. Beowulf pledges to face Grendel with, "no weapons, therefore, for either this night; unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares" (47). When Beowulf meets Grendel he fights barehanded and rips his arm off. Beowulf comes back with Grendel's arm. It is hung in the battle hall as a trophy of Beowulf's bravery, courage, and victory over the monster. Beowulf's defeat of Grendel certifies his reputation for bravery and establishes him as a full hero.
Webster’s New World dictionary gives one definition of a hero as “the central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities.” Anyone you ask can name someone they view as their hero (from a parent, sports figure, fictional superhero, to a movie star) but very few people would actually define the word hero the same. A good general definition of a hero is a person who is idealized or admired for outstanding achievements, courage, bravery, noble qualities, and unselfish acts for others (Goins, 2012).