Max Reisterer When times are tough a hero is needed to light the way. Such heroes usually portray the culture of the times. They are the ideal person of the culture embodied into a mighty hero. On other accounts the hero isn't so mighty but rather a thief. As compared to more traditional heroes as Beowulf, Robin Hood doesn't appear to fit with his criminal ways. Robin Hood’s actions are different than Beowulf’s but still portray the ideals of the time. Beowulf is a mighty hero from Anglo-Saxon time. He was a mighty and strong lord. Anglo-Saxons of the time believed in devoting themselves to a lord. Beowulf was also brave and confident. He would charge into battle and use brute force to rip his enemies to shreds. He gained fame and honor. His adventures led to many treasures which Pagans of the time worshiped. Beowulf’s glorious ways of combat were idealized by the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf’s minor details also portray the time. The naming of swords and ability to breathe underwater show that swords were knighted and that Anglo-Saxons didn't go swimming too often.
Beowulf was a tremendous and strong hero who led people to victory in his time period.
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Taking on a stealthier more criminal way of life. Stealing from the rich people instead of fighting demons for them. Robin Hood fought different evils, he combated social injustice. He challenged social constructs of social classes. Robin Hood was a hero by breaking the rings of the social ladder. In English time class status ruled the lower classes. Upper class people could be brutal to lower class. The tales of Robin Hood gave hope to the people and revealed the injustice behind the system. Robin Hood may not have been a strong monster slaying captain of war, he instead was a freedom fighting, truth seeking, justice battler, combating society itself. He was just as worthy of a hero for he was what his time period
The main difference between the hero during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is that one is more focused on the ideals of religion while the other is focused on typical ideals of knighthood. Beowulf is essentially the perfect knight, having each value in spades. Beowulf has the heroic ideals of bravery, fortitude, and loyalty. In each situation that Beowulf encounters, he proves that he is a hero by displaying these values.
Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon hero because of many reasons, the first being because he had bravery and courage. “Have watched me rise from the darkness of war. Dripping with my enemy’s blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all that raced from the earth, I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one.” (247-254). This quote shows that Beowulf had bravery and courage because he went up against all of these monsters that could have killed him very easily. Which is what heroes do, they fight monsters and creatures that can easily kill average people. Another quote that shows how Beowulf had the characteristics of bravery and courage is, “If weapons were useless he'd use his hands. The strength in his fingers." (506-507). This quote shows how he had the courage to depend on his superhuman strength to kill any monster that could not be defeated by weapons. One more quote that shows Beowulf’s courage is, “He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone's answer...For hours he sank through the waves.” (467-469). This quote shows that Beowulf had courage because he leapt into a lake not knowing what was waiting below the surface.
Men dominated the Anglo Saxon society and the people loved a great hero like that of Beowulf. They believed a hero should be a keeper of his promises, be boastful and produce
“I had hope, however; I had been wounded seven times during the war, and once before in this same lung; and I did not believe I was going to die.” A fearless man with the courage to elude fellow companions, to commit thievery, and escape death so many times. Jesse James was a fearless man that had been affected by the Civil War. His contributions to a certain group made them the most feared groups over a couple years. This paper will cover his early life, contributions to the civil war, crime, personal life with his death, and how Robin Hood and James are alike/different.
Beowulf is seen as a superhuman, almost like a god. In the story he had incredible strength and was look up to by the Danes. He, Beowulf, was going to help the
Beowulf is cruel and that makes him a hero- Grendel is cruel but it’s a result of his alienation with society and jealousy of society
Originating in the Anglo-Saxon period, the epic poem Beowulf portrays a legendary hero. Beowulf established the earlier form of heroism, and was then later introduced in to the English culture. Praised and admired by many people, Beowulf possesses several distinct traits that allow him to be defined perfectly as an ideal Anglo-Saxon hero; his eagerness to seek glory and fame, rather than richness and treasures, his loyalty and graceful attitude not only to his rulers but also to his followers, and his contradictory beliefs of faith and fate
Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious
Beowulf is considered to be an epic hero. A character such as himself can even be considered in the same class as different DC Comic heroes such Superman, Batman, Green Lantern or The Flash. It is acceptable to list Beowulf with these heroes due to all of his heroic efforts defeating various monsters and enemies and the fact that he has a DC Comic made about him. Beowulf is a hero that defies the logic of your typical comic book hero; he possesses his own attributes and is in a class of his own with the world of DC Comics.
Growing up, everyone has a idea on what a hero looks like. Heros represent a lot of different aspects of bravery. Every culture in history has had a heroic figure. In most cultures heroes portray different aspects of being a hero. In Anglo-Saxon times heroes were considered strong, and fearless. Beowulf is a true epic hero in Anglo- Saxon times because he is very fearless, strong, and honored.
Beowulf is an epic poem about a hero named Beowulf who is first hero from the Anglo-Saxon time period. Robin Hood is a ballad about an outlaw hero named Robin Hood who is the last hero from the Anglo-Saxon time period. Beowulf and Robin Hood are two very different characters in the way they appear, how they fight, and why they are fighting; they share similarities because they are both heroic people, and they are both fighting for the same community.
Humbleness was also key for an Anglo-Saxon hero as it proved respectability and honor towards the hero. Anglo-Saxons wanted their hero to prove their strength and courage, however, they did not want the hero to become a dictator of any kind. Strong friendships were known as the most trustable alliances an Anglo-Saxon hero could form for battles (Trekker2392). It was key for an Anglo-Saxon hero to have the ability to create strong friendships around him. Beowulf perfectly identifies to all five of these main characteristics throughout the epic poem.
A hero is one who is not only strong, but one who uses his strength to uphold others. A hero is humble, philanthropic, magnanimous and selfless, a humanitarian at best. In the unprecedented epic Beowulf, the tale’s namesake exemplifies every characteristic befitting an Anglo-Saxon hero. He is honest, loyal, and courageous. He portrays these characteristics in the battle against Grendel, the affray with Grendel’s mother, and the fight against the dragon that inevitably ended his life.
If Robin Hood was an outlaw who did not obey the law, then why was he viewed as a heroic character? The answer was that he stood for the common man. He was a people’s hero and a champion of the poor. Anthony Pollard reveals Robin Hood’s reasoning for robbing the rich and giving to the poor is his book Imagining Robin Hood. He explains that “He does not rob the rich to give to the poor. He robs from the undeserving and helps the deserving” (4). Robin Hood is considered a fictional character but the impact his legends had on our society is very real, and will influence generations form many years to come.
Being heroic along with being an outlaw are not two features that tend to mix well together because of previous stereotypes, Robin Hood is an exception to this because his actions, even though some might say were criminalistic, his intentions were to only provide a safe haven for the ones who deserves it the most, the poor. Heroes come and go, but the legend of Robin Hood has prevailed generation after generation. Robin Hood, who fought for freedom and liberty of every soul did it not for fame, but for equality and the right to live freely without the reign of a corrupt government. Robin Hood steals money from the poor and gives it to the rich, a message that sets fears in the wealthy, but opens up a whole new atmosphere for poor to dream and believe in. Focusing on the movie aspect of Robin Hood and his portrayal, Kevin Reynolds Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991, James Hunter Robin Hood: Prince of Sherwood 1994, Spoke Brandt Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse 2012, and Mel Brooks Robin Hood Men in Tights 1993. Robin Hood played a vital role in getting the system overthrown and in order to know more about him, explaining the folklore behind him, the symbolism of his character, and the film created in his honor. Robin Hood played a vital role in creating the atmosphere that the poor rely on to this day, the lower class are a vital role in every economy as they are the majority and he showed what can happen when they are not taken care of.