What is a Hero?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a hero is “a man who exhibits extraordinary bravery, firmness, fortitude, or greatness of soul, in any course of action, or in connection with any pursuit, work, or enterprise; a man admired and venerated for his achievements and noble qualities.” Throughout history there has often been a need for such a human. The epic poem Beowulf narrates the story of a hero named Beowulf who rescues Denmark from several monsters that terrorize it: Grendel and his mother, and later, a dragon. In doing so, he becomes a heroic figure. In addition to his unique birth and purpose, Beowulf performs many impossible feats, and truly is devoted to Denmark in his last breaths. In contrast, the Holy Bible tells the story about a similar person named Christ who also is born to rescue humanity against evil. Clearly, Beowulf is a representation of Christ, because of the similarity between their births and purposes, the impossible things that they do, and their alike final moments of life.

God’s will allows both Beowulf and Christ to be born. A virgin gives birth to Christ because God chooses her to bear his son. This Immaculate Conception would not have been possible without God: “Now the birth of Jesus was on the wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (King James Version Matt. 1.18). Similarly, Beowulf’s birth is also the result of a higher being: “that woman [Beowulf’s mother] can say that in her labor the Lord of Ages bestowed grace on her (943-945). Although it does not specifically say that she is a virgin, the word “bestowed” suggests she is, as it is used later in the poem in the context of gift giving. In one of Beowulf...

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...9). Just like Beowulf who had only one of his followers by his side in his final battle, Christ had only one disciple at his crucifixion: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved” (John 19.26). At the bitter end, Beowulf and Christ are abandoned by their followers. As well Beowulf chooses to fight the dragon, knowing fully that it could result in his death (2534-2537). His death, therefore, is very much a sacrifice: a sacrifice similar to the one made by Christ. Christ could have saved himself but he does not: “Thinkest thought that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matt. 26.53)? Beowulf and Christ both sacrifice themselves for the battle against evil. Beowulf’s similarities with Christ do not end until his last breath, and even then, parallelism exists.