Beowulf

            Beowulf, in its time, was considered a great epic, and still is to this day. But the story has elements that are somewhat outdated. For the most part, fighting with swords is something we just do not do much of in this day and age (except for those bitchin’ ninjas). Beowulf is considered a hero for his noble conquest on fighting the 3 monsters in order to provide a protection for those he loved and for those around him. He possessed the all-around characteristics of a hero, being a bold and chiseled young man to fulfill his characteristics of a hero. He is brave and confident, when Unferth teases him about not being able to take on Grendel and that he is no hero, he basically just laughs him off and tells him of his great feats as a hero and what he has gone through to be considered so.

            In the time, Beowulf is the precise definition of hero. But in modern day, the tables have turned and new requirements, per se, have established for heroes of this time. Although Spiderman is a fictional character, he is still considered to be a hero. His qualities of saving the citizens in his town all while remaining unknown as to who he really is, is a bold and honorable move. That is why he is known as being a hero. He didn't really choose to be bitten by a spider and become this man that saves the town, but it just happened and he applied himself to being this big hero in his story.

            Beowulf and Spiderman are both heroes, but considered heroes in different time periods. All while in their respected time periods, they are both holding qualities pertained to a big hero. Beowulf being a hero in a less modern, but a little manlier (in a sense) way because he really physically fights through monsters to help serve those in need and provide his protection; and Spiderman, still fighting people in the hopes of gaining a better town with less ‘evil’ in it, all for the purpose of protecting the citizens for which he lives around without needing a huge display of attention because he does it out of pure heart.

            Upon searching ‘hero definition’ in a Google search, the definition of “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” comes up. Right there it already states that a ‘hero’ is typically a MAN. It is already being put into the category that women don’t have what it takes to be a hero, but that is just morally wrong. Women should not be clubbed into dank submission and not be allowed to be a hero in any form. Most people see firefighters as heroes, and yes even women can become firefighters. Women have gone from having basically no rights, to fighting their way into the right to vote, own land, etc. Women can possess all of the qualities of being a hero and having the definition online for anyone to see that a hero is 'typically a man' will just allow for more fighting for women to prove that women and men can all pertain to the same qualities, although in some subjects not all will have the same physical strength a man may possess, but can still put in the same amount of work any man that is considered a hero can.