Boldness In Beowulf

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The epic poem Beowulf was composed in the Anglo-Saxon period. The poem contains a confident and strong her who helps Hrothgar, King of the Danes, and his people defeat Grendel, a beast who kills at night. This hero also kills Grendel’s mother when she seeks revenge for the harm done to her son. This poem highlights all the characteristics of an epic hero for Beowulf, but the few that stand out are that he is bold and confident, would rather die than be thought of as a coward, and is the greatest and strongest of all men. These three characteristics show that Beowulf is the epitome of an epic hero.
The most stand out characteristic is that Beowulf is bold and confident. Throughout the poem, he boasts about his successful and epic journey and how no man can compare to him. In lines 265-267, Beowulf shows confidence by stating, “But the truth/ Is simple: No man swims in the sea/ As I can, no strength is a match for mine,” (30). As the story continues, he proves his words to be true. Every man and kingdom knows and praises Beowulf for his boldness to fight the most dangerous and ruthless of monsters. Due to this extreme boldness, his confidence level escalates with every success. Both his boldness and confidence show in lines …show more content…

When Beowulf arrives at the land of the Danes, he tell Hrothgar,” Fate will unwind as it must,” (189, 28). This quote is showing that Beowulf is not afraid to die in battle, as long as he dies trying. The poem states many times that Beowulf will let God or fate determine his life. For example, when Beowulf goes on his last journey to slay the dragon, he says,”… what occurs on the wall/ Between the two of us will turn out as fat,/ Overseer of men, decides,” (675-677, 44). Some of his characteristics play a big part in this one aspect. Without being bold and confident, he would be a coward, and he wouldn’t be known as the greatest or

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