There is no denying that a hero is a hero, but there are some stark differences between heroes of today and heroes of ye old times. A hero is, by definition, someone of distinguished courage or ability, who is admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. And while Beowulf certainly is a representation of that, he is no modern-day Superman, so to speak. Though they contain many of the same elements of heroism, there is an obvious difference in the way in which they exercise their power. Not only does the character of Beowulf differ from that of Superman, but the story of Beowulf differs from modern-day heroic tales as well. This is due to the time and place in which the story was written, expressing language usage and principles that are somewhat more foreign today than they were years ago. There is a purposeful way in which Beowulf was written, as well as how the character of Beowulf acts as a hero.
When reviewing the work that is Beowulf, one might take note of the obvious language differences from today's language and back when it was written. From the names in the epic to the manners in which the characters speak, it is known that it is not a contemporary work. This is also made obvious in the criteria the story is based off off. Since it was written in the religious times of England, there is a constant presence of religious back story. References to the Bible are present throughout the epic, and names such as Cain are thrown around purely for the purpose to reiterate the devotion to Christianity of that time. This all contributes to making the story a reflection of England, and how high of an influence religion played in that area at this time.
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