The Hero Journey Cycle of Beowulf & Batman

Hero's Final Acceptance of Task

• Beowulf could fight Grendel with his sword and shield but he takes the couragous step to fight Grendel with his bare hands. He explains how Grendel is no stronger or braver than he is. Beowulf shows much confidence and truly believe he can beat Grendel and with no weapons.

• "Grendel is no braver, no stronger than i am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold and famous fighter, but his claws and teeth scratching at my shield, his clumsy fists beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him with my hands empty-- unless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid." (Raffel 676-685)

Temptations of the Underworld (Batman)

• Though it can be argued there is no true temptation of the underworld, it may simultaneously come to Batman during the final conflict. When given the opportunity he refuses to kill his former mentor, but instead informs him that he doesn't need to save him either, abandoning the train before Ra's al Ghul present.

Temptations of the Underworld

The Call (Beowulf)

• Siegmund was once a great ruler until defeat and betrayal changed him for the worst, he brought unhappiness to his people and ignored mens warnings which lead him to death with the Jutes.

Hero's Final Acceptance of Task (Batman)

• In Beowulf's far-off home he had heard of the evil Grendel had brought upon the Danes. Beowulf had a boat prepared to sail out to see the Danish king, Hrothgar. He proclaims that he will assist them and fight off Grendel.

• "For at least as much; he was once the mightiest of men. But pride and defeat and betrayal sent him into exile with the Jutes, and he ended his life on their swords. That life had been misery after misery, and he spread sorrow as long as he lived it, heaped troubles on his unhappy people's heads, ignored all wise men's warnings, ruled only with courage. A king born and trusted with asian treasures and cities full of strong hearted soldiers, his vanity swelled him so vile and rank that he could hear no voices but his own. He deserved to suffer and die." (Raffel 900-913)

Confrontation (Beowulf)

The Hero, Batman returns to Gotham after the incident in Bhutan with the absolute intention of fighting crime, utilizing his financial resources in order to create the technology and build the Batcave necessary for a crime-fighting Batman.

Preliminary Conflicts/ Skirmishes (Batman)

• Beowulf proceeds to fight Grendel with his bare hands. Grendel loses power and Beowulf finshes him off tearing off one of his limbs and Grendel soon dies due to the loss of blood. The Danes rejoice for their enemy has been killed and they may now live in peace.

Preliminary Conflicts/Skirmishes (Beowulf)

• The death of Bruce Wayne's parents at the hands of Joe Chill
• Bruce Wayne's near assassination of Chill at the courthouse
• Ra's al Ghul ordering at the League of Shadows
• The first fight with Dr. Crane

• When Beowulf arrives in the Danish land ready to fight Grendel. Because of Unferth's lack of confidence in Beowulf, he brings up the swimming competition with Breca and how he had lost. Unferth is trying to demonstrate how Beowulf is not as strong as everyone thinks he is.

• "You're Beowulf, are you-- the same boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud, exploring the deepest seas, risking your lives for no reason but the danger? All older and wiser heads warned you not to, but no one could check such pride..... And at the end victory was his, not yours." (Raffel 506-519)

• "Grendel saw that his strength was deserting him, his claws bound fast, Higlac's brave follower tear at his hands. The monsters hatred rose higher, But his power had gone.... A prince of the Geats had killed Grendel, ended the grief the sorrow, the suffering forced on Hrothgar's helpess people by a bloodthirsty fiend. No Dane doubted the victory, for the proof, hangin ghigh from the rafters where Beowulf had hunt it, was the monsters arm, claw, and all.

Hero Answers Call (Batman)

Batman

Final Conflict (Beowulf)

• "In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac's follower in the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone in this world- Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out, proclaiming he'd go to that famous king, would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when help was needed." (Raffel line 195-201)

Confrontation (Batman)

Bruce isn't yet ready to take on the role of the Dark Night, a man who can strike fear into criminals. Foolishly he takes a gun to kill the man who killed his parents but someone beats him to it. He needs to go on the journey first, to be worthy and to do that he must first learn what it is to be a criminal.

• Beowulf goes underwater to fight Grende's mother. The sword that Unferth had given him had no use. He then tried to demolish her with his bare hands. Right when Beowulf was about to lose his life, God had helped him by providing him with a sword that was hanging on the wall. He uses the sword to kill Grendel's mom.

• Bruce Wayne
• billionaire industrialist
• witnessed his parents death
• doesn't have superhero powers

The first confrontation occurs when Dr. Crane, scarecrow himself incapacitates the Batman with the same drug that the Batman had intercepted previously during the film.

• "They wrestled and she ripped and tore and clawed at him, then bit holes in his helmet..." (Raffel 1525-1526)
• "I used the weapon he had offered me, drew it and when I could, swung it, killed the montrous hag in her own home." (Raffel 1664-1666)

Final Conflict (Batman)

Sacrifice (Batman)

Sacrifice (Beowulf)

The final conflict begins when Ra's al Ghul and the League of Shadows collects Dr. Crane's drug, and uses Wayne Enterprise's microwave emitter to send the drug throughout the city of Gotha. As the city is in conflict, Batman saves Rachel from a mob of hysterical citizens, and follows up with chasing Ra's al Ghud onto the monorail train. This event leads to the final conflict of the film, with the final fight between the primary antagonist Ra's and the hero Batman.

• In the end, Batman is forced to sacrifice his relationship with Rachel in order to continue his responsibilities as a protector of Gotham.

Rebirth/ Return (Beowulf)

• It's all or nothing in this fight, Beowulf already knows there is a chance he can lose the fight and die but that doesn't seem to stop him. He sacrifices his life to protect the people of the Danish land.

Hero Answers Call (Beowulf)

Beowulf

Rebirth/ Return (Batman)

• "When we crossed the sea, my comrades and I, already knew that all my purpose was this: to win the goodwill of your people or die in battle, pressed in Grendel's fierce grip. Let me live in greatness and courage, or here in this hall welcome my death." (Raffel 632-638)

• The Geats accept and encourages Beowulf's journey to the Danes. Beowulf chooses the bravest and best of men and all fourteen of them went off to the Danish land to fight Grendel.

• Beowulf returns back from the battle against Grendel's mother with gifts, and asks for his gifts to be given to his king, Higlac. He says he must return to his land to protect his people.

• "None of the wise ones his going, much as he was loved by the Geats: the omens were good, and they urged the adventure on." (Raffel line 202-204)

Bruce returns to the Wayne Estate, rebuilding it and bringing along his new found skills and values as the Batman in order to protect the city of Gotham. He also simultaneously purchases a controlling stake in Wayne Enterprises, as well as fires and hires new staff members. He follows this up with building his connections in the Gotham Police Department, and making his presence aware throughout the city. He returns to the conflict at the end of the film, when Lieutenant Gordon of the Police Department 'Joker' playing card at crime scenes.

• "And the precious you have me, my friend send them to Higlac." (Raffel 1482-1483)
• "It is time to return, to go back to our beloved lord, Higlac." (Raffek 1819-1820)

• Protagonist
• A Geat
• Son of Edgetho
• A fighting warrior

Community Thrives (Beowulf)

Community Thrives (Batman)

• Now that Beowulf has defeated both Grendel and Grendel's mother, the Danes may now feel safe and peace is restored.

• "All the people of Denmark, old or young- they, and you, may now sleep without fear of either monster, mother or son." (Raffel 1673-1676)

The city of Gotham returns to normal under the protection of Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, after the attack by his former mentor, Ra's al Ghul and his League of Shadows, the city has a sense of relief knowing that the Batman is their willing protector, and is able to rebuild from the destruction that Ra's, as well as the actions of Dr. Crane brought upon the city.

The Call (Batman)

The Hero Journey Cycle of Beowulf & Batman

By: Haley Bahnaman & Moriah Gaines

When Bruce was a child, him and his parents left a movie theater. They ran into some trouble on the way home when a robber had asked them to hand over their money. The robber had then shot both his parents.