Anglo Saxon and Modern Day Heroes A hero is someone who performs an act of great courage no matter what the consequences may be. Anglo Saxon heroes were considered brave if they fought a sea monster or a dragon. Today’s heroes are considered heroic if they save someone from drowning or from a fire. Beowulf, an Anglo Saxon hero, has many heroic and brave qualities.
A fireman, a modern day hero, possesses many of the same characteristics, but does not have the superhuman strength of Beowulf. Beowulf and a fireman differ in their strength, but they are similar in their devotion to duty and courage. Although Beowulf and a fireman are both heroes, their strength and size are different. Beowulf has superhuman physical strength. He is said to have “the strength of thirty men in his mighty handgrip.” Beowulf dressed in full armor, was attacked by nine sea monsters and killed them all. He can fight huge monsters like Grendel and defeat him.
A fireman has nowhere near the strength that Beowulf has. He has strength, and can perform acts such as rescuing people from a fire and carrying them to safety. A fireman can save people’s lives, but not by fighting monsters or dragons. They both are strong, but a fireman doesn’t have as much strength as Beowulf possesses. On the other hand, Beowulf and a fireman are alike in their devotion to duty. Each of them no what they have to do and they do it, without hesitation.
Beowulf puts other people in front of his own life. To help the Danes, he goes to fight the monster, Grendel. Mooney 2 A fireman knows that he or she might be killed rescuing someone from a burning building, yet they still go in. They risk their lives to rescue the people because it is honorable.
The heroes both know the threat of death, but they still go and do what they have to do. They are devoted to what they feel is their duty as a hero. In addition to their similarities in devotion to duty, Beowulf and a fireman are alike in courage. They both show great courage in everything they do. Beowulf shows courage in every battle and for every monster he kills. A fireman shows his courage and bravery every time he goes in a burning building to save someone’s life.
No matter what barrier is in front of them, they are brave, and they go through anything to do what they came to do. They both have courage that everyone admires. In conclusion, Beowulf and a fireman are opposite in strength, but alike in devotion to duty and courage. They both possess all the qualities that a hero is expected to have. Even though one is from the Anglo Saxon period, and one is from modern day today, they are similar and can both be called heroes. They are brave and risk their lives to save other people at the expense of their own lives.
They do what they have to do, because they ” re heroes.