Beowulf Epic Hero Essay

Most of us have heard of modern day heroes such as Spiderman, Superman, and the Hulk. Each is a hero to many children. Heroes are introduced to people early on in life usually as fictional characters, but as children grow older their perceptions of heroes alter. The characteristics of a hero are usually based around the ideas of a society or culture. In the epic Beowulf, the main character is thought of as a hero. Beowulf, a pagan warrior and the main character of the epic, shows certain characteristics such as bravery, loyalty, and generosity, which portray him as a hero. It is interesting how modern day heroes show the much of the same qualities as Beowulf.

This shows Beowulf’s strength, courage and fearlessness. Through this it is evident that he possess courageous traits.

Beowulf is an epic poem that, above all, gives the reader an idea of a time long past; a time when the most important values were courage and integrity. The only factors that could bestow shower fame upon a person were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, as the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his desire to amass fame and fortune; the only way to do so was to avenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that is ever present throughout the poem seems to color the identities of its characters.

Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses.

The poem Beowulf presents the transformation of Beowulf from a brave warrior to an honorable King. The evolution of Beowulf shows how he fulfills his obligations to the warrior’s heroic code and then transcends into a King who loyally protects his Kingdom. Beowulf’s transformation is shown through a progression of three increasingly more difficult conflicts he must overcome- first with Grendel, then Grendel’s mother and finally against the mighty dragon. These three events are seen "as the three agons in the hero 's life"(Chickering 64). Through these adverse events Beowulf will change from brave young warrior to noble King. This paper will examine the manifestation of heroism in the poem

Even from the beginning of the epic, the reader is given proof of Beowulf’s outstanding selfless nature and creed. From the moment he steps foot on Danish soil he exuded a

On the surface, Beowulf emulates every single characteristic of a hero; he is brave when he fights Grendel, he was confident when he fought unarmed, and he did not fear for his life when he died battling the dragon. It is actually quite easy to get the impression that he is the Anglo-Saxon version of Thor, that he is the epitome of the heroic archetype. However, throughout the course of the poem, the text begins to evoke certain emotions and thoughts of Beowulf’s psyche and prerogative. The story prompts readers to think of what it means to be a hero or what the definition of heroism itself means, in terms of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature. The typical definition with the usual characteristics begins to meld with the events of Beowulf’s life and his downfall. But, it also merges questions of whether he genuinely cared to fight for his people or if he was just boastful. Despite Beowulf making some reckless decisions and eliciting a cocky personality, in turn creating blurred lines between what it is to be a good warrior and king, his character is best understood through the positive repercussions of the events that made him memorable because of his ability to protect his kingdom.

When a threat arises that endangers the wellbeing of civilians, heroes are called to action. A hero can fall under many categories. Police men, fire fighters, doctors, soldiers, and even parents can qualify as heroes. In the fictional world events may occur that are simply out of the hands of common heroes. In these situations people look towards epic heroes to aid them in their time of need. The character Beowulf perfectly embodies the essence of an epic hero. He holds all the characteristics possessed by more common heroes as well as the strength to challenge and conquer adversities that are beyond any human’s capabilities. Through his fight with Grendel he shows honor in refusing to fight with any advantages. In his battle with Grendel’s mother he showed perseverance in the face of adversity and in his final duel with the dragon he showed self sacrifice for the good of the people. Beowulf’s actions cement his legacy as one of literature's greatest epic heroes and his actions continue to inspire many in today’s

The 8th century epic poem Beowulf illustrates a loss of community, cultural values and tradition. On the other hand, an elegiac passing of an extraordinary hero and the relationship between the themes of mortality and heroism are well discussed in Beowulf. Beowulf’s character exemplifies the Germanic and the Anglo-Saxon ideals of the hero: strong, fearless, bold, loyal, and stoic in the acceptance of fate. Despite his lack of humility, Beowulf was the definition of a hero in his own time by his demonstration of chivalry and his important roles in society.

The deeper meaning of this quote signifies that Beowulf’s fame and glory through the representation of his “wealth” has continued on into the so-called “afterlife”. As the wealth continues on with him to his grave, Beowulf’s heroic deeds will live on as his story is passed on in time. Ultimately, the essence of riches and praise is displayed through the values of self-sacrifice and honor which is seen as a definitive goal throughout the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Beowulf is an epic hero but at times his bravery exceeds all normalcy and shows the author’s

A true hero does not fear death or, but instead risks all that he is for what he believes to be right, moral, and just. Beowulf is an epic and tells the story of a legendary hero, conquering all obstacles as if he was immortal. Up until the end of Beowulf's life he was constantly looking to be the hero. However, his humanity is exposed by his death. Heroes all share the characteristic of their willingness to die in their effort to accomplish their heroic act, thus making the act in itself heroic. Throughout the epic, Beowulf in many ways exhibited all the qualities and characteristics needed to be a true hero.

In today’s society, heroes are considered to be ordinary people. They are simply everyday heroes who go beyond the call of duty by risking their lives to protect others in dire need of help. In the Anglo-Saxon period, however, heroes were described as supermen with extraordinary strength and courage. These heroes can overpower monsters and fire-breathing dragons. In the classic poem, Beowulf, the main character has the characteristics of a sixth century hero because he is a noble who follows a code of honor and has courage and strength greater than anyone else in the kingdom. Beowulf is an epic hero who puts his reputation and life on the line for an entire kingdom.

Nothing brings more honor and pride to someone than knowing that they are considered and looked up to as a hero. In the time of the Anglo-Saxton it took deep rooted qualities to be put to the match and titled for true heroship. In the epic poem of the Anglo-Saxton warrior, Beowulf, a young kingsman is put to the ultimate test of bravery. When the Danes of his kingdom are in danger from the swamp demon Grendel, Beowulf gathers a group of his men to sail to Denmark in hopes to slay the wicked demon. Through these battles Beowulf displays acts of willingness and determination, his dedication, and loyalty to be admired as a true hero.

Today, many believe that heroes no longer exist except in works of fiction. While on some level this is true that there are more conventional heroes in fiction such as those who are strong, bold leaders, possibly they are the good fighting the evil, that does not mean heroes do not exist in real life. Many of the mundane characteristics of a hero end up overlooked such as sharing wealth, the ability to help others, as well as the ability to maintain peace and order. Heroes since the time of Beowulf have indeed changed, however, many of the characteristics exhibited by Beowulf such as being a figure to follow in the footsteps of and fending for those who can’t do so for themselves are characteristics still mirrored in the people we idealize today.