BEOWULF ESSAY

              Ours, Theirs, and Everybody's Hero

   

    Beowulf is regarded as the first real and somewhat admirable hero in American literature and with no doubt, it is true. The hero from the first American epic story, 

Beowulf, demonstrates traits of physical, mental, and emotional strength, overwhelming courage, and fierce loyalty to whomever or whatever he was serving to. Traits of what a hero was specific to the time period that the text was written in, around c. 975-1025. The epic shows the reader these traits through the use of imagery, direct characterization, and symbolism. However, Beowulf may be now regarded as a dated hero. In current American literature and culture in general, the hero has changed. No longer is it buff, physically fit, ready-to-kill beasts, rather, heroes in modern times are presented in various ways. Either contributing to society positively with morally right actions, standing up for the 'underdog' in a political and activist method of attacking the problem, or doing multiple small acts of kindness which grows into a grandiose coalescence of significance in a certain area. Another difference would come into play with the contrast in modern and past times if Beowulf were told in a feminist perspective- only showing how much women have progressed in their rights over time. An example of a modern with these listed traits is Katniss Everdeen from the
Hunger Games novel series. Katniss provides an overwhelming example of what a modern hero is and while differs with Beowulf in certain personality traits also shares universal qualities with him of what a true hero consists of.

   

    Beowulf and Katniss first-of-all differ with a moral perspective of life. Beowulf intentionally kills monsters and others who are 'in his way', it's his goal, and overall it's a major reason as to why he is a hero to everybody, a characteristic majorly seen through the imagery that the epic provides. However, Katniss, on the other hand, detests even the thought of killing anybody. Forced to do so in the novel, she gets posttraumatic stress disorder after she participates in the hunger games and kills multitudes of 'innocent' people. Beowulf would've gladly have done so if he were in the games, seeing that killing is a priority to him. Also, Beowulf abides to a certain power. In other words, he almost sets up appointments to go in and rescue those in trouble. Katniss relied on moral conscious to see that the society in the 

Hunger Games novel(s) needed major revolution and assistance, therefore, she went and fought what was wrong in her world without anyone setting up a time and date; she relied on her instinct and morality. Beowulf also has strong confidence which transcends into arrogance at times, characterizing him as a sort of barbaric creature. Setting him up as an intimidating figure that one is not to cross, ever. Cockiness was not something Katniss was familiar of. Katniss had a strong humility to her, always restraining herself when fame played apart of her life. She never wanted to be recognized in the spotlight and never wanted to be an extravagant, noticeable figure in society. If he had the chance, Beowulf would've jumped at the opportunity to have the glamorous fame that Katniss was forced into having. Although the two have their noticeable differences, these two heroes share universal traits to being defined as an authentic hero.

  

   A similarity that both Beowulf and Katniss Everdeen share is that of confidence. The two heroes always had confidence that whatever plan or plot the two had in mind to fulfill was going to be successful. Whether it is Beowulf and killing Grendel so confidently that he proposes that he will attack the creature unarmored, or Katniss Everdeen pretending to attempt suicide at the end of the first Hunger Games novel in order to save the lives of her and her partner, Peeta. Beowulf and Katniss also share the universal heroic trait of good intention and morality. Although Beowulf is a bit blood thirsty, he kills evil creatures because he has the mindset of a true hero being that all he wants to do is save people from danger and better society, making it safer and providing positive social change, being presented through direct characterization and symbolism with the use of killing Grendel in the story. Katniss stands up to the Capitol in the Hunger Games novel by rebelling against many rules during the actual games and public appearances she makes, as well as saving her young sister from death by volunteering as tribute to be in the games which begins her new, arduous, and traumatic life. Though the two differ in more mechanical aspects, Katniss and Beowulf provide great traits to prove them being authentic heroes either thousands of years ago, or today in modern society.

   

    If Beowulf were to be told in a feminist perspective, however, things would definitely change. Beowulf and Katniss would be less relatable though the POV of that of the narration provided in both stories if the epic would've been told through a feminist lense. The narrator of the now feminist-ly told epic would show how inferior women were to men in that time period. Women were portrayed and treated as slaves to men throughout history, Beowulf focuses on a heroic male figuring, highlighting masculinity as main evidence to why he is a hero- physical strength, aggression, etc. A women might've admired his bravery, however disapprove that Beowulf and his militia are composed of men, and women are bystanders only waiting to be told what to do for a man that is in need of help. Help derived from dirty clothes, empty stomachs, or sexual dissatisfaction, so yeah, help. Not only is the main character and hero of the Hunger Games female, however the novels' author is a women as well. This aids in provided a strong, independent, intelligent, (etc.) female hero to be inspired from, not letting men restricting her for her endless ability to achieve in revolutionizing society. Beowulf being told in a feminist perspective would only cause for both novels and characters to differ more, however it would set up a correlation with a documented 'before' and 'after' in American literature. Beowulf being the 'before' for female heroes and rights', and the Hunger Games being the 'after' in history, now a women being the hero; after women have finally gained human rights and are being seen equal to the man more and more each day.  

   

    Beowulf and Katniss Everdeen are two opposites who are alike. They're both authentic heroes, portrayed through various literature techniques such as symbolism, imagery, and direct characterization to the readers' of each epic. Beowulf differs in being brutal, a trait common to ancestral heroes, with Katniss having a moral-driven determination to change society for the better, a trait common in modern heroes- whether it be in literature, film, television, or real life.  However, both relate to wanting to aid those in need and always being reliable when called to the rescue. Even if another difference was aggregated to Beowulf, such as the story being told through a feminist perspective, the two stories and characters would connect and relate to one another due to the strong ties of heroism they both share in common. Definitions and labels will undoubtedly change with time and history occurring, however some aspects to a certain thing- such as heroism, will never change due to its universality.