Do you think you would have been able to live in an era where you have minimal resources but are in constant danger? Would you be willing to risk your life fighting monsters and dragons to protect your people? Even if you say yes, realistically, you probably wouldn’t, as it would take great mental and physical strength, and flat-out would just be impossible. But not for Beowulf, the Geat warrior who would be the star of one of the first pieces of modern literature to be recorded. Beowulf’s superhuman strength and arrogant demeanor mark him down in history as one of the first known epic heroes. He is always up for the challenge of fighting a battle, whether it be his people, the Geats, or others, such as the Danes. His immense strength and courage, …show more content…
Boasting is a common trait among heroes, and something Beowulf constantly did throughout the story. In lines 142-189 for example, Beowulf describes how much of a brave fighter he is and boasts about how he killed 5 beasts in one battle. To summarize, he says that he heard about the Danes’ despair and came to the rescue, and although he was willing to risk his life to save Hrothgar and his people, it was also obviously for fame as well. He assures Hrothgar that the situation will be resolved, and does do his job well, killing Grendel as well as Grendel’s mother after she sought revenge by killing one of Hrothgar’s best men. His arrogance shows again in lines 450-458, after he fearlessly enters the lake that Grendel’s mother lived in. It says that, “He leaned into the lake/Would not wait for anyone’s/Answer; the heaving water covered him…”. Beowulf also fought Grendel’s mother by himself, and even though he ended up winning the battle, it almost cost him his life. Ultimately, Beowulf met his demise in the end of the story, when he volunteered to fight a dragon that was terrorizing the Geats. In lines 606-612, after Beowulf uttered his final boast, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought/In endless battles. I am old now/But I will fight again, seek fame still,/If the dragon hiding in his tower dares/To face me…”, he went to go and face the problem, only for his war ridden sword to break and his followers leave him fear. Beowulf was essentially helpless until a sole warrior showed, named Wiglaf, and killed the dragon for him. Even though Wiglaf wasn’t seriously hurt, Beowulf was laying on the ground, knowing he was dying and that these were his last moments on Earth, so he only ask Wiglaf that he be buried with the treasure that was in the castle the dragon dwelled in. It goes to show that even the toughest fighters like Beowulf aren’t as invincible as they
This fight is a struggle of pure strength; Beowulf shows that he is inhumanly strong. When Grendel was killing Beowulf’s men one by one, others waited for their master’s move. Yet, Beowulf does nothing but pretends to be asleep until Grendel comes to attack him. This is when he surprises the monster and fatally wounds him. As a good leader Beowulf should fight along with his men. He should protect them from harm but instead he sacrificed many of his companions to carry out his plan. His purpose was to kill Grendel on his own, just as if he wanted to get the credit for himself. What is most unsettling about this fight is the fact that many of Beowulf’s men could be saved. If all warriors conformed to the idea of comitatus, which emphasizes the
Beowulf is one of the most iconic and influential heroic journeys of all time. Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, is a Geat and like no other warrior ever seen before. He is the strongest man alive. He has the strength of thirty men in his arm alone. When Beowulf was only a boy, he had battles with his friends and swam for miles with his sword in his hand and armor on the rest of his body. When he battles Grendel's mother, it is said that Beowulf is underwater for nearly half a day. Aside from being a great warrior, he is also very smart and modest about his strength. When Beowulf arrives in Heorot, he is confronted with opposition. The king, Hrothgar allows Beowulf to fight because has known Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, and Hrothgar saved him from
In the poem, Beowulf fights against Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon which Beowulf is very brave for doing. In addition to Beowulf's bravery once he defeats Grendel’s Mother, he waits fifty years to fight the Dragon when he is seventy years of age. Beowulf is a great hero because he possesses the quality of bravery. Beowulf is also a hero because while he was fighting the dragon, all his men except for Wiglaf abandoned him, he continued to fight the dragon even though he knew he was in grave danger. “His weapon had failed him, deserted him, now when he needed it most, that excellent sword. Edgetho’s famous son stared at death, unwilling to leave his world, to exchange it for a dwelling in some place--a journey into darkness that all men must make, as death ends their few brief hours on earth(734-741)”. Even though the dragon fatally wounded Beowulf, all of his men still looked up to him as a great noble and courageous warrior who did not back down to any
As he introduces himself to Hrothgar, Beowulf presents each and every on of this qualities. We can see that he is loyal to his lord, by his description of himself as "Hygelac's kinsman, / one of his hall-troop" (lines 407-408). He is first and foremost, a warrior to Hygelac. He later on says that one of the reasons why he would fight Grendel (other than helping the Danes) is "to heighten Hygelac's fame / and gladden his heart" (lines 435-436). He is fighting for the name of his lord and not to gain personal recognition. He then goes on describing his strength. First, he proves his might by stating "When I was younger, / I had great triumphs" (lines 408-409). He gives Hrothgar a reason why he is justified to fight Grendel. Even in his younger days, when he was probably weaker, he already made a name for himself as a great warrior. "All knew of my awesome ...I have suffered extremes and avenged the Gates" (lines 218-223). He believes that his strength is a match to Grendel's (line 425).
In every epic story, the center of attention will be on the epic hero. Usually all the epic heroes have some kind of special power, which keep them different from other characters. Later on, their epic journey these powers, help them to win the glory, which make them epic heroes. In Beowulf, Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery.
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
Beowulf shows physical strength in the story by defeating Grendel. In line 219 of Grendel’s mother, it tells how Beowulf killed her. “…cut it through, broke bones and all.” His strength is also told in line 213 of how he “lifted the sword that was so massive that no ordinary man could lift.” Beowulf’s determination, or his will to win, was throughout the story, even up until his death. A quote that describes this is, “…he cut the beast in half, slit it apart. It fell…”(line 185). He shows courage along with his cousin, Wiglaf, when they defeat the fire dragon. In line 189 it says, “…their courage had killed it, two noble cousins had joined in the dragon’s death.”
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
the story of Beowolf protecting good is when the king is speaking of him. He
A true hero has no fear. A hero would risk himself for what he believes to be right and to protect others. I think of someone who, in my opinion of others, has heroic traits or has performed a brave act and is regarded as a representation or ideal is a hero. Heros always have people to look up to him and will always excel when the going gets treacherous. Beowulf is a good example of a hero, because he stared terror in his eyes and saved his land many of times. Beowulf additionally showed bravery, strength, and leadership because he was definite that he would defeat Grendel. Beowulf has all of the distinct qualities of a hero and that is why he is a perfect example of a hero.
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. Beowulf was the ultimate epic hero who risked his life countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others. Common traits of an Anglo-Saxon warrior were physical strength, leadership skills and heroic stoicism, which Beowulf demonstrated throughout this poem.
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
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.
Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulf’s excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. “Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youth…they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.”(Beowulf p73) One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in his lifetime.
Beowulf is a complex character that is cast as the ultimate hero and champion, whose greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. Though his obsession with power yield him courage and strength that allow him to defeat enemies most other warriors cannot bring themselves to fight, his unilateral quest for glory leaves his citizens and kingdom desolate and unprepared for the difficulties they face. Beowulf may be the greatest warrior of one of the greatest epics written, but as is said in the last words about him in the book, his most notable trait is not his greatness as a leader and king but that he is the “keenest to win fame”.