Beowulf, the archetype of the dragon slayer, the hero who faces death in order to save a threatened community, reminds me of Aaron from the series The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski. When Aaron turns eighteen, the world around him changes forever. He starts to hear voices and learns that he is the son of a mortal and an angel, and has been chosen to redeem the fallen angels. In his quest to redeem their right to return to Heaven, he faces the Powers who are on a self-determined mission to exterminate the fallen angels who they believed betrayed God.
Both Beowulf and Aaron are heroes who face death to protect the people they love and their threatened community, as well as repeatedly show their honor, courage, and determination to succeed. Aaron often risks his demigod life to save his talking dog, Gabriel, his angelic friends, and the girl who he falls in love with. Beowulf does not allow his thanes to fight alongside him, and he single-handedly defeats his foes. Similarly, Aaron protects his loved ones at all costs, and he constantly proves himself to his fallen allies as their savior, the Redeemer. As the Redeemer, Aaron “forgives” the angels who have sinned against the Lord and he allows them to return to their home, heaven. Beowulf, while not sending his people to heaven, protects them from the wrath of angry monsters and demons sired from Cain and his descendents. Both Aaron and Beowulf are spirited and admirable heroes who put the lives of others before their own.
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