A hero is someone who is defined by their courage, nobility, and outstanding achievements. To be considered a Greek hero, one had to be brave, strong, and a child of an immortal parent. A hero, as defined by the Anglo-Saxons, possessed extraordinary strength, bravery, loyalty, and leadership, and was favored and assisted by supernatural beings. Comparing Beowulf to Percy Jackson based on their culture and heroic characteristics involving bravery, leadership, strength, personality traits, fighting style, and their motivation to fight. Focuses on the two different aspects of heroism as defined by Greek and Anglo Saxon culture.
Beowulf and Percy Jackson share the heroic traits of leadership skills, superhuman strength and bravery. Beowulf is the leader of the Geats, …show more content…
Grendel is strong enough to be able to crush thirty men at once, and hence, can only be defeated by someone who possesses superhuman strength. Beowulf also swims the freezing sea for seven nights, wearing his chainmail coat, and carrying his sword in hand, which serves as an example of his strength. He is almost defeated while fighting Grendel’s mother, but is provided with help by God- “and Holy God, who sent him victory, gave judgement for truth and right”. Likewise, Percy Jackson is viewed as a leader by his fellow demigods at Camp Half-Blood, and he fights powerful monsters such as Medusa and Kronos to save Mount Olympus and his people. He is the son of Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea, and he therefore possesses God-like strength and is often assisted by his father during his quests. Percy Jackson and Beowulf are assisted and favored by supernatural beings in their respective journeys which is an element of heroism. The two stories have a parallel plotline- The stolen treasure of the dragon in Beowulf and the