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Kyle Sowards
27 February 2014
C.P. Senior English
Mrs. Sansom
Beowulf vs. Captain America
During the Anglo Saxon period, the culture and literature within that era spoke
greatly of the unrelenting bravery and power that only the truest of heroes held. An
Anglo Saxon hero was to be courageous, passionate for what he believed in, humble,
loyal, and strong, both mentally and physically. A hero was also a warrior, able to
conquer any obstacle with astounding abilities that were unlike any other human being.
Beowulf is one of the most well known heroes of the Anglo Saxon culture. He
fits the Anglo Saxon’s definition of a hero perfectly. Beowulf is the best of the best,
easily the toughest of all warriors, but yet he manages to remain humble and
honorable through each of his achievements. At one point within the story, Beowulf
states that since “[…] the monster [refuses] to use weapons, [then] [he] too [shall]
renounce[his] sword and […] shield,” (Beowulf 433-440). Beowulf refuses to fight
with a shield and sword because he has too much pride in himselfand to his
almighty King, to fight while having an unfair advantage. Beowulf felt that if Grendel
could fight with only the use of his bare hands, then so could he. In this quote alone,
it is obvious that he fights with a passion that never ceases, and has a courage that
makes him both admirable to his people and fellow warriors, and also highly

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dangerous. He is also described as being ajuggernaut, and a man of unimaginable
strength, a strength much stronger than that of even thirty men.
Throughout the entirety of the epic tale, Beowulf journeys on many quests to
prove his bravery and his loyalty to the King. If a warrior was not loyal to his own
king, he was unfit to be considered a true warrior or hero. Only a hero who
remained loyal and courageous would receive the treasures and riches that came
with being a real hero, It was also important that a hero be kept alive in spirit after
his mortal death, through the many recordings and retellings of stories.
In order for a hero to have had a meaningful life and to be considered
successful, that hero had to be remembered through the spreading of legends that
would be told continuously, even after they has passed in the mortal world. These
stories and legends would often include the hero’s battles and their ability to
conquer nearly anything that stood within their path. During the Anglo Saxon
period, a hero without a legend was no hero at all.
The epic poem “Beowulf,” has quite an interesting background for which it
was created. The tale was originally created by an author who is said to be a believer
of paganism, but was later rewritten by a Christian author that managed to place
even more emphasis on the references to religion and the bible. The religious
references, such as that Grendel was the demonic descendent of Cain, who in the
bible was known for killing his own brother Able, appear multiple times throughout
the epic story. The references to religion allow the reader to gain a sense of depth
that the author meant for the story to convey.

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Just as the Anglo Saxon culture believed in the values of loyalty, bravery,
courage, and strength, the Contemporary American culture believes in much of
these values as well. By viewing the story of Captain America, it is easy to see how
his story is much like the tale of Beowulf. Similar to Beowulf, Captain America is
brave, courageous, loyal to his country, and incredibly strong. His patriotism and
belief in the importance of freedom for America push him to achieve more than the
average human being.
Captain America is considered an American hero for his bravery and actions
to better influence the lives of the American people. He is selfless in that he only
wants what is best for the people, and he risks his life on countless occasion in order
to do so. In the beginning, Captain America was no different than you or me. He was
an average American, slightly small and weak, but had a heart for the greater good
of all mankind. He wanted to do more for his country, and as a result, became the
test subject for the world’s first “real” hero. Captain America was designed so that
he would be able to fight along side other Americans in the fight for a better life. He
was not simply an icon, but a beacon for hope all across the world.
As an American hero, Captain America found that his “can do” attitude made
it easier for the people to appreciate his goals. His ability to think positively allowed
him to have better faith and confidence within himself, thus leading to the
confidence that he later earned from other people. His positive outlook on life made
it nearly impossible to deny him of the loyalty and support that he so easily
deserved. His goodness made others believe that if they continued supporting him,
then they too would be providing a service.

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Captain America also faced many hardships along his journey to bettering the
life of the American people. He fought within wars instead of battling against
monsters, he remained loyal to his people rather than to a particular king or ringgiver, and he relied heavily on the love, trust, and support of his people, instead of
the acceptance of fate and the strength that Beowulf gained from his fellow warriors
and townspeople. In order for Captain America to feel like he had done anything
that would be considered successful, he needed to earn the respect and support of
his people. In contrast, Beowulf relied on the passing of legends and stories, and by
how his people would remember him when the time came for fate to end his course.
Only then would Beowulf be able to accept whether or not he was a true hero.
Captain America was also blessed with unexplainable strength and speed.
After the experiment resulted in his complete transformation, Captain America was
no longer scrawny and weak, but muscular and strong. He became an avid believer
in the necessity to put his new abilities to greater use that would benefit the people.
After the experiment, he then represented the masculine and muscular icon that we
tend to associate with when thinking of the word “hero.”
Beowulf’s suit of armor and iron was similar to that of the uniform that
Captain America wore. Granted Captain America’s uniform was thinner and painted
in an image resembling the American flag and all that the flag still represents, both
the armor and the uniform were a way that the two heroes were able to be
identified as and also provided a sense of safety for each of the heroes. Both also
carried a shield of some sort, the materials of each of them very strong and nearly

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impenetrable. Although Captain America’s uniform was not nearly as thick, heavy,
or as strong as the armor that Beowulf was known for wearing, the uniform was
constructed of a durable material that was somewhat resistant to many
substances, making it difficult to penetrate or damage. His uniform was also form
fitted and air tight, allowing for easier access of movement and speed. Without the
resistance that might be associated with lugging around heavy pieces of armor
covering your entire body, Captain America was not slowed down or affected by his
skin-tight uniform.
Both heroes were greatly influential and highly respected during each of the
time periods in which they existed. They were greatly appreciated by their people,
cherished by those who craved to do good and be similar to them, and were praised
for their abilities and successes throughout their lifetime. Both Beowulf and Captain
America lived by many of the same moral values, in which we still find to be of the
upmost important today. Loyalty, bravery, courage, and strength are but a few of the
values that determine the kind of person that we are, and the kind of hero that we
have the potential to be.