Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Martin Luther King Jr

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” (Christopher Reeve). Hero’s often find themselves in situations where they must sacrifice themselves in pursuit of the better good. Beowulf was defined by his strength, valor, and boastfulness which allowed him to embody the ideals of a hero during the Anglo-Saxon time period. Today the heroes are not marked by their pure strength or boastfulness but rather their courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities. Martin Luther King Jr. and Beowulf were idolized during different times allowing them to be faced with numerous situations. Beowulf dealt with sea monsters and dragons, while Martin Luther King Jr. was faced with making an entire people more equal. Beowulf and Martin Luther King Jr. proved that the idea of what a hero is has changed since the times of the Anglo Saxons. These heroes exhibit bravery in their effective conflicts, but the source of their strength and understanding of pride differ. Hero’s that exhibit bravery are often one’s who are remembered throughout history. Especially during the Anglo-Saxon time period, it was crucial that heroes were brave so their story could be passed down through the generations by word of mouth. Without a brave component in the tale, the oral tradition of Beowulf would have been …show more content…
Beowulf however was unable to overcome his pride (as was Anglo-Saxon tradition) and eventually led him to death. When faced with his final battle against a deadly dragon, Beowulf decides to engage it despite his unfit state. During his final battle Beowulf enters the lair to “fight this battle alone and unaided” (756) ultimate securing his prideful death. Beowulf defeats the dragon but it deathly wounded in the battle and upon his last requests take pride in the treasure he earned by defeating the