Modern Hero vs. Anglo Saxon Hero
Today's modern day hero has similarities and differences than the Anglo-Saxon hero. The two heroes each have different values they believe in. Also, they are motivated to fight for different reasons. An Anglo-Saxon hero also fights differently than a modern day hero. An example of this comparison is Bono from the band "U2" and Beowulf. Both modern day heroes, like Bono and Anglo-Saxon heroes, like Beowulf, try to improve their societies, but do it in different ways and for different reasons.
Anglo-Saxon heroes have only a few things in common with modern day heroes. One of the things is that they both want to improve the society that they come from. "That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall" (Raffel 260-261). This shows that Beowulf fights to make his society a better place to live in. In their current state, everybody was always in fear of Grendel, and the population of Hrothgar was decreasing. Even after Grendel is slain, Beowulf goes to find and slay Grendel's Mother, and the dragon. The modern day hero tries to improve their society as well. Bono has many foundations set up and is always thinking of way to help people weather it be traveling to other countries or donating large amounts of cash.
Another reason why they are similar is that both Anglo-Saxon heroes and modern day heroes are very strong. Beowulf displays his strength when he defeats Grendel with ease. " that no where on earth had he felt a man whose hands were harder" (Raffel 326-327). Anglo-Saxon heroes are very physically strong. Most of their problems are solved with their brute strength. Modern day heroes such as Bono are more mentally strong. It is impossible to physically fight the AIDS virus, so Bono has a campaign to raise money for research. He also organizes and protests to solve other world problems rather than physically fighting to solve them. Even though they are strong in different ways, they both are strong in will. Neither of
Anglo-Saxon heroes have only a few things in common with modern day heroes. One of the things is that they both want to improve the society that they come from. "That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall" (Raffel 260-261). This shows that Beowulf fights to make his society a better place to live in. In their current state, everybody was always in fear of Grendel, and the population of Hrothgar was decreasing. Even after Grendel is slain, Beowulf goes to find and slay Grendel's Mother, and the dragon. The modern day hero tries to improve their society as well. Bono has many foundations set up and is always thinking of way to help people weather it be traveling to other countries or donating large amounts of cash.
Another reason why they are similar is that both Anglo-Saxon heroes and modern day heroes are very strong. Beowulf displays his strength when he defeats Grendel with ease. " that no where on earth had he felt a man whose hands were harder" (Raffel 326-327). Anglo-Saxon heroes are very physically strong. Most of their problems are solved with their brute strength. Modern day heroes such as Bono are more mentally strong. It is impossible to physically fight the AIDS virus, so Bono has a campaign to raise money for research. He also organizes and protests to solve other world problems rather than physically fighting to solve them. Even though they are strong in different ways, they both are strong in will. Neither of
Cited: 1. Raffel, Burton; Beowulf ; Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless voices, Timeless Themes; Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ ; Copyright 1999; 40-61 2. City Council of Turin; "Conferring Honorary Citizenship to Paul David Hewson";www.bonoonline.com; 9/15/2003; no page; 10/17/2005 3. No author; "Bono"; www.wikipedia.org; Publication date unknown; no page; 10/17/2005