The monster jumps from building to building, its gigantic hands swinging at the snake-like aliens. Conflict ensues. Once the dust settles, only one character remains. The giant giant is once again victorious. The breathtaking battle scenes depicted in the film The Avengers partly contributed to the film's major success. However, the film's gross revenue of over $1 billion is mainly due to the dynamic heroes portrayed by the film. The green beast, named Hulk, is a relatable individual, representing the characteristics idealized by American society. In human form, the Hulk is actually the very sensible and intelligent Bruce Banner, who constantly struggles with his own fiery temper. In addition to captivating fans, Hulk is a modern archetype of an epic hero. Regardless of the period of literature, all epic heroes share common characteristics. These individuals are of noble birth or play crucial roles in their society, determining the fate of others, displaying the values ​​idealized by their community, and performing courageous acts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay The literary term "epic hero" originated in ancient times, when epic poems such as Beowulf were originally popular . The protagonist of this Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, is very similar to the Hulk, since this ancient warrior also symbolizes the ideals of his civilization. Thus, the epic heroes Beowulf, from the epic poem Beowulf, and Hulk, from the film The Avengers, emphasize the contrasting meaning of noble blood, illustrate the shared emphasis on physical strength between the two cultures, and show the different motivations of the brave. acts in modern Anglo-Saxon and American civilizations. As an epic hero, Beowulf highlights the need for powerful family relationships in Anglo-Saxon society, while Banner's humble roots and important social role illustrate the insignificance of ancestry in American culture. Unlike Banner, Beowulf's pivotal position in Anglo-Saxon society is partly due to his noble parents, in addition to his role as a warrior. Beowulf is the nephew of King Higlac, ruler of the ancient Geats. This emphasis on nobility is a key trait of Anglo-Saxon culture, in which warriors remain loyal to their high-ranking rulers. In fact, Beowulf's position as a prince contributes greatly to his warrior status. When Beowulf decides to fight Grendel, an evil monster who has murdered thousands of soldiers, the hero first uses his prestige to gain permission from the king (Beowulf 127-159). The hero's aristocratic ancestry allows Beowulf to change the destiny of the Anglo-Saxons. society from catastrophe to liberation. Thus, the nobility of the hero allows him to fulfill the first and second criteria of an epic hero, to be of noble blood and to determine the fate of others. Nobility and social status are therefore key aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture. Unlike Beowulf, the Hulk's classification as an epic hero is due to his imperative role as protector of current American civilization, rather than his noble blood. Hulk fulfills his role as a warrior in The Avengers film, largely contributing to the defeat of Loki, a powerful demigod. In one battle in the film, Hulk stops Loki's minions from overtaking New York and the world, easing the path to victory (The Avengers). In doing so, Hulk holds an invaluable position in his society, changing the destiny of millions, evenbillions of individuals. Ergo, Hulk highlights the American emphasis on the individual and lack of attention to family ties, while satisfying the first and second qualifications of an epic hero. Therefore, the epic heroes Beowulf and Hulk emphasize each society's emphasis on nobility or societal contributions. The epic heroes Beowulf and Hulk also display a trait valued in both societies: unparalleled physical strength. Throughout the poem, Beowulf easily completes physically taxing tasks. In one instance, Beowulf strikes Grendel's mother with a massive sword blessed by giants, which no ordinary man should be able to wield (Beowulf 513-519). As a result, Beowulf is the archetype of strength. This ideal is highly valued in ancient Anglo-Saxon society, once plagued by war, bloodshed and instability. Thus, Beowulf embodies valuable traits of his respective civilization, satisfying another requirement of being an epic hero. Hulk also meets this standard through his embodiment of the same quality that Beowulf maintains. In American society today, citizens continue to value physical strength. As a model of this characteristic, Hulk's stature is enormous. In the film The Avengers, the green giant throws cars like one would effortlessly throw stones (The Avengers). Hulk therefore symbolizes physical strength, very appreciated in American culture. This admiration for bodily abilities is highlighted in the hero's society through the popular nature of football, a sport which is undoubtedly akin to war. In this way, Hulk meets another qualification as an epic hero, representing an ideal valued by his society. Therefore, the epic heroes Beowulf and Hulk both exemplify great strength, a quality idealized in their respective civilizations. Epic heroes Beowulf and Hulk performed a variety of incredibly brave acts, earning contrasting rewards based on each character's accepted ambitions. place of origin. Beowulf, for example, chooses to swim to the bottom of a demon-infested lake to defeat a hag. In exchange for the protagonist's courage, the king of the Danes offers Beowulf a mountain of treasure (Beowulf 410-441). The reward earned by the hero demonstrates that the Anglo-Saxons were once motivated by physical wealth throughout their daily lives, while Beowulf's courageous act contributes to his classification as an epic hero. In contrast, the Hulk performs courageous acts without receiving any palpable reward in return. Banner actually hides in a poor Indian village during the opening moments of The Avengers film, seeking to avoid special recognition. In one particular scene in the film, Hulk rushes into battle against Loki and his fellow aliens, with the only possible reward being the opportunity to help the innocent (The Avengers). Therefore, Hulk's courageous acts as an epic hero prove that Americans are motivated by selfless heroism in their everyday lives, striving to protect the innocent without receiving any compensation. Based on this, Hulk has reached another epic hero classification, as he performs courageous deeds. Furthermore, Beowulf highlights the Anglo-Saxon value of physical treasure, while Hulk displays the American ideal of altruistic bravery. Beowulf and Hulk are examples of epic heroes, exhibiting the different ideals of Anglo-Saxon and American cultures. These two individuals influence the destiny of millions of people, which is one of the different criteria of an epic hero. However, Beowulf's family relationships resulted in his social status, while the..