Beowulf A Modern Day Hero Analysis

What makes life so uncertain are not necessarily the precarious instabilities of man and nature, but our own fragility and strength in the face of adversity. Ultimately, throughout course of one’s life there comes a time when we all need saving. Whether it be physically or emotionally, it takes a hero either within ourselves or within someone else to save the day. Although there are heroes in every time period, some remembered and some forgotten, they all share the same qualities despite facing different problems. For instance, a modern day hero would be considered to be brave and selfless, have a strong sense of justice and duty, and above all, be be able to withstand whatever life throws at them. In other words, a modern day hero is larger …show more content…
Similarly, Beowulf, who is described as being “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world,” possesses one of the greatest forms of bravery and selflessness of any superhero throughout time. Truly, Beowulf is the only man brave enough to face Grendel without a weapon using only his bare hands because he knew the beast can’t be defeated otherwise. Vividly, Grendel’s brutality is described as a “sin-stained demon who laid spells that blunted every mortal man 's blade.” In another instance, during the dark and ominous night of Grendel’s attack, Beowulf stares Grendel down and watches his every move to plan his attack when his “human eyes were watching his evil steps, waiting to see his swift hard claws.” Furthermore, it states in the poem that “a soldier should know the difference between words and deeds and keep that knowledge clear in his mind.” One deed that Beowulf does as a soldier is courageously and selflessly accepts the possibility of death to save the Danes. Clearly, Beowulf exemplifies bravery and selflessness through his deeds and never once lets his duty to the people escape his …show more content…
What distinguishes him from ordinary people are his actions, both physical and mental, during the times of crisis. Although the poem was written long ago and many great heroes have emerged since, Beowulf lays the foundation for what it means to be a modern hero. With his bravery and selflessness, sense of duty and justice, and a physical and mental strength larger than life, Beowulf never lets evil triumph over good. Truly, within Beowulf lies a hero that could not be touched by man or