Journal 1: A Contemporary Hero

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a modern-day hero. Before her political career, Hillary Clinton had a successful career in law. After her career as a lawyer and then as a Congressional legal counsel, Clinton married Bill Clinton and became involved in politics. Since then, Hillary Clinton has been very involved in the American government. She has taken the initiative to challenge the political system, which is courageous in itself, but she has challenged not only political ideas but also ideas about the role of women in government. She confronts the outdated norms in government and fights to show women equal competitors in the political scene. Clinton was involved in government while serving as First Lady of Arkansas, and then her political practice became even more prevalent during her service as First Lady of the United States. She advocated reforming America’s health care system, a feat in itself, especially in such a nontraditional political role. More recently, Hillary Clinton has served as a United States senator for New York. This was the first time that New York was represented by a woman in the Senate. She ran for reelection in 2006 and was elected again. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton was a major candidate for the democratic ticket; however, even when Barack Obama won the nomination for the democratic candidate she became very active in his campaign. When Obama was elected, Clinton was appointed as Secretary of State.

In addition to her inspirational political career, I consider Hillary Clinton to be a contemporary hero because she is a prominent figure who is a picture of the modern woman. In today’s society, there is a specific pressure on women which has not existed in the past. It is not uncommon for a woman to be responsible for a family, a household, as well as an outside career. All of the women who balance these responsibilities are heroes, in my opinion. Hillary Clinton is one example of these everyday heroes. She has remained dedicated to her family throughout her political career. During her husband’s presidency, her marriage came under national scrutiny with the Lewinsky scandal. She stayed by her husband’s side through the ordeal, and while her actions are sometimes questioned, her strong resolve is universally admired. She did not allow her career to be dampened. Clinton is a role model for women everywhere. Her political achievements have changed the involvement of women in government forever. She represents strength, courage, and fortitude. Her political career is commendable, and her commitment to her family is exemplary. The combination of these is what makes Hillary Clinton a hero.

Journal 2: Beowulf Compared with Modern Heroes

Beowulf has various qualities which remind me of several heroes in modern times. His brawn and strength call to mind such traits in the Incredible Hulk. His dedication to saving the community which is in peril reminds me of Batman with his quest to save Gotham City. The way he is revered by his peers and those who he has come to help reminds me of Spider-Man, who is respected by those around him though they don’t know who he is. His pride and daring nature remind also remind me of Spider-Man. The fact that he decided to fight Grendel without weaponry reminds me of Superman, who uses no weapons, only his supernatural powers. The story of Beowulf reminds me of the Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer. This is because while Beowulf attacked Grendel only to find that there was a greater evil to be defeated. A similar story unfolded when the Fantastic Four attacked the Silver Surfer only to find that he was merely a pawn for a larger malicious organization. Beowulf has multiple traits that we admire in modern heroes. For this reason, it is difficult to compare him to a single character, but rather it is simpler to pinpoint individual characteristics and compare the traits with those of present-day heroes.

Journal 3: Images and Tones in Beowulf

The epic Beowulf ends on a very somber note. The daring, admired king Beowulf suffered fatal wounds in battle by a dragon. A young warrior, Wiglaf, who fought alongside Beowulf, was with him when he died. Beowulf spoke to Wiglaf about how grateful he was to have been able to leave his people with the dragon’s treasure. He instructs Wiglaf to erect a barrow on the coast, as a symbol to those who pass. His words are very grave and make it clear that this will be Beowulf’s end. Immediately after speaking this, Beowulf breathes his last. His passing is described as his soul fleeing “from his breast to its destined place among the steadfast ones”. This imagery makes the death seem not only tragic, but also reverent and noble. It is as though Beowulf is achieving some honor by joining his fellow warriors who have fallen. At the very end of the epic, a group of warriors ride around Beowulf’s grave, grieving for their lost king and praising his accomplishments.