what is a hero

Heroes What is a hero? Webster’s Dictionary defines a hero as someone who is admired for his achievements and qualities. The question is, does this definition apply to an Anglo-Saxon hero as well as a modern day hero? Heroes in modern times are found all over the world in all different social classes, races, age groups, and religions. Heroes today come in all different shapes and sizes and have a variety of different qualities which characterized them as heroes. Heroes in Beowulf’s time, however, were a specific type of person. Typically a hero was a young, strong, white male who had to have specific qualities to be considered a hero. Heroes in Anglo-Saxon times and heroes in modern times are characterized very differently, but also share a few common traits which qualify them as heroes. The hero of Anglo-Saxon times was a very specific type of person. A prime example of a hero in the Anglo-Saxon times is Beowulf. Beowulf is a strong, white male who encompasses all of the character...