Wanted: Slayers of Dragons, Modern Variety
As a follow-up lesson to our class reading of the ancient Anglo-Saxon classic “Beowulf,” I asked my students to write a story in which they cast themselves in the role of Beowulf--the Terminator of Old English yore.
Whereas Beowulf must boldly battle the dreaded Grendel, “that demon, son of Cain,” my students were to identify the dragons they must face in their own lives. These dragons ranged from the benign to pernicious: SAT scores, boring teachers, drinking and driving, gang violence, sexually transmitted diseases, broken homes, depression and teen suicide.
Like so many mythical heroes, Beowulf relied upon a number of strengths to ensure his victory, including not only his brawn and his brain, but also his divinely blessed sword and shield, because even a hero can’t do it alone. Therefore, my students were instructed to identify what strengths and “special shields” they would rely upon in their battle against the Grendels in their lives.
In his story, Scott Belcher said his special shield was a magical being known as “Supportiveparents.” This magical being came to his aid on many occasions when he was threatened by the dragons Badgrades, Peerpressure and Manyharmfuldrugs.
To look at this six-foot-plus senior who by midday sports a five o’clock shadow, one would think that he would have outgrown the need for Supportiveparents along with finger-painting and lunch pails. But then again, do any us of really outgrow the need for supportive parents in one form of another?
And although Scott has been blessed with this special shield, many of my students have not been as fortunate. Many must do battle alone and often in the dark against demons no young person should face.
The story of Beowulf is a tale of loyalty and commitment. It is a story of a brave knight and his followers who leave the safety and comfort of their home to come to the aid of their kinsmen, fellow human beings at the mercy of a dreadful beast that is devouring their kingdom.
Many of our communities, our schools and our children are under attack by beasts no less vicious than Grendel and the dragons of old. The question is who will stand up and fight them?
Who will leave the safety and comfort of his or her own kingdom to defend the weak and the needy?
And for those who do stand and fight, who will support them--even when that support entails sacrificial giving? Who will be the Supportiveparents for all those little Beowulfs in our community who feel they must face life’s battles alone?
Are we more invested in finding new ways to accumulate even greater wealth for our own personal gain than we are in building a nation in which opportunity and prosperity are made available to all our children? Are we more eager to pursue paths of pleasure than we are willing to provide community service?
When it comes to looking toward the future, are we prepared to labor in fields to produce crops only the next generation can harvest? When it comes to protecting and defending the children of all our tomorrows against the beasts of today, what are we prepared to do? What are you prepared to do?
If Beowulf and these old stories, these myths of our collective heritage, are to mean anything beyond a boring read with a quiz at the end, then we as a society must reclaim the virtues that they teach. When Beowulf left his kinsmen, he reassured them, “I should be ready at once, if beyond the sea’s expanse I hear that men threaten you with terrors . . . I shall bring you a thousand thanes, warriors to your aid.”
Are we willing to do the same for our community?
