Through a religious paradigm, the epic hero of Beowulf and the Byronic hero of Wuthering Heights each provide unique insight into where the heroes draw their power – from external sources such as religion or internal sources such as revenge and passion. These sources of power also provide new clarity for each of the heroes' respective eras, revealing information and ideas about power, heroism, and values ​​during those periods. Beowulf by the anonymous poet Beowulf and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë represent through their leads, the differences in the models of heroism between the Old English (c.450-1066) and the Romantic era (c.1785-1832). This thesis is based on an analysis through a religious paradigm, and on the differences between these eras and modes of heroism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay An epic hero is described as having strong qualities of bravery and nobility, and is valued for his strength, nationalism, and exploits as a warrior. Beowulf, being one of the most famous epic heroes in all of literature, meets all of these criteria. Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf is depicted as heroic and nationalistic, his ancestry value highlighted when, in chapter five, Beowulf identifies his clan before himself: “We are of the clan of Hygelac; My name is Beowulf” (B. 11). Beowulf is honorable and serves God, believing that he is responsible for His glory. In contrast, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights represents a world of injustice to which God has seemingly turned his back. Being an Old English text, that of Beowulf denotes much of this era and this mode of heroism. There is much academic debate about whether Beowulf is a Christian text or not. Whallon argues that Beowulf's Christianity is "naive and rudimentary" (85), but "another scholar states in a famous lecture that the poet set his work in a pagan age that he considered not so much censurable as noble but desperate » (Whallon 87). There are religious elements mixed throughout the text from Christianity and Old Norse, due to the story beginning as a pagan myth, but through the influence of Roman missionaries throughout Sweden and Denmark, Beowulf grew is integrated with Christian values ​​and ideology. Grendel best represents these mixed faiths. The story of the monster is a strong biblical allusion, as it involves the son of Cain, but the monster itself is based on Norse myths. Beowulf's clan is Christian, but fallen clan members are honored with pagan funeral pyres, rather than Christian burial. This apparently religious indifference can be perceived in different ways; that Beowulf's Christianity was present because it was expected of virtuous heroes, or that it is the result of centuries of oral tradition whose text spread before finally being written by Christian monks between the 7th and the 10th century. Scott Gwara questions whether Beowulf is a "pre-Christian archetype" or a "pagan nobleman" (1), but Gwara inevitably summarizes that the character's Christian values ​​are demonstrated primarily to reinforce his virtue and morality, and because such faith was expected. heroes (2). If Beowulf began as a Christian story, the story would focus on faith and forgiveness rather than heroism and courage. In the Middle Ages, these values ​​were dominant, because it was a time full of dangers. The epic poem expresses the Scandinavian fear of invasion through the fear that plagues the text. The feudal tale of Beowulf expressesalso the warrior culture and values ​​necessary for such an era, through the courage, leadership and heroism of Beowulf. The heroism of the epic hero of Beowulf is not present in Wuthering Heights, but Heathcliff depicts a much darker, non-idealized form of heroism, the Byronic Hero. A Byronic hero is a brooding, intelligent, cynical and self-destructive outcast. Heathcliff is all of these things and one of the most famous examples of a Byronic hero. Throughout the novel, Heathcliff constantly pushes others away, and as the story progresses, he becomes "more and more disinclined toward society" (Brontë 293), and for others, with the exception of Cathy , as his affection for her grows even more obsessively, especially after her death, wanting her to "haunt him always – take any form – drive him mad" (Brontë 158), and stating that he “cannot live without [his] soul” (Brontë 158). As Heathcliff's grief-stricken madness convinces him that without Cathy, his soul, he no longer truly lives. In this metaphorical death, Heathcliff became a vengeful revenant solely motivated to spread evil and misery to all who crossed him. He preys on his beloved Cathy's partner, Edgar, by marrying and mistreating Edgar's sister, Isabela, and on Hindley, by mistreating his son in the same way that Heathcliff was mistreated as a child. The historical context of the Wuthering Heights era has a strong influence. influence on his dark mode of heroism. Brontë wrote her book during the Victorian era of the Romantic era, a time of great political, social and economic change. Although this era was prosperous for many, like the Earnshaw family, it also brought abject poverty, Heathcliff can come to portray this side, of unknown origins, he is found "hungry and homeless...on the streets of Liverpool » (Brontë 33). His dark and mysterious origins underscore the idea that Heathcliff is the physical embodiment of this crueler side of the industrialized world. Wuthering Heights depicts the setting of Brontë through its narrative, with the hierarchically structured rural life over which those without wealth or status have no power, an incomparable power that is presented in Beowulf. There are no battlefields in Wuthering Heights, and a person's prowess and virtues as a warrior are of no value. Cathy chooses Edgar over Heathcliff because of his financial wealth, although she loves Heathcliff, she does so because of the conventions of that era dictating that a person cannot acquire both meaningful relationships and financial security. Although they are both heroes, Beowulf and Heathcliff present very different characters. modes of heroism. Heathcliff derives his power from his status and wealth, which he uses in his quest for revenge. Beowulf's source of power lies in his physical strength and faith, which he uses to defeat his enemies. Beowulf is a story set in wartime, while Wuthering Heights is set in peacetime, and everyone's values ​​are defined accordingly. The battles of Wuthering Heights are not settled like in Beowulf, on a bloodied battlefield or with swords, but rather through careful planning, marriages, and property. Through a religious paradigm, the contrast between the heroism of Beowulf and that of Heathcliff is nowhere else. made more apparent. In chapter 10, the titular Beowulf states: I [am]... by no means weaker than Grendel. For this reason will I not give his life to the sleep of death with a sword... He has no skill... with [a] sword... however mighty he may be in his horrible exploits . We.