Beowulf - Heroes Then and NowThe heroes of today have changed from those of Beowulf's time. In Beowulf's time the heroes were primarily the protectors of the country such as warriors and kings. The roles have changed today where the heroes consist of celebrities and sports players. Roles have changed because our society has changed too. In Beowulf's time kings were of the utmost importance. Without a king the country would surely have fallen into ruin. The king's duty was to protect the country. He did this by keeping up with the surrounding country's wars and finding warriors to protect the country. The king was highly respected and had a very important job. Without the king there was no hope for the country. Today it's actually not that different, instead of a king we have a president. Our president still must keep up with foreign affairs, including wars, to protect our country. It must also be able to predict any effects that foreign affairs might have on the country in the long run. It is our President's responsibility to ensure that our military divisions, including the Air Force, Navy and Army, are prepared and capable of defending our nation or its allies. In the epic poem Beowulf, the heroes were also warriors. These warriors were supposed to protect the country from "monsters" and invasions. Warriors were strong men who could physically attack or prevent an attack to protect their country. Beowulf was a warrior who was a hero in the country where the Danes lived. Beowulf managed to protect and serve the Danes by killing Grendel. Grendel was an evil monster who killed people who slept in the corridor he haunted. Beowulf became a hero by not only killing Grendle but also tearing off his arm and claws with his bear hands. This is an extraordinary feat that an ordinary man could not achieve. Killing a monster with bear hands is simply unheard of! Today our heroes are normally not so much a warrior as a sports player. They too, like the warrior, do things that the common man could not do. Performing extraordinary feats is how they earn the nation's respect. Their work is just as important as that of the warrior because they allow people to escape their problems and live for a while by watching sports.