Essay On Dante The Pilgrim Is A Modern Hero

747 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Modern concept of a hero

Modern Hero Beowulf and Dante the Pilgrim are heroes in their own right, but who is more of a modern hero? Matter of fact, what is a modern hero? Literary scholars would define a Modern hero as a complex character who usually have flaws and problems that people can relate to. They usually don't go on a physical quest; their quest is more of an internal one. Using this definition one can conclude that Dante the Pilgrim is the more modern hero, because he doesn’t have any superpowers or preforms any supernatural God like feats. Dante the Pilgrim is on an internal quest, and not one for fame glory and riches. And finally Dante the Pilgrim is more relatable to the average person. Let’s begin with the fact that Dante the Pilgrim cannot perform any supernatural God like …show more content…

Dante the Pilgrim had lost his wife Beatrice and he was on the verge of losing his soul. Beatrice in effort to save her husband’s soul instructs Virgil, Dante the Pilgrim’s favorite poet to lead him on a journey through Hell and Purgatory. This quest through the inferno Dante the Pilgrim got to see what happens to the lost souls for various sins. The quest was meant to be an eye opener. However the quests that Beowulf embarks on were all for money and fame. Beowulf was called in to kill Grendel, which he did barehanded and took Grendel’s arm as a trophy and eventually kill Grendel’s mother. Beowulf received a large reward for his work and his battles only added to his fame, along with his great swim and his final battle with the dragon. Beowulf in his most superhuman feat fought the dragon for most of the fight one on one with a little help at the end from Wiglaf at the end to finally slay the dragon. While he’s dying he asks Wiglaf to show him some of the treasure that he has won by slaying the dragon. Beowulf gazes at the treasure, gives his throne to Wiglaf and dies a glorious warriors death added even more fame to his

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between The Odyssey Beowulf And Hamlet

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Iliad, the Odyssey, Beowulf, and Hamlet are classical stories that are still relatable and debatable to read and discuss. Though some of the stories are intertwined or continue off one another, the character and stories are distinctive. The stories contain different hero development and progression among them. All the stories contain an idea or concept of a hero that may not necessarily have to do with gaining power or control like modern superheroes. Power and control are referred to having to be the ruler and having the ability to do what you'd like. The modern heroes selflessness of a human on duty or even volunteering, and that person’s willingness to put their own lives on the line for the lives of absolute strangers, is specifically the quality that redefines the modern hero and separates them from heroes in the past.

    Read More

  • Hrothgar's Motivation In Beowulf

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    Towards the end of the story, Beowulf travels to fight a dragon who is protecting a large treasure. He wants to prove to his kingdom that he is still the brave and strong man he used to be, but his main motivation is the treasure he will get after his victory. "And Beowulf uttered his final boast: 'I've never known fear, as a youth I fought In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me'" (606-610). On the other side, the dragon has the same motivation. He is willing protect the treasure if it takes his life. This makes the fight one to the death. "When he comes to me I mean to stand, not to run from his shooting Flames, stand still till fate decides Which of us wins" (619-622). Beowulf feels that if he cannot have this victory, that this is the proper way to

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Beowulf As A Modern Hero

    1427 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout his journey Dante the pilgrims meets different souls who share their gruesome stories, and Dante the pilgrim does initially sympathize with them. Eventually as he gets lower into hell he does not pity the souls anymore. In Canto three Dante states "Inscribed on the lintel of an archway, master I said, this saying 's hard for me."(Inferno, III; 11-12). The claim can be made that Dante is very different from the dammed souls he sees in hell, and he is aware of that. In a way Dante sort of separates himself from those souls he meets. A single minded mentality is born unlike in Beowulf where his pride helps him to solve a problem that will help his

    Read More

  • Beowulf The Hero

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf’s fight against the dragon shows Beowulf as a hero. Although Beowulf had previously defeated two other foes, he stands fast and fights his most formidable foe yet, the dragon. Dragons were notoriously difficult to kill, and the poem states that it was a great man, who could kill a dragon, even if it meant losing one's life. While others cower away Beowulf fights the dragon. Beowulf defeats the dragon but loses his life in the same instance. Like the classical hero Beowulf loses his special status in death. Beowulf sought no compensation for his services; the mere satisfaction of helping others was pay enough. Like his two previous battles Beowulf fights for those who could not fight for themselves.

    Read More

  • Beowulf A Hero Essay

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the novel, Beowulf takes interest in the plight of Hrothgar, King of Denmark, and wants to help him fight Grendel. Grendel is a large monster that has been harassing members in the mead-hall of the Heorot. Beowulf owes Hrothgar a favor, due to the fact that Hrothgar saved his father in years past. Hrothgar is honored to have Beowulf attempt to fight the swamp monster, and decides to hold a feast in his name. When Grendel shows up to the feast, Beowulf illustrates his bravery by fighting Grendel without any armor. When Beowulf wins the battle by ripping Grendel’s arm off, everyone in the mead-hall praises Beowulf for his acts of courage. In this scene, Beowulf proves that he is a hero by fighting off a monster that everyone else was afraid of. This made him look

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Beowulf And Hamlet

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    Societies construct heroes that represent and embody the ideals of those who create them and read about them. Their is a stark contrast between the hero in the time of Beowulf and Hamlet’s creation and heroes created in modern times. Current literature, movies, and television portray a different kind of hero from those created in 1000 AD to 1600 AD. A hero is defined as someone who is "admired for achievements and noble qualities"," shows great courage", and in historical texts such as Beowulf and Hamlet is a "legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability" or an "illustrious warrior" (Merriam-Webster). Despite the popular belief that the time for heroes has passed away, based on the needs of society, today's heroes still exist and have evolved into something new.

    Read More

  • Beowulf Heroism Essay

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Towards the end of Beowulf’s epic hero cycle and life as king, he had to take on one last monster, the Dragon. He commuted back to Geatland with his men. As he begins to fight the Dragon, his sword failed him, and Beowulf was left with no weapons. Then ten of the eleven men he brought fled in fear and Beowulf was left with only Wiglaf. They took on the Dragon together and successfully killed him only after being badly wounded in the neck. Beowulf then collapsed and passed on. This finished his cycle as hero and as

    Read More

  • Beowulf Vs. Martin Luther King: Anglo-Saxon Hero

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we think of a hero various different people may pop into our heads. For me, my go-to hero is always Martin Luther King Jr., being I know an immense amount about him and know for sure he is a true, outstanding hero. When confronted with heros from Anglo-Saxon epics and medieval romance literature, it was interesting the see just how our perspective of what makes a hero has evolve to. Talking even from Anglo-Saxon to medieval romances alone, the hero has done a great deal of evolving.

    Read More

  • The Allegory of the Cave and Dante

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ards monstrous figures and sympathy towards those who seem to be tortured unjustly. In his perverse education, with instruction from Virgil and the shades, Dante learns to replace mercy with brutality, because sympathy in Hell condones sin and denies divine justice. The ancient philosopher Plato, present in the first level of Hell, argues in The Allegory of the Cave that truth is possible via knowledge of the Form of the Good. Similarly, Dante acquires truth through a gradual understanding of contrapasso and the recognition of divine justice in the afterlife. Ultimately, Dante recognizes that the actions of the earthly fresh are important because the soul lives on afterwards to face the ramifications. By expressing his ideas on morality and righteousness, Dante writes a work worth reading, immortalizes his name, and exalts the beliefs of his Christian audience.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Dante's Inferno

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    On one hand we have Beowulf who gets all these riches and everything he ever wanted for killing Grendel and he’s mother. (Lee, Alvin A) While Dante gets awarded with more knowledge and a better understanding of how hell is, but also to be able to tell all these Christian’s of what they shouldn’t do in order to end up in any of these circles of hell. (Davis, Charles T.) Also while Dante does this for the sake of all the people on earth even do it is believed that Beowulf does it for the people we can see that he is only doing this for

    Read More

  • Relationship Between Pilgrim And Dantes Inferno

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Comedy, Dante the Pilgrim develops a relationship with his damned idol, Virgil, in order to journey through both Inferno and Purgatory. Even though Virgil was a good man while living, he lacked understanding of certain virtues, like pride, which prevented him from being able to reach higher levels in the after life. Dante the Poet’s choice to damn Virgil conveys that obeying a higher order is the way to one’s salvation. The developing relationship between Virgil and Dante the Pilgrim throughout the first two canticles brings light to the opposing separation between the two characters because of the devotion Dante has to Christian virtues in comparison to Virgil’s pagan misunderstanding of virtue. While Dante the Pilgrim experiences many

    Read More

  • Modern Heroes: Dante Vs. Beowulf

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    The people admired and worshipped him as their hero. The people grieved for Beowulf’s death and paid their respects at his memorial. They mourned for him and stated, “All the kings upon earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame” (Beowulf 3180-82). Beowulf proved himself to be a great generous king who moved the hearts of his people and of the readers. Dante’s emotions were all over the place and left the readers mainly to feel his pity for the sinners.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Dantes Inferno

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dante Alighieri is known as one of the greatest Italian poet. He finished his poem the Divine Comedy in 1320 which is an everlasting piece of art. The poem was based on Christianity and shows the journey of Dante, the protagonist in hell, purgatory and finally paradise. It captures Dante’s journey as he gets closer to god. Throughout this journey, Dante first enters inferno(hell) and meets Virgil, his mentor and guide in his journey.

    Read More

  • Dante’s Inferno - The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide

    2166 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Dante’s Inferno, the relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide is an ever-evolving one. By analyzing the transformation of this relationship as the two sojourn through the circles of hell, one is able to learn more about the mindset of Dante the Poet.  At the outset, Dante is clearly subservient to Virgil, whom he holds in high esteem for his literary genius. However, as the work progresses, Virgil facilitates Dante’s spiritual enlightenment, so that by the end, Dante has ascended to Virgil’s spiritual level and has in many respects surpassed him. In Dante’s journey with respect to Virgil, one can see man’s spiritual journey towards understanding God. While God loves man regardless of his faults, His greatest desire is to see man attain greater spirituality, in that man, already created in God’s image, may truly become divine, and in doing so, attain eternality.

    Read More

  • Beowulf as an epic

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.

    Read More

More about Essay On Dante The Pilgrim Is A Modern Hero

Open Document