Why Beowulf Is A Hero

Beowulf the Hero

Beowulf was a hero that many people wished they could become. Beowulf killed monster and dragons without blinking an eye. But why was Beowulf considered a hero by so many? Beowulf could have been a normal man who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.Beowulf had some characteristics that every hero must have. Beowulf had courage, he was willing to sacrifice anything for his people, and he was determined to never give up.

Courage is something that every hero needs. Philip Zimbardo states that courage is “A focus on one’s duty to help and protect others” (Philip Zimbardo pg2). This very much describes Beowulf. Beowulf not once thinks that he won’t go fight Grendel.He jumps in without a doubt because it is his duty. When an individual has enough courage to step in and fight for others even when they are endangering themselves; they are a hero. In most individuals the natural man will come out and tell them that they need to only protect themselves, but being able to protect anyone even complete strangers is a quality of a true hero.

They will sacrifice their life without even a second thought. Beowulf does this many times, but one time in particular is when Beowulf is asked to go and fight the dragon that is terrorizing the town. In the story Beowulf it says “That noble prince/ Would end his days on earth, soon,/ would leave this brief life, but would take the dragon/ With him, tear it from the heaped-up treasure/ it has guarded so long.” This is what makes Beowulf even more of a hero then he would be if he was just a martyr. Not only is he saying that he is willing to give up his life but he will do it as he kills the dragon. Beowulf knows that his people need to be protected and he will do that even if it means he will sacrifice his own