Beowulf Essay

        Power, money, fame, and social reputation have been large parts of societies for centuries. From the past to the modern world, these desires have plagued our culture, but yet we, as the modern people, can’t imagine a world without those things due to the fact that we often connect them to success. Each of us craves success or to be thought of as successful. Some of us even say that their biggest fear is not being successful or failing on the way to success. Now, modern society uses heroes to depict these successful individuals just like ancient societies did. Tony Stark (Iron-man) is a perfect example of a modern day hero just like Beowulf is to ancient times. These two heroes struggle with their pride, social reputation, and ultimately doing what is right for those they are trying to protect. Alliteration, assonance, imagery, and symbolism are used to display these qualities especially in Beowulf. Tony Stark and Beowulf each symbolize the societies in which they come from and have various similarities that show how despite the time difference, our societies are a like. 

The world is filled with heroes that set the standard to our modern society even if we don’t realize it.  Tony Stark is one of the many heroes we look up to despite the fact that he is a fictional character from a comic book. Tony Stark is intelligent, handsome, rich, and thought of as bigger than life both to the people and to himself. These traits are huge desires within our modern society since it’s thought that those lead to happiness, respect, and success. He symbolizes our culture and even displays its faults such as being blinded by pride, the need for praise, his selfish nature, and craving things he can’t or shouldn’t have. Now, Tony Stark may be a pompous, egotistical individual, but he always wants to what is right for the people in which he protects just like Beowulf. “This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well and she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold.” Beowulf wanted to protect and save those who were in danger, but he also wanted the praise, the rewards, and the reputation. In addition, Beowulf followed the rules because he wanted to be thought of as angelic to his culture standards while Tony Stark didn’t due to the fact that he really didn’t care about that, which the idea of not caring what others think about you is a constant desire within our modern world. Beowulf and Tony Stark are very much a like, but they are not identical due to where they came from.

“Marshes, and made his home hell.” Alliterations and assonances were used in Beowulf to show the need for Beowulf’s help due to the idea that both Grendel and Grendel’s mother were pure, untainted evil. By using these literary devices, it shows how ancient society always needed heroes or leaders to protect them from dangerous threats, which is why our modern society wants heroes and leaders so badly in order to protect and fix problems even if they are impossible or ludicrous. “The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf’s triumph’s and feats in well-fashioned times, entwining his words.” Both Beowulf and Tony Stark are symbols in which society looks up to and dreams of becoming. These two heroes are far from perfect, but through imagery and allusions, they are spoke of as gods. 

Beowulf and Tony Stark are heroes from two different eras of history. Each posses traits that both help and hurt those around them. Through imagery, allusions, alliterations, and various other literary techniques, these two heroes are used to show the best and worst of their culture. Despite the differences in their societies, they symbolize what their culture should be and this causes society to expect the heroes to be perfect, but they are just human with flaws and impurities. We, as society, can’t forget about the importance of individuality even though heroes and leaders are our role models.