Final answer:
The poems Beowulf, The Song of the Mud, Dulce et Decorum Est, and The Charge of the Light Brigade each define heroism differently, ranging from classical valor to the stark portrayal of war's brutality, and thus provide complex insights into what makes a hero.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poems Beowulf, The Song of the Mud, Dulce et Decorum Est, and The Charge of the Light Brigade each offer unique perspectives on what defines a hero. These literary works suggest that heroism is complex and multifaceted, contrasting traditional views of glory and honor with the grim realities of suffering and sacrifice. Beowulf presents a classical hero who triumphs over evil, while The Song of the Mud and Dulce et Decorum Est by poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon portray the grim, unglamorous sides of war. Meanwhile, The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson reflects on the bravery and senseless loss of life during a military blunder.
Through these poetic expressions, the concept of a hero is explored beyond the mere act of warfare. Instead, it includes the enduring qualities of courage, self-sacrifice, and the ability to confront the most harrowing aspects of human experience. This perspective sheds light on how personal depictions of war, like those of Käthe Kollwitz, can depict the suffering and inhumanity that accompany heroism. Ultimately, these works suggest that heroism can be found not in the glorification of war, but in the strength and resilience displayed in the face of it.