Beowulf v. Star Wars Compare & Contrast

The idea of the monomyth can be mentioned in classic literature as well as in mono motion pictures. The definition Joseph Campbell gives of a hero deals with eight stages. These eight stages can be found in Beowulf in addition to Star Wars. Beowulf, the strongest of the people known as Geats, proclaimed that he would help get rid of the monster that was terrorizing the Danes. Star Wars', Luke Skywalker was a simple farm boy and became the greatest hero the galaxy had ever known. Luke was born during the chaos as the galaxy transitioned from Republic to the tyrannical Empire. Beowulf and Luke both had a boon, a timely blessing or benefit, from which they were given. The goal of the two heroes was to save their part of the world. Though they saved their part of the world successfully, they too reached a nadir. Although Beowulf and Star Wars are dissimilar stories, both hold many similarities.

Even so, one cannot ignore the differences from the two stories. For instance, the technology used in Star Wars, was by far, more advanced compared to the basic technology in which Beowulf used. More so, a mental force guided Luke whereas Beowulf believed it was the help of God. It was rather clear that Luke was a young man compared to Beowulf being elder. Lastly, Beowulf had the advantage to defeat all of his enemies yet ended up dying whereas Luke had the benefit of living.

Notwithstanding the differences, the two stories are clearly similar. For example, it is relevant that when being a hero, a boon will always be present. In this case, the boon for Luke was the gift of power. Luke was always told that the Force was with him. Beowulf's boon was fame from fighting and defeating the unconquerable monsters. Each of the hero's goals was to save their part of the world. Both achieved that goal when defeating the wrongdoers. Luke defeated his enemy, Darth Vader and his men, as well as saving Princess Leia. Beowulf fought and killed anyone who tried to hurt the people of Geatland and the Danes. His name was held with great honor after his death.

Though the two can be referred to as "heroes," they too reached a nadir, or lowest point. Luke's nadir was when he and Princess Leia came out of the Death Star. The Death Star was the code name of an unspeakably powerful and horrific weapon developed by the Empire. The immense space station carried a weapon capable of destroying entire planets. The Death Star was to be an instrument of terror, meant to cow treasonous worlds with the threat of annihilation. As Luke and Princess Leia stood outside the Death Star, they observed as Obi-Wan Kenobi died. Beowulf's nadir came as he went to fight Grendel's mother in the swampy lake. As his people awaited his return, there was no sign of him. Beowulf's people began to think he died and gave up, leaving him behind as they walked off.

The concept of a monomyth can be pointed out in both mono motion pictures as well as classic literature. Joseph Campbell's description of a hero can be established in Beowulf as well as Star Wars. In his book, The Power of Myth, Campbell found eight traits that are common to heroes in mythology from all different cultures. Though Beowulf and Luke were dissimilar stories, they held similarities as well. Both heroes consisted of a boon, saving their part of the world, and reached a nadir. The boon that Luke had was the gift of power. He would always have the force with him. Beowulf's fame became his boon from defeating all the monsters. Luke saved his part of the world by defeating Darth Vader and his men as well as saving Princess Leia. As for Beowulf, allowing Geatland and the Danes to live a much more comfortable life occurred when he killed all of the monsters, which saved his part of the world. Luke's nadir occurred when Obi-Wan Kenobi died and as for Beowulf, his appeared when his people let him down thinking he died.