Wouldn’t it be great to be a hero? Someone others can look up to and always remember? In the epic poem of Beowulf, this hero does unimaginable things for the love of his people and the protection of others. Beowulf is an epic hero for many reasons. Three of Beowulf's most epic heroic traits are his strength, noble honor and birth, and the ability to rule justly, as a king should. First off, using his strength, Beowulf fights evil and supernatural beings such as Grendal, Grendal’s mother, and a dragon. His superhuman abilities elevate him to be an unstoppable warrior. As written in the poem, “For hours he sank through the waves; At last he saw the mud of the bottom” (line 542). This line of the epic poem shows an example of how Beowulf is a great hero by using his strength to defeat an evil being, in the most unimaginable way ever. Another way Beowulf can be shown as a great hero is by his noble honor. …show more content…
Knowing this of Beowulf also made him widely known and well-respected. He respected all kings who called on him or need his help. Also the other knights he has fought alongside with. Written in the poem, “At the hall, bold and warlike, and with Beowulf, Their lord and leader, they walked on the mead-hall green” (596). This quote also shows another example of Beowulf being an epic hero by using his popularity the best way possible by respecting others, and also because of who his family and how noble they are. One last way Beowulf expresses his hero ways is his ability to rule the way somebody should
A hero not only needs to be physically outstanding, but he also needs to have integrity, moral values and needs to act without thinking in his own benefit. Beowulf has many characteristics of a hero but he also has some defects that make me think that he wouldn’t be considered a hero in today´s world. A hero concept evolves with a culture, Beowulf has many things that the Anglo-Saxons viewed as heroism but he misses many things that are important for a modern hero.
These are just a few of the qualities that make Beowulf a hero, however they are his strongest ones. Although his acts of greatness may not be entirely for the right reasons, Beowulf could be viewed as a true archetypal hero figure. His bravery, arrogance, brute force all tie into his greatness. And provide undeniable evidence to his
Beowulf by far endures more than the average person as the poem progresses. He is faced with daunting challenges of defeating three monsters that would kill any other man. Beowulf exemplifies bravery by never backing down no matter what the threat was. He was loyal by honoring his promises of keeping those around him safe and alive. And finally, his unwavering confidence helped him push through the toughest confrontations. These traits and the fights with the three different monsters are what genuinely make Beowulf a hero.
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that Beowulf is a hero. The Dragon section displays many of Beowulf’s heoric characteristics. Beowulf establishes himself as a hero by fighting the dragon, exemplifing strength and courage when fighting the dragon, and sacrificing himself so that others can live.
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery. These characteristics keep him set apart from all other character. He would take any risk to defeat his enemy and to gain glory. Even when he dies, he defeated his opponent and gained more glory to his name. In Beowulf, there are series of battles centered around the heroic figure Beowulf, who is an epic hero.
Beowulf displayed great courage and honor throughout his journeys and battles; he was an epic hero. An epic hero is a person who is viewed as larger than life and possesses values of a certain society. From the time of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel to his brawl against the dragon, he has showed everyone what being an honorable hero looks like. His heroism is revealed through both youth as a young warrior and wisdom as a reliable king. He never backed down and didn’t give up when situations were tough. Beowulf had obligations to fulfill and went about every aspect of his life with courage and strength. He cared for his people and was willing to take on anyone that threatened them or his kingdom. He sincerely was the hero of his time.
He showed great courage, strength, leadership and intrepidness. Beowulf defeated a beast that swooped up an entire room of people and ate them. He took his men on a dangerous voyage to Grendal’s deep, dark lair. Beowulf also demonstrated strength that a normal man couldn’t when he lifted a sword crafted for giants. Although Beowulf was an Anglo-Saxon hero centuries removed, his heroic attributes still appeal to heroes today. Although Beowulf has super strength, he still shows courage, initiative, selflessness, and desire to make the world a better place just like heroes of
An epic hero according to Anglo-Saxon literature is a hero who is larger-than-life; someone with self-confidence, great strength, and the qualities of loyalty, bravery, and honor. Beowulf can be considered an epic hero for multiple reasons throughout “Beowulf.” Beowulf is a character constructed on all of the Anglo-Saxon epic hero qualifications. For starters, Beowulf is seen as a noble character, that is willing to provide security for the people by risking his own life. As a character, Beowulf conducts superhuman strength, and can complete impossible tasks. These are only some among many other reasons and characteristics Beowulf can be classified as an epic hero.
The epic of Beowulf has three heroic figures. Hrothgar, Beowulf and Wiglaf all become heroes in the story after a feat of strength and bravery transports their name across the land. A hero can only seem to claim the title once the prior hero has passed to the afterlife, as if the previous hero’s existence somehow casts a shadow upon their own. To become a hero each warrior must first prove themselves on the field of battle. Hrothgar, presented in the beginning, is the first and oldest, his heroic exploits are mentioned briefly. However the result of his exploits, his troop of men and Herot, are an overwhelming testament to his power; they are still present after 12 years of torture. Beowulf’s heroic feats make up the epic itself; his fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon each depict his strength and heroic potential throughout the tale. These battles are a testament to his strength and competence as a warrior. Finally, Wiglaf is presented at the very end as Beowulf’s sole aid in the fight against the dragon. The fame each hero accumulates as a result of the life that they lead, justifies their claim to the title of hero. While in the beginning the differences between the three men seem vast, with each battle the similarities between the heroes grow and their bonds as heroes.
Many epics have been written and forgotten. Yet, the epic of Beowulf has stayed as one of the premiere examples of a heroic epic. This brings an inevitable question to mind. Why is Beowulf considered a hero?
Beowulf is an epic poem about an optimal hero and warrior, which was written in Old English. Although Beowulf’s avidity for fame and glory incentivized his avarice, he was contemplated as a superior king according to the Anglo Saxons. Throughout the whole poem Beowulf pursues fame in order to acquire glory and treasures. During his fight with Grendel, he manages to establish himself as a good warrior by “renouncing sword and the shelter of the broad shield” (436). This action proved that he is courageous and also fights in an equal playing field. Once Beowulf killed Grendel, Beowulf “won renown” and was now “known to all men far and near, now and forever” (1221). This was due to fame being considered as something of great importance during this era. It wasn’t just for mere vanity, but instead it was earned. The only way to live an immortal life was through fame. Hrothgar thanked Beowulf for his aid and stated that “you have made yourself immortal by your glorious action”
A hero is someone that helps others no matter what the situation. There are many qualities that a hero must posses such as bravery, courage, strength, intelligence and honor. These qualities alone are not enough to make a hero. They must also be pure at heart, fight for the good of mankind and only fight when it is to protect the people and not out of revenge. Beowulf is everything a hero should be, but contains a few qualities that a hero should not posses. When Beowulf sailed with his men to Herot he had one goal, to rid the hall of Grendal. Beowulf was under no obligation to destroy Grendal and never asked for anything in return for his services. A true hero would never ask for money or anything of value. He put his life at risk to save the people of Herot, who he didn’t even know, out of his own good nature Great strength has been a trait that has been identified with heroes in many stories and legends. Than he 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... (II. 1557-1560) Beowulf possessed great strength that separated him from other men. Being able to use a sword that no ordinary man was able to carry gives the feeling that Beowulf is something more than a human being. It makes him special and causes him to stand out from all other men. Fame is something that makes a hero more noted. Beowulfs popularity had spread all over the world. He never let this go to his head and he never thought that he was better than everyone else because of it. “Your fame is everywhere, my friend,/Reaches to the ends of the earth, and you hold it in your heart wisely...” (II.1704-1706). A hero should not be foolish or full of himself. Unferth said: You’re Beowulf, are you- the same Boastful fool who fought a swimming Match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud,exploring the deepest Seas, risking your lives for no reason But the danger? (II. 506-511) A hero should not have to prove to himself or to anyone else that he is brave, fearless or courageous. If he is pure a heart and his intentions are good then he can be considered a true hero.
According to most dictionaries, an epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. While this is true, the epic Beowulf contains more than those two requirements. This story contains five elements which make it an epic. There is an epic hero, action of an immense scale, an elevated writing style, long speeches meant to inspire or instruct, and also the descent into the underworld.
Beowulf is the single greatest story of Old English literature and one of the greatest epics of all time. Ironically, no one can lay claim to being the author of this amazing example of literature. The creator of this poem was said to be alive around 600 A.D. and the story was, since then, been passed down orally from generation to generation. When the first English monks heard the story, they took it upon themselves to write it down and add a bit of their own thoughts. Thus, a great epic and the beginning to English literature was born.