Example Of Heroism In Beowulf

Joseph Campbell, a writer and lecturer, once stated, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” We all want to be a hero. In the past decade, a hero has been revealed to be a strong, humble, and omnipotent superhero. Everybody wants to be Captain America or Iron Man. Little children look up to these fictitious figures as role models. However, heroes are not just invincible beings. Consequently, the values of a hero have been degraded to mere physical abilities. Three books, Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, and Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, reveal the men who beam with the light of human heroism. They all exemplify heroism through their selflessness. Heroism is demonstrated through self-sacrificial people.

Beowulf son of Ecgtheow, is the main character of the tale of Beowulf. Beowulf is the king of his village. A threat to the village appears, an evil monster named Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. The three evil beings ravage the small village. Defenseless and meek, the people of the village are left open to the terror that rains down from the monsters. Beowulf realizes his duty to the people of his kingdom. Thus, starts the heroic battle between Beowulf and the malevolent monsters. The two forces fight fervently through the day. By the end, Beowulf was left victorious, but badly wounded. He died, but he did not die in vain. Many people would define Beowulf as a hero mainly because of his courageous decision to fight the monsters. Although that is a brave and honorable exploit, he isn’t a hero for fighting the monsters; he is a hero because he fought for the people of his village. That is what Beowulf ordained and that is how he is defined as a hero. His driving motivation to fight through fear, was because he cared about the people of his beloved village. He cared more for the innocent, more than he cared about his pride. Beowulf was a hero because of his fervent fight for the families in his

The story follows the central character, Sir Gawain, one of the knights from the round table during King Arthur’s rule. One night while a celebration was in progress, the green knight comes and challenges a swordsman to duel him. No one volunteers, until Sir Gawain stand fighting in the king’s stead. During the battle, Sir Gawain chops of the green knight’s head. As preposterous as it was, the green knight picks up his head and tells Sir Gawain to meet him in one-year time for the return blow. Immediately, he leaves. Sir Gawain returns a year later to have his head chopped in return. Sir Gawain lays down his life instead of his King. As the blade is about to reach his neck, it stops. In the confusion, Sir Gawain looks up as the Green Knight reveals that it was a test. The king himself, tested Sir Gawain’s loyalty and Sir Gawain passed. Although it was a test, Gawain was defined as a hero for devoting his loyalty to his king and living honorably. The intent of his heart was in display, and he embodied heroism. He cared more about his king and country, more than he did about his own