A hero could be defined in multiple manners depending on the person, but a hero is ideally illustrated as someone who is admired for demonstrating behaviors and decisions that are noble and ethically worthy of awe. The Anglo-Saxon period stretched over 600 years, starting around the 5th century to 1066, in which they were Germanic people who conquered England and declared it as their new home. The Anglo-Saxon had a very strong belief in courage, loyalty, and family, ideas that were common in their culture. “Beowulf,” an Anglo-Saxon epic poem written by an anonymous writer, depicts a very courageous character and his battles against evil. After reading the epic poem, one can deduce that the character, Beowulf, shares similar heroic qualities
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Beowulf recounts, “They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they have earned” (“Beowulf” 151-159). By narrating his past experiences, Beowulf displays his strength and gained reputation that qualifies him as a hero due to being brave, strong, and dedicated. It also establishes Beowulf’s potential because he has fought the evil that no ordinary man could defeat unless they are as capable of a hero as Beowulf. These heroic traits connect Beowulf with the modern-day hero, former president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who also shares a history of battles to defeat evil. Eisenhower is well-known for his participation in World War 2 and played a key role in commanding the American army to get rid of the Nazis that started to conquer many of Europe, with the dedication to liberating people. With his accomplishment of successively leading D-Day in World War 2, Eisenhower has gained a positive reputation that led him to be elected as president of the United States of America for being heroic and loyal to his country, similarly on how Beowulf is known of being the greatest warrior of the Geats for defeating evil that harmed
Beowulf recounts, “They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they have earned” (“Beowulf” 151-159). By narrating his past experiences, Beowulf displays his strength and gained reputation that qualifies him as a hero due to being brave, strong, and dedicated. It also establishes Beowulf’s potential because he has fought the evil that no ordinary man could defeat unless they are as capable of a hero as Beowulf. These heroic traits connect Beowulf with the modern-day hero, former president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who also shares a history of battles to defeat evil. Eisenhower is well-known for his participation in World War 2 and played a key role in commanding the American army to get rid of the Nazis that started to conquer many of Europe, with the dedication to liberating people. With his accomplishment of successively leading D-Day in World War 2, Eisenhower has gained a positive reputation that led him to be elected as president of the United States of America for being heroic and loyal to his country, similarly on how Beowulf is known of being the greatest warrior of the Geats for defeating evil that harmed