Beowulf As A Hero - 1716 Words

The concept of hero is never outdated in literary. Every author has their own understanding of how a hero should be like, and all heroes live and behave differently according to the society they live in. The definition of hero is much broader than a man with superpower. In Beowulf and The Great Gatsby, both of the protagonist, Beowulf and Jay Gatsby are considered heroes in the story. Although both of them embody the values of their societies, Beowulf is a more successful hero because he truly reaches the expectations that his society has for a hero and embraces the reality, which leads him to sacrifices his life for a more worthy cause. Beowulf successfully represents the crucial values of his society including strength, bravery, and†¦show more content†¦Although he already become a highly regarded warrior, he does not become arrogant because of the honor and wealth he owns. Instead, he maintains his fine characteristics, remembers that he is always a servant that lives under his lord’s grace, and treats his lord with respect and gratitude. Overall, Beowulf is a the epitome of Anglo-Saxon warriors and society. Similarly, Gatsby also vividly embodies the social values of America in the 1920s, which are filled with American Dream and materialism. Jay Gatsby was born into a poor family in Minnesota, and he spends his own life trying to get higher social status and greater wealth through his hard work and determination. Just as the perfect American Dream portrays, every man has the equal opportunity for success if he or she tries hard enough, so every common man can become a upper class billionaire, like Gatsby. Besides living out the American Dream that a lot of people in the society yearn for, Gatsby also reveals the high degree of materialism in the society. When Gatsby dies, and his friend Nick tries to get Gatsby’s friend to attend his funeral, none of his friends wants to accept the invitation. When one of these friend called Klipspringer calls, he simply refused to come to Gatsby’s funeral and says that â€Å"what [he] called up about was a pair of shoes [he] left [in Gat sby’s house]†Show MoreRelatedBeowulf Is A Hero Of Beowulf1017 Words   |  5 PagesIn the movie and book Beowulf, Beowulf represents a hero. Beowulf is like our modern day heroes, firefighters, policemen, military men, doctors and EMT’s. All of these men do the same thing as Beowulf did in the movie. The fight the villains and protect the innocent. Beowulf had super strength to help him defeat the villains and protect the innocent. I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac s fame and gladden his heart, I herebyRead MoreBeowulf : A Hero Or Hero?1092 Words   |  5 PagesCole Jackson Miss Sibbach Honors English IV 10 December, 2014 To Be a Hero, or To Not Be a Hero Countless people have tried to say that Beowulf represents the qualities required of an epic hero, but many people also suggest that Beowulf does not show any of these qualities. While Beowulf shows heroic characteristics in all of his acts, both pride and greed motivate his actions. The story of Beowulf contains all of the information needed to show this, but people do not notice that which they do notRead MoreBeowulf the Hero1005 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf The Hero â€Å"†¦ A fiend out of hell†(Heaney 100). These words describe the monster Grendel, who is truly an evil entity. Only an epic hero with strength, courage and confidence is able to defeat this mighty foe. This hero’s name is Beowulf. He displays all of these throughout the epic. Beowulf’s first epic hero trait is confidence. Beowulf displays confidence when he talked to Unferth in the great hall Heorot. Beowulf said, â€Å"†¦but he will find me different. I will show him how Geats shapeRead MoreHero and Beowulf1625 Words   |  7 PagesThe hero is an age-old concept that describes someone that will defend their honor to the end. In Beowulf, the author portrays the warrior Beowulf and his three battles in such a way as to clearly define what it means to be a hero. Fred Robinson and J. R. R. Tolkien addressed heroism in Beowulf regarding the warrior’s traits, as well as his battles and burial. The author of Beowulf defines the hero through Beowulf’s three battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. In this poem, eachRead MoreIs Beowulf a Hero?2129 Words   |  9 PagesIs Beowulf a hero? It is vital when approaching the question of whether or not Beowulf can be viewed as a hero to attempt to understand the concept of a ‘hero. Joseph Campbell, the American theorist, studied mythological characters and texts in great detail and developed the concept of the monomyth (or Heros Journey) which he suggested all heroes undertook: A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and aRead MoreBeowulf As A Hero910 Words   |  4 PagesWhy We Need Heros A hero, â€Å"a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character†(â€Å"Hero†). A hero shows much more than honor and glory, they sacrifice their own life to selflessly help out the lives of others. By having heroes it gives us hope, wisdom, and justice throughout the nation. The three main types of heroes include an epic hero, superhero, and your own personal hero. These heroes show that it s more than the cape or armour they wear, they show the true meaning of a hero by definingRead MoreA Hero : A Comparison Of The Hero Of Beowulf884 Words   |  4 Pages or Ulysses. Beowulf is a great example of one of the early heroes written about. But what is a hero? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a hero as: an object of extreme admiration and devotion; a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. Beowulf has many of these characteristics including great strength, and is portrayed as a legendary figure by tho se who look up to him. Through the entire poem, he is the epitome of a hero and displaysRead More Beowulf: A Hero Essay782 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf: A Hero Beowulf is a hero during the Middle Ages because of his generosity, strength, power, and courage. A hero is one who places himself or herself at great risk while performing acts of courage. Beowulf is a hero that put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. He has heroic and superhuman qualities. He must prove his worthiness of a superior warrior. He is recognized for his strengths and power of protecting his people. Beowulf is faced with three forces to fight, Grendel (a monster)Read MoreBeowulf Hero Analysis757 Words   |  4 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   To Joseph Campbell a hero is an individual who is able to depart from his or her ordinary life for the sake of helping others in an opposite world. Campbell portrays his idea of a hero by utilizing the title character in Beowulf. Beowulf demonstrates many of Campbells stages of a hero through his strategic actions, his love for justice, and most importantly through his extraordinary strength.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The hero Beowulf, is the â€Å"strongest of the Geats-greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in thisRead MoreBeowulf Is a Hero Essay877 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf Essay Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities:

The Life of a Slave Essay - 1189 Words

The Life of a Slave Imagine, if you will, rising earlier than the sun, eating a mere â€Å"snack†- lacking essentially all nutritional value - and trekking miles to toil in the unforgiving climate of the southern states, and laboring until the sun once again slipped under the horizon. Clad only in the rags your master provided (perhaps years ago), you begin walking in the dark the miles to your â€Å"home.† As described by the writers Jacob Stroyer and Josiah Henson, this â€Å"home† was actually a mere thatched roof, that you built with your own hands, held up by pathetic walls, over a dirt floor and you shared this tiny space with another family. Upon return to â€Å"home,† once again you eat the meager rations you were provided, and fall into bed†¦show more content†¦As seen in the writings of countless authors such as John Barbot and James Barbot, Jr., slaves faced unbearable living conditions in disease infested ships and often starved to death or died during their transatlantic voyage. Slaves were surrounded by the unfamiliar skin of the white man, as well as a dialect unknown to their ears. Unable to communicate, he suffered from not only the reality of his situation, but also the uncertainty of the future. Unable to cope, many slaves committed suicide in hopes of returning to their home, at least in spirit. Once, and if, they finally made it to the Americas, they were sold at auction and forever separated from any kin they may have had. As life continued, many slaves did adapt to the language, but few were ever able to fully embrace the culture – a culture that seemed to thrive on their demise and suffering. Once a slave acculturated himself to his â€Å"new home,† he found himself unable to re-establish his family ties. Even if a slave was lucky enough to find a significant other, often times they were separated by sale, as can be seen in the account of Laura Spicer and her lost love. Moreover, couples often found their children sold off to other masters never to be seen or heard from again, at ages as young as eight years old. Therefore, a slave’s life was full of perpetual uncertainty, and fear of abandonment and neglect. Their bonds of love were never enough to out-weigh the voice ofShow MoreRelatedThe Life of Slaves926 Words   |  4 PagesUntil recently, the historical and sociological focus on slavery had been limited to that of what the slaveholders did to the slaves and how they were treated. The new focus on â€Å"what enslaved men, women, and children did when the owners were not around,† (Schwartz 2001: pg 2) offers a new perspective on the communit y most affected by the institution of slavery. Having a more complete view of this institution provides greater context for understanding the ripple-affect of oppression within the AfricanRead MoreThe Daily Life Of A Slave964 Words   |  4 PagesThe daily life of a slave in North Carolina was incredibly difficult. Hard workers, especially those in the field, played from sunrise until sundown. Even small kids and the elderly were not exempt from these long work hours. Slaves were generally granted a day off on Sunday, and on infrequent holidays such as Christmas or the Fourth of July. During their few hours of gratuitous time, most slaves did their own personal study. The diet supplied by slaveholders was generally short, and slaves often supplementedRead Morethe life of a field slave VS the house Slave948 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ The Life of a Field Slave VS the House Slave Slavery was a ruthless and dreadful way of life for all slaves. Yet there were differences in rank between slaves. Minor class slaves were â€Å"field slaves†. Superior class slaves were â€Å"house slaves†. The daily routines of these slaves differed to a great extent. Field slaves only function was production. Their duties were to plant and cultivate the crops, clear the land, flame the undergrowth, roll the wood, split rails, transport waterRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl The Typical Slave Family1754 Words   |  8 Pages1619 the first African slaves arrived into the United States to help with the production of crops that colonies like Jamestown needed assistance in gathering. With the idea of cheap labor being introduced the slavery system was created and would eventually evolve into a nightmare of constant abuse and cruelty. Slaves were thought of as just items to be owned and possessed no legal power. They were given scraps of food and small portions of water to split amongst other slaves who lived on or aroundRead MoreLife as a Slave in the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave834 Words   |  4 PagesI don’t know why my life is of interest to you, as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t do anything miraculous, like raise the dead or cure cancer. But if my story will motivate someone to fight against human injustice, then I will tell you all about it. My story began as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, on a cold February day around 1818, in Talbot County, Maryland. I was born into slavery, to a black woman, Harriet Bailey, and a white father, who I would never know. They took me from my grandmotherRead MoreIncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl1112 Words   |  4 Pages In the non-fiction book â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,† by Harriet A. Jacobs and published in Boston in 1861. The author Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813, in a town called Edenton, North Carolina. Jacob uses the pseudonym Linda Brent to narrate her first person account. The book opens with Jacobs stating her reasons for writing a biography of her life story. Her story is agonizing and she had rather have kept it confidential, although she felt that by making it public thatRead MoreIncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl1455 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,† Harriet Jacobs gives a detailed account of the life story of â€Å"Linda Brent† which is the pseudo name for herself, outlining the events which primarily focuses on her escape from her slave master, â€Å"Dr. Flint.† After learning that Dr. Flint has already fathered 11 children from his slaves, it is hard to imagine why he is never able to successful pursue Linda. After all, just based on the sheer number of his incidents of sexual relations with his slaves, it would seemRead More Life of a Slave on the Plantation Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Life of a Slave on the Plantation African slavery started at the 16th century and ended in the 19th century. Slave life was the most brutal and disrespected period of America. When Africans first stepped foot on the slave ships coming to America things were bad. The white man beat, raped, and treated the black men like animals. Life on the plantation wasn’t any better. The slaves didn’t work for a paycheck, they worked for their lives. The black man had difficulties adapting to the environmentRead MoreThe Life of Slaves in 1850 Essay928 Words   |  4 Pages Slaves in 1850 couldn’t do much with their lives. They could stay on their master’s plantation and do all sorts of extremely hard labor, get beaten, and experience what it is like to have family members sold away. Or they could try to escape. When a slave would try to run away he would normally have people sent, by his master, to hunt him down. If the slave was found he would most likely be killed; however, frequently all of the other slaves would have to watch him be executed and then later wouldRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave By Harriet Jacob Essay1505 Words   |  7 Pagespeople were treated so badly and it was â€Å"normal,† it was acceptable. These slaves lived and worked in very harsh conditions. I believe the only reason why we know so much about how bad slaves were treated is because of three autobiographies, Incidents in the Life of a Slave by Harriet Jacob, Autobiography of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, who had a huge impact during the times of slavery, and Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. Because of these three autobiographies historians can

Bible free essay sample

There are many accounts in the Bible that state God as the creator. Genesis 1 and 2 are both creation stories but slightly differ in their accounts; Genesis 1 is a day by day account of all the things God created in not so much detail whereas Genesis 2 explains the creation story in a way that focuses more on the creation of man and woman than just the lands. Having two accounts of the creation story means that it is easier to come up with your own conclusion as to how the earth was created. The first line of Genesis 1 is â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth† There is no explanation as to where God came from or why He is there, He just exists and creates the heavens and the earth. This alone is showing God as the creator. Genesis then carries on to state all the things God created all with no scientific or physical proof or evidence as to why and how God is doing so. â€Å"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them† This quote is from line 27 and is on the 6th day. The repetition of the word ‘created’ is enforcing to the reader that God is the creator of everything and this is done so that there is no doubt in the readers mind whether God is the creator or not. God creating man and woman in his own image is showing that we are superior to other beings such as animals which shows that God is the humans superior. Being made in Gods image is his way of blessing the humans in life as we are made in the ‘Creators’ image. â€Å"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote is saying that God is passing down his ‘ruler ship’ on to the humans. This means that God is starting to ‘back away’ from his previous role and now feels that he has created a world that the inhabitants (humans) can look after. Genesis two is another creation story but has a few differences to Genesis 1. While Genesis 1 speaks a lot more of the specifics of how and when each part of the earth was made, Genesis 2 speaks a whole lot more about the creation of humans rather than the land. The most time that the creation of land is mentioned is at the beginning of Genesis 2. â€Å"This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-â€Å" This is the first thing said in Genesis 2 and it is stating that God is the creator. It says that God created both the heavens and the earth; there is never any question or vagueness about God creating the heavens and the earth it is all very matter of fact. Although Genesis 2 doesn’t always speak of God ‘creating’ things it often personifies God in such a way that he is planting or making objects. â€Å"And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-â€Å" This quote doesn’t say that God created the trees but made them grow from the ground, this is essentially saying that He created them as it was the first sighting of trees but is said in a different way as so not to force the ‘creation’ down your throat like Genesis 1 does. This is so that you can come to your own conclusion about which one is more plausible or correct but there is still no doubt as to god being the creator. Job 38 from the Book of Job is a story of how Satan and God have a disagreement where Satan was saying that Job only worships God because he is prosperous in his life, God then agrees to take away all his possessions and leave him with nothing to show Satan that Job would still worship him even if he was left with nothing. Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar try to comfort Job but they end up doing the opposite and tell Job that the reason for all his losses is because he has sinned and now God is making him suffer. In the end Job has had enough and questions God, this makes God angry and then Job has a better understanding and realises that he should have trusted God all along. God then returns all of Jobs health and possession in better amounts than they previously were. This story is God showing his power and his superiority to humans. â€Å"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? † This is God saying that he is mightier than any human and they do not compare to His power. This is also showing that God is omnipotent and that we know nothing compared to him. This is all enforcing that God is the creator and better than all the humans. â€Å"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place,† This is saying that God has dominance over everything in the world, humans and nature. After Gods account of all his majestic works (such as the world and humans) and power, Job has to acknowledge God’s right as creator to do as he pleases and to not be questioned. Job is essentially the personification of all humans who do not believe god as the creator, Job doubted God and his ability so god became angry; this is supposedly what happens every time someone doubts God. Psalm 8 is a song about the lord God and his creation. â€Å"You have set your glory above the heavens† While this quote form the first verse isn’t directly linked to God being the creator it is saying that God has stated his glory in a way that so far in this psalm we do not know yet, we know that God has glory which could mean he has done something great. â€Å"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers† Now we start to work out what it is that causes God to have glory, â€Å"the work of your fingers† we are literally told that God has made the heavens with his ‘fingers’. This personification of God shows that people saw him as one of them but also appreciated his greater power, this could possibly relate to humans being made in God’s image. â€Å"you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings† This quote is, like Job 38, stating God’s dominance over the humans. God made humans a little lower than heavenly beings so that they knew their place and that they were lesser than himself ‘the creator’.