How do these ancient views of heroism compare with today's notions of personal greatness?

Question

Heroism then and now
(Anglo-Saxons)

Answer 1

Anglo-Saxons were all about glory through the sword. Heroism was about being a good warrior. Being strong, brave, victorious in battle. Now we see hero in everyday people as well. You don't have to kill your enemies or defeat monsters in order to be a hero. We look up to a variety of people including firemen, policemen, astronaunts, teachers, government officials, soldiers, and everyday people who do extraordinary things. Many of our heros save lives. Others invent things or open our minds to a new way of looking at the world. Others travel where no one has gone before.

Answer 2

The first answerer did great in summarizing the differences. See article below for more information about Anglo-Saxon mythology. I would say they had a bigger belief in supernatural heroes and gods and beings, although living heroes also existed. Nowadays, as the first answerer said, heroes are just as likely to be people you know. I did find a couple of sites that listed how the figureheads on ships were often representative of a goddess like Frigga/Freya. So maybe you can compare and contrast how they would decorate their ships with their heroic figures, whereas we as modern people might have movie posters or websites dedicated to our heroes, etc.

Answer 3

I dont belive conqering other ppl and lands is heroism (ANGLO-SAXONS), that shows no value for human life, culture, shows no respect, reason why now its different its ppl are of mixed ancestry, if u mix different elements, different charateristcs, this becomes more advanced, more ideaology, like taking different elements from dfferen countries, and mixing I.E USA, all mixed and look how they r, if u mix from oda countries ur brain gets more advanced, more thinking, more different to just one race.