Epic of Beowulf

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An epic is a long narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s deed. An epic hero is best describe as brave, strong, human, and not invincible, and takes quests to defeat evil. Beowulf, from the Anglo-Saxon epic, is an epic hero. Beowulf is a classic example of an epic hero because he has all of these traits.

Beowulf is an example of an epic hero because he is brave. Beowulf is described as brave because he agreed to fight Grendel with no weapons or shield. Beowulf tells the king “...the monster’s scorn of men/...nor will I” (168-169). Only a brave hero would face a deadly monster without any help like a weapon. Also, Beowulf is even when he is old. Beowulf decides to kill the dragon that is threatening his people. He announces “...I am old, now/ But I will fight again, seek fame still,/If the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (609-611).

Although epic heroes are brave, Beowulf is stronger than the regular people. Beowulf express strength when he grabs Grendel’s arm. Grendel “...twisted in pain/And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/Snapped, muscle and bones split/And broke”(337-340). In addition, Beowulf lifts up a sword made by the giants. Beowulf “...saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy/Sword, hammered by giants, strong/And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons/But so massive that no ordinary man could lift/Its carved and decorated length”(513-517). Beowulf drew the sword”...from its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt” (518) with his extraordinary strength and kills Grendel’s Mother.

All epic heroes takes quests quest to defeat evil, and Beowulf takes many quests to defeat evil. First quest; Beowulf travels across the sea to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel. Beowulf “...would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,/Now when help was needed” (115-116). Second quest; Beowulf goes underwater to fight against Grendel’s Mother. Beowulf “...leaped into the lake.../...for hours he sank through the waves;/At last he saw the bottom/And all at once saw the greedy she-wolf”(450-453) Grendel’s Mother. Last quest; Beowulf is old and travels to kill the dragon that threaten his people. Beowulf “Strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower, under/The rocky cliffs; no coward could have walked there” (635-636).

Even though Beowulf is all strong, brave, and takes quests, Beowulf is first and foremost human and not invincible. In one battle, Grendel’s Mother has Beowulf trap and for a second Beowulf can not get out.

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