Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Beowulf Archetype


Beowulf is the archetype of the dragon slayer, the hero who faces death in order to save a threatened community. Does Beowulf remind you of any heroes in real life, in fiction, or in the movies today? What characteristics do the heroes share?



“And over and over they swore that nowhere on earth or under the spreading sky or between the seas, neither south nor north, was there a warrior worthier to rule over men” (35). This worthy warrior is Beowulf, prince of the Geats. When Grendel, the monster, terrorized the people of Herot for twelve long years, only Beowulf accepted the challenge of killing him. When the cowardly Grendel came to feast on the sleeping men in Hrothgar’s hall, Beowulf drove off the monster after separating Grendel’s arm from his body. After Grendel’s mother attacks Herot, Beowulf besieges her lair. He triumphs and returns to his homeland to rule in peace for 50 years. Later, Beowulf sacrifices his life to save the people of Geat from a dangerous dragon. Placing his life in mortal danger in order to save a community at risk, Beowulf is the archetype of epic heroes.
Beowulf is not only an archetype of epic heroes; he embodies characteristics of heroes present today. Typical of fictional heroes, Beowulf possesses herculean strength. Beowulf was able to lift, “a heavy sword, hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons but so massive that no ordinary man could lift its carved and decorated length” (37) Comparable to Beowulf is the strength possessed by comic book heroes such as Superman. Among the many virtues Beowulf displays, one is courage. Like American soldiers, Beowulf is willing to risk his life and go to battle for strangers threatened by danger. Beowulf’s bravery can also be observed in the fictional hero, Spider-Man, who consistently saves the lives of the citizens of New York City, despite persecution from the local newspapers. Overall, Beowulf characterizes the best qualities of society’s heroes, past and present.

Beowulf Journal 1


Write about a contemporary hero, real or fictional, and the challenges he or she faces. Describe your hero, and then briefly analyze him or her using these questions:
What sort of evil or oppression does your hero confront?
Why does he or she confront evil? What’s the motivation?
For whom does your hero confront evil?
What virtues does your hero represent?



Contemporary Hero

Every one needs a hero. Life is filled with injustices, evils, and just plain bad luck. The presence of a hero or rescuer provides hope and encourages others to become heroes themselves. While real-life heroes are the ideal, not everyone will encounter one, thus the invention of fictional heroes. Fictional heroes have been inspiring the masses since the first stories appeared. Nowadays, these fictional heroes are present in some of our favorite comic books, Spiderman, Superman, Captain America, etc. Like Beowulf, these characters have provided hope against injustice and evil since their creation. Similar to those listening to Beowulf, people battle their own evils through these fictional heroes. Enjoying the adventures of these comic book heroes provide an escape from their ordinary lives. For these reasons, comic book heroes have survived generations. I, too, have been lured in by the adventures of these comic book heroes, inspired by one in particular; Iron Man. Iron Man contains all of the characteristics of a typical hero. Is he strong? Yes. Does he fight against evil? Yes. However, none of these characteristics make Iron Man my hero. It is what differentiates him that inspires me. Because Iron Man is a realistic hero who uses his intelligence to battle evil, Iron Man is my hero.

Iron Man confronts the evils of modern society, terrorism, injustice, etc. Originally, he was a weapons designer named Tony Stark. Satisfied with a carefree life, Tony Stark had no interest in others. However, after being kidnapped, Tony Stark learned that his weapons were being sold to terrorist countries. Upon escaping, he vows to stop producing weapons that could fall into enemy hands and prevent these tyrants from terrorizing other people. Thus he created the persona of Iron Man. Unlike typical superheroes, Iron Man does not have super powers. He was not bitten by a spider, thus gaining a combination of spider/human DNA. Nor is he from a separate planet like Superman. Iron Man gains his powers from his metal suit. Painted alternately in gold and red shades, Iron Man’s suit enables him to fly, is equipped with the latest weaponry, and powered by a super intelligent computer. This suit and its computer system were completely designed by Iron Man powered by innovative technology. Typical superheroes are unrealistic, containing so little of the flaws seen in humans. This lack of flaws makes it seem unlikely that such a superhero will appear in real life. Iron Man, however, makes no attempt to appear perfect. He is a womanizer, arrogant, and selfish. These vices only serve to emphasize his virtues: a strong belief in justice, loyalty to his country, and a sense of responsibility. Iron Man is an ordinary person who took the initiative to protect others and his country. This unique and realistic person inspires me to try my hardest in life. Who is my hero? Iron Man!