Beowulf Essay

Beowulf and Batman

            Heroes are ordinary people that posses extraordinary qualities making them heroes. Beowulf and Batman are both heroes of their time. Beowulf and Batman both posses strength, strong ethics and protects people that cannot protect themselves. Both heroes are symbols of great power.

            Beowulf shows his strength when he fights Grendel without any weapons and rips his arm off with his bare hands, he also shows strength when he slays the dragon with the help of only one man. Beowulf’s strength was used to save people and not for his own good he wanted to help people by fighting off evil. Batman shows strength every time he fights criminals that are only out to hurt good citizens. Batman used his strength the same way Beowulf did he wanted to protect the people and save them. To help the reader understand the severity of Grendel’s disgustingness he describes Grendel’s home using alliteration saying “made his home in hell” this helps the reader understand what type of creature Grendel is.

            Both Beowulf and Batman have a hero code of ethics that they believe in strongly. Both heroes condemn murder. “You murdered your brothers, your own close kin. Words and bright wit won’t help your soul; you’ll suffer hell’s fires, Unferth, forever tormented.” In this quote Beowulf scolds Unferth for murder, he does not believe that it is something that should be committed. Batman has the same code as Beowulf, Batman believes that murder should only happen when it is absolutely necessary he would rather injure the criminal instead of killing him. Beowulf uses many allusions to the Bible to help the readers of the sixth century understand it. The Bible clearly states that murder is not acceptable going along with Beowulf’s beliefs.

            Beowulf and Batman only wanted to help the citizens. Beowulf even at an old age saves his town from a ramped dragon out for revenge. He goes into a fight with only one man’s help although some say he accomplished his goal of killing the dragon he also lost his life giving the people of his town the ultimate sacrifice to keep them safe. Batman spends his time saving the city of Gotham from evil that lurks in the streets. He does not get paid he does not get rewards he does it purely to know that he is keeping the citizens safe. The author of Beowulf uses epithets to help the reader understand the relationship between Beowulf and God.

            Beowulf and Batman are both symbols of their time; they represent a society that cannot survive without a balance between good and evil. Both heroes show their strength, ethics and need to protect the people in a way that exemplifies their human qualities.