Beowulf Essay

Heroes are as essential to society today as they were hundreds of years ago. Regardless of the culture and time period, heroes always seem to find a place in everything from literature to music. Although heroes may be sine qua non in our world their characteristics, purpose and personalities differ according to the time period and place their stories were born . Beowulf embodies the ideal hero in the Danish middle ages through his courageous acts backed by allusions and unwavering pride revealed by indirect characterization, while Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games reflects modern values in her fight for justice.

At first glance, these two saviors seem to be as different as night and day but a closer look reveals undeniable similarities. Both Katniss and Beowulf serve as motivation for their respective societies. Both the Danish in Beowulf and the struggling families in the Districts of The Hunger Games are looking for something to believe in. In Beowulf, citizens line the water waiting for their hero to come up successful from the Grendel’s mother’s cave. Their faith in Beowulf is rewarded when he soon emerges carting the beast’s head. When Katniss is competing in the hunger games, people watching begin rooting for her because they know she stands for something more. They look at Katniss as an inspiration, a sign that rebellion is possible. Katniss even develops her own signal that catches on throughout the Districts and is used by various communities to show their support. With both heroes, epitomizing hope in their societies it is evident that inspiring faith in your people is a trait in heroes that has withstanded the test of time. Katniss and Beowulf are also similar in that they do not rely on weapons and technology as much as they rely on their own strength and wit. Many allusions to the bible are sprinkled throughout Beowulf and offer an explanation and connection between God and Beowulf’s incredible strength. In the fight between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf, Beowulf ultimately uses his brute strength to kill the monster after his weapon failed him. Similarly, in dire times Katniss’s quick wit, not weaponry saved her from her demise.

Though similar in some aspects, heroes from today and years ago show disparities elsewhere. Because literature is a product of its environment and society we are able to infer many things about values during a stories respective time period. Indirect characterization reveals not only Beowulf’s heroic triumphs but also his immense pride. His confidence is almost tangible it is so strong throughout his adventures. Beowulf does not doubt his abilities at any time throughout the epic poem. This is perhaps best shown when he attempts to fight a dragon terrorizing the village when he is an old man. Despite his old age, Beowulf feels that he is perfectly capable and able to defeat the threatening creature. Although today we would label Beowulf as arrogant and even cocky, Beowulf’s confidence was not seen as a flaw at all but actually a normality that was embodied by most heroes during the time period. Katniss is also very confident in her abilities however it often times results in her downfall rather than success. Katniss’s arrogance and stubbornness holds her back from making essential connections and relationships that would aid her later during the games. Because her cocky attitude comes off as a fault, we see that heroes today are held to a different standard than in ancient times (again a reflection of our society as a whole).

The connotation of hero differs from time period to time period and culture to culture because a hero reflects the values and beliefs of said society. Certain constants can be seen throughout time like inspiring hope and possessing cunning qualities as showcased by Katniss and Beowulf. However, the comparison of these heroes also reveals differences in opinions of opposing cultures.