We all have heroes; in fact without them we would simply be lost. It is what makes a hero that guides us in our lives, but there are many deceptions of heroes. The best ways to describe them by the view of the common peoples is, “To believe in the heroic makes heroes.” (Benjamin Disraeli)Many people believed in the hero Beowulf. The epic poem of Beowulf has travelled through centuries to grace the hearts of those who believe themselves to be virtuous. It is the guide to how a hero should be. Beowulf is the ultimate leader. He slays all sorts of monsters and he does out of the good of his heart, mostly. He did not have to travel to another country and take care of other’s problems but he did. Many have speculated as to why he would do such a …show more content…
Grendel had become somewhat of a national threat to everyone. If he was so powerful he could have wiped out everybody in one village. After he did that then he would have to find his next source of food and pretty soon he could very well have landed on Beowulf’s lands. It seems that scenario is highly unlikely, but it was the though process of Beowulf people. They knew that this monster had caused many deaths and when death is on the horizon people tend to panic and begin sacrifice anyone to save themselves. Because of this spreading panic Beowulf took it as his duty to get rid of the beast himself. So he and a small company of men traveled to get rid of the threat of destruction. “…I meant to perform to the uttermost/what your people wanted, or perish in the attempt, /in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,/prove myself with a proud deed/or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” When Grendel is deemed as defeated people begin to relax however Grendel’s mother pops into the picture as an even bigger threat. Beowulf could not simply let the people work themselves up into another panic so he took care of Grendel’s maid as well. Year later, the dragon shows up when Beowulf is now king. A King is granted the privilege of making sure his kingdom is safe; a dragon terrorizing his domain is the exact opposite of safety. It is clear …show more content…
When he first arrives at Herot, he makes a formal boast in front of King Hrothgar, saying: “…I meant to perform to the uttermost/what your people wanted, or perish in the attempt, /in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,/prove myself with a proud deed/or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” He goes even further and boasts that he will kill Grendel with nothing but his bare hands, granted he does have the stuff to back himself. What makes his boastfulness astounding is the fact that he said he was going to be victorious and then he was. Most cannot get by with saying they are going to do something and then do it exactly how they said they are going to do it. However he did have a lot to lose, “What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there loose.” (Andre Agassi) Beowulf keeps his thoughts about glory with him the entire time, wanting to be the one who gets the fame without losing anything dear to him. Even more so he saw the advantage of taking the treasures that were so heavily guarded by the rivals he had to demolish. Grendel’s mother had an abundance of riches in her nasty cave, including the sword that led to her gruesome demise. Let’s not forget the prize that had been lying in the golden dragon’s lair. “I want to examine that ancient gold,” he says, “gaze my fill/on those garnered jewels; my going will be easier/for having seen the
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.
In my opinion Beowulf is can be considered a hero. Beowulf can be considered a hero because of the characteristics he displays that resemble heroes. He displays all of the characteristics that heroes have. Throughout the story Beowulf stays true to himself and is morals showing that he is a hero. Beowulf is a hero due to his courage, loyalty, and justice.
There are many things to take into consideration when characterizing a person as a hero. Heros are typically seen as people who accomplish brave deeds and fulfill noble tasks for the greater good of things. In the epic poem Beowulf by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet a hero is revealed. What makes Beowulf a hero is his unbelievable strength and power. He does not get discouraged or let anything stear him away from what he feels needs to be done for the safety of others. In his battles with the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon Beowulf exhibits his strength and will to fight. Beowulf, is loyal to his people and his king. What I feel is the most important quality of Beowulf, though, is his willingness to risk his life for the good
A large problem with Beowulf was that he was attention seeking all the time. We learn that Beowulf was the prince of the Geats and had heard of the troubled times of Herot. From the beginning he was going out for attention. He assembled the strongest men of the Geats and was destined to approach the king and go in and save the country. When his me finally land, he goes to see the king and makes a huge big deal about how good he was and how bad Grendel was. This not
Through his many heroic accomplishments, whether it is fighting Grendel, Grendel’s mother, or the dragon, in Beowulf’s defense of the needy and his enthusiasm to sacrifice his life to benefit others, Beowulf has earned the right to be given the name “hero.” Beowulf can be looked at as a man who demonstrates the knightly morality of his medieval counterparts. Beowulf is not only a hero, but also a model to all warriors of that they should aim to be.
the story of Beowolf protecting good is when the king is speaking of him. He
In the epic poem 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.
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.
Beowulf being a hero, is a questionable statement because some may have a different definition of a hero. However, I do think otherwise because Beowulf does what an average man does not wish to do or is not strong and brave enough. He also has the qualities of a hero, one being loyalty and he shows this by travelling across the sea to help Hrothgar defeat
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.
Since the first conception of heroes manifested they have provided a lasting impression and serve as amazing role models for children and teens in civilizations across the globe. There are many heroic tales that have been around longer than a millennium from the epic poetry of Ancient Greece to the stories from the Old Testament, but only one epic still survives from Anglo-saxon bards: Beowulf. Beowulf serves as a good role model for many because he left the comfort of his home to help those in another kingdom for no wish for reward, much like our modern day soldiers. “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and strongest of the Geats - greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world - heard how Grendel filled nights with horror
There has only been one hero in Anglo-Saxon history, only one man can meet every requirement one needs to be classified as hero. Only one man's honor, loyalty, courage, generosity, and wisdom, fits the true definition of a hero. That man is Beowulf. With these leading traits, Beowulf's rise to heroism was not just by chance. He filled each of the five characteristics perfectly, as if it was his destiny to be admired.
When Beowulf was defending the village from Grendel, you could see that they were ravaged from the terror that was brought upon them. Beowulf freely volunteered to fight someone not knowing what he was up against. When he arrived, Beowulf did not ask the king for money or fame. The only favor that he asked of Hrothgar was that he and his men were to fight the monster, Grendel. Coming away from one's homeland to help get rid of a man-eating monster and asking for nothing in return takes a lot of courage and is an extremely brave move. “Beowulf, my friend, you have traveled here to favor us with help and to fight for us (Norton
Heroes do have supernatural exemplary traits and characteristics. In the movie, Beowulf undeniably possesses super strength and extra-ordinary bravery as well. The themes "Good vs Evil", "Christianity vs Paganism", "Fate", "Fame", "Friendship", "Loyalty and Honor", "Bravery", "Generosity", "Man's price", "Thane's duty to his Lord" and "Lord's duty to his thanes" were obviously observed in the movie. Anyway, I saw another thing which I thought was given emphasis in the story. This realization goes this way: Beowulf, as a hero is still a human being. In connection, as a human nature, he too (like any other human being) has his own strengths and weaknesses. He did commit a mistake by having an intercourse with Grendel's mom. But it doesn't stop there. He did hid that as a secret
Good and Evil- The entire poem of Beowulf deals with the battle of good verses evil, good being Beowulf, his followers, Hrothgar, and Hrothgar's people, and evil being Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. In this poem the power of good overcomes all the evils, but not without the lose of life. These lives include that of Beowulf, Aeschere, and many of Hrothgar's people. The clashing of good and evil forces was the main method of creating interest and suspense in the poem.