Comparing Beowulf and Superman Essay - 620 Words

The epic Beowulf shows us how a mans’ character is tested as he encounters difficult situations. The unknown author of Beowulf, leaves behind a mystique, an intriguing quality with which the character which hold our interest. The modern-day hero, Superman, also possesses these same qualities. Their modest actions are what helped these hero’s to become their peoples’ â€Å"ideal man.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The first quality that earns a person’s respect between Beowulf and Superman is wealth. Neither of these men had a considerable amount of money. This helps the every day man relate to them more easily. In the epic, Beowulf’s home is far away from his lord’s castle. We get the sense that Beowulf is an†¦show more content†¦The he stepped to another Still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws, Grasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper -And was instantly seized himself. . .(Raffel 314-323). This passage shows us how Beowulf’s planning ahead led him to victory. By exposing the monster’s strengths as well as his tactics, Beowulf was able to counter-attack the monster and win. The second time when Beowulf shows us his intelligence is when he goes fights Grendel’s mother: She welcomed him in her claws. Clutched at him savagely but could not harm him. Tried to work her fingers through the tight Ring-woven mail on his breast, but tore And scratched in vain. . .(Raffel 475-479). Although his armor did not ultimately stop her, it slowed her down and gave Beowulf time to overcome her. For Superman, his intelligence comes from experience. Because of his daily duty of â€Å"protector of the Earth,† Superman reacts instantly to the problems he faces. When he fights enemies, Superman tries to have the fight on his terms. He lures the criminals out of the cities, away from the people. If that’s not possible he takes care of business in a quick and orderly fashion. He does this by keeping the innocent bystander out of the way.Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Epic Hero Archetype in Films, and Literature850 Words   |  4 PagesAs Beowulf possessed incredible the strength of 30 men, Luke Skywalker the force, and Harry Potter magic, epic heroes continue in every form of today’s entertainment and storytelling. Every culture from the beginning has had their own tales of heroes accomplishing great feats that no one else could. An epic hero is an icon for everyone to relate to, they symbolize different lessons to learn. The epic hero archetype exists as a source of entertainment but also as a demonstrative tool. Their morals