Epic of Beowulf

We do not only look for someone that is sure of his supernatural strength. People today look for a hero that gives them hope and that is admirable because he keeps on struggling to reach his goals. Today a hero must have suffered challenges that make him grow as a better human. Beowulf perfectly fulfills the characteristics of an epic hero because he fight... ... middle of paper ... ...s always talking about his qualities. In conclusion, although Beowulf possessed many heroic qualities he would not be considered a hero in today’s world.

Beowulf is an extraordinary warrior who goes through many obstacles to prove his worthiness. With the strength of thirty, and the heart of a leader he pulls through no matter what come his way. He is always thinking of others and not about only him, and does not ask for much in return. He does not seek honor and glory, although because of his good deeds this does soon follow. Unlike most kings his takeover of the kingdom did not come from heredity directly but because of the people's choice, and for the people he continues to fight for, even until death.

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.

One similarity is that in both fights, Beowulf received aid from others. In the fight with Grendel, as mentioned before, Beowulf’s men had assisted him, leading them to victory. For the fight with the Dragon, Beowulf had aid from Wiglaf. “Next thing, they say, the noble son of Weohstan / saw the king in danger at his side / and displayed his inborn bravery and strength” (2694-2696). Wiglaf is the only warrior that stays and actually fights alongside Beowulf.

An epic hero is merely defined as someone who portrays the characteristics of honor, bravery, and courageousness. In the story Beowulf, Beowulf proved himself as an epic hero numerous times through his past accomplishments and adventures. He fought battles other humans could never endure. He has proven his bravery, courage, and honor by defeating the dragon and also proved himself in the battle with Grendel and Grendel’s mother. A considerable amount of times throughout the story, Beowulf demonstrates himself to be one of the greatest epic heroes.

Therefore, when fighting against all three monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the dragon at the end of his well-known life, he strives to keep that reputation. By fighting each one of these battles his reputation grows, he becomes better known for the kindness and strength he has to battle these monstrous creatures. Another contributor to his good reputation is the fact that he did this for people he didn’t even know. This proves him to be a good man, and people think highly of him because of it. Also, when going to speak to the Dane’s great lord, Beowulf explains his reputation with his people on page 47, lines 246-248, “They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood.” This shows that Beowulf has a reputation with his people, that they know what he is capable of and have seen him in battles.

He was blessed by the many gifts his mother gave him, including the gift of “invulnerability” and equipment made by the god Hephaestus (The History Channel, 2014). His father was also a great warrior who couldn’t be beaten even when ambushed by many men (Osborn) All of these gifts made him formidable in battle, thus making his troops respect him as a warrior. His strength made it easier for him to become a hero; the people of Greece admired this aspect of him. Achilles was not afraid to battle since he believed that glory was righteous (That’s Greece, N.D.). His bravery made him seem even more heroic to his comrades.

Beowulf possesses several distinct traits that allow him to be defined as an ideal epic hero and Anglo-Saxon hero. He is courageous, loyal, wise, and physically powerful. Beowulf puts himself through difficult situations just to keep his people safe from evil. He battles Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon for his people, though he does it for honor as well. Beowulf shows honor in all of his acts, but he is constantly seeking fame and glory through all of his accomplishments.

While fighting the Dragon Beowulf shows feats of strength and courage that define him as a hero. The classical hero displays a special quality that separates him from the rest of Moss 2 society. In Beowulf, Beowulf shows extraordinary courage and strength that gives him special status. This notion is shown, when Beowulf fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother, but it is especially noticeable when he fights the dragon. When Beowulf fought Grendel others had the courage to attempt to fight him.

The epic poem, Beowulf, depicts the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, was an outstanding warrior with all the extraordinary values required by a hero. He was able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encountered terrifying monsters and the most ferocious of beasts, but he never feared the threat of death. His leadership skills were excellent and he was able to boast about all his achievements.