Beowulf Hero's Journey

Beowulf shows his wisdom in two other ways in this same battle with Grendel. For instance, Beowulf fights with only his hands (Beowulf 48). Countless warriors have tried to defend themselves against Grendel with swords and shields. Beowulf knows this and knows that not once has Grendel been touched by a blade. So, Beowulf fights with only his hands in this great and terrible battle. Beowulf does not rely on any weapon or anyone besides himself and it works wonders for him. Beowulf also makes another strong strategic decision. He never releases Grendel’s arm (Beowulf 48). If Beowulf had released the monster’s arm there is no doubt he would have died. Beowulf would have been ripped apart by Grendel’s sharp claws. Instead, Beowulf proves his battle wisdom and never lets his grip slip off of that arm until it is severed from Grendel’s body. Beowulf shows that he has that trait of being able to use his wisdom in battle during his fight with Grendel.

Beowulf, fighting the dragon alone, at his old age, signifies that his bravery never changes despite circumstances. He wants to prove that he is still the most powerful and courageous warrior in the world, despite his old age. The geatish warrior knows that he has chance of him dying, but he still has the audacity to fight, not just to prove that he is still the greatest warrior, but to save and protect his kingdom from the terror of the dragon.

Beowulf proclaims “In the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they had earned. Now Grendel and I are called together” (liens 156-160). Beowulf claims that he must go to defeat Grendel, as it was his errand, or his duty, and his fate. This speech he makes to King Hrothgar reinforces his true reason to come to the King, not for any pride. Another vow Beowulf makes is when he says “That this is one favor you should not refuse me—That I, alone and with the help of my men, many purge all evil form this hall” (lines 163-166). In this line, Beowulf is pleading for the King to do one thing, which is to give him the permission for him and his men to go and fight Grendel, what Beowulf had arrived for. The fact that Beowulf asks the king for only one thing, which is to fight Grendel, shows Beowulf’s selflessness and concern for the safety of others. At no part does he ask for a reward, but even says that if fate is in favor of Grendel to give his armor back to his family. These words help paint the image of Beowulf being concerned for others, not for his

In his three major battles, Beowulf fights for many different reasons. His motivation varies, and as he grows older and wiser his attitude toward these battles also changes. Throughout the epic, Beowulf bradoshously beats Grendel, then more methodically murders Grendel’s mother, and with his last breathes humbly hollers for help to slay the dragon. This shows that Beowulf’s early focuses of glory and riches changes as he becomes a weathered warrior acknowledges that he cannot defeat his enemies alone and must utilize the resources provided to him such as armor, magical items, and companions.

Beowulf’s next test of courage came when he fought Grendel’s mother in her lair, she like Grendel, has incredible size and strength. Grendel’s mother wants to get revenge for the murder of her son, Grendel. Beowulf jumped in the lake, leading to the lair, going after Grendel’s mother without any thought that would suggest the slightest hint of fear. After swimming in these murky waters Beowulf finds his enemy. “Swift she grappled and grasped the warrior with horrid grip, but could work no harm, no hurt to his body; the ring-locked

Then Beowulf grabbed Grendel with his tight grip and started bending Grendel’s claws. Using the weapon, Beowulf’s hands, Beowulf showed his strength against Grendel by making grendel not being about to get out of beowulf’s tight grip eventually Beowulf breaks Grendel’s arm and ripped Grendel’s arm completely off allowing Grendel to escaped. Beowulf had to use his hands because Grendel chanted a spell against all of the warrior’s swords so they could not hurt him. Grendel would be able to get away but later dies and nobody would question beowulf about beating Grendel because after the battle beowulf hung Grendel’s arm on the rafters to show that he has one against the monster that everyone was so scared of.

Beowulf's bravery is a very significant trait that helps him face fierce monsters, such as Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, without any hesitation. His fearlessness in confronting these supernatural evils displays his courage and determination. Beowulf's willingness to confront danger head-on, knowing he is sacrificing his own life, inspires those around him, which earns him admiration and respect that builds his future legacy. Beowulf says in his final boast, “I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” Even though he has aged, he still has the same amount of bravery as before to stop

In the epic poem of Beowulf, Beowulf has to defeat 3 mighty enemies that test his strength as each battle became more of a challenge causing Beowulf to use different tactics to defeat them. In the first battle Beowulf faces the mighty Grendel that fights with no weapon and kills man with his bare hands. Beowulf knows Grendel hunts the mead-hall at night so he chooses to sleep in the hall with the warriors to catch the evil Grendel off guard. He chose to use only his bare hands because his sword would be rendered useless against Grendel ’s curse over weapons.

Beowulf himself faces two main obstacles or battles that are considered “tests” to prove his fierceness and strength as a warrior. First, Beowulf faces Grendel, who has proved himself to be fierce after killing both Hrothgar and some of Beowulf’s men. Beowulf struggles to defeat Grendel, however halfway through the battle Beowulf gains the upper hand. Grendel realizes this, and “Knew at once that nowhere on earth/ Had he met a man whose hands were harder” (Beowulf 402-405). Beowulf kills Grendel, and “The Battle was over, Beowulf/Had been granted new glory” (Beowulf 470-471). This test helps Beowulf reaffirm his position as one of the strongest warriors alive, while also helping Hrothgar win back his kingdom. However, this glory does not last. Soon after this test, Beowulf faces another battle, which is considered harder to win than his conflict with Grendel. Grendel’s mother, a sea hag, “comes to avenge her son” (Raffel 27). After Beowulf dives into a lake to look for her it “takes him hours to touch bottom, but finally he encounters the sea hag.” (Raffel. 27). This battle is harder to win than his victory with Grendel, but “At last he overcomes her, and, spying a magic sword, he clutches it and with one violent stroke cuts off her head.” (Raffel 27). The trials and tribulations that

Beowulf has a significant amount of courage and successfully wins the battle with Grendel. Another characteristic Beowulf demonstrates is the act of strength. During the battle with Grendel Beowulf has no weapons but only his bare hands to use. In battle, Grendel weakend, “ he twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bon split And broke.”

Fortunately Beowulf was ready and willing to sacrifice himself to repay the debt of Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father, to Hrothgar. This Geat warrior possesses almost miraculous qualities: “He was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble.”  Upon spotting Beowulf approaching, the sea-guard of the Danes says, “Never have I seen a greater man on earth…”  King Hrothgar of the Danes says of Beowulf, “Seafarers who took gifts to the Geats say that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand grip.” Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel by himself and without shield or weapons; previously the hero slew nine sea monsters with his sword. And he is fully willing to sacrifice his very life for this: “… I alone will fulfill the wish of your people … or die in the foe’s grasp.” Beowulf consciously chooses to act in a superhuman manner: “I shall perform the deeds of a hero or I have passed my last day

The first major battle that Beowulf fights in is against Grendel. Beowulf’s motive for this particular fight is to get revenge for what Grendel did to the Danes. Grendel raided the Danes for a total of twelve years. As we learned throughout the book Beowulf was very selfless and was always willing to help out other people. When Grendel comes to Heorot, he devours and kills a Geatish warrior all while Beowulf watches very closely. After this, Grendel tries to reach out and get Beowulf, but is surprised to find his arm gripped with the great strength of Beowulf. Grendel tries to run back to his home in the swamplands because he knows that he will not be able to compete with the mighty Beowulf. At the end of the battle Beowulf summons great strength and rips Grendel’s arm off his body. Grendel, now fatally wounded, goes back to his home and eventually dies. Beowulf holds up the bloody arm of Grendel like a trophy and hangs it on the wall in Heorot as proof that he defeated Grendel. Around the

Beowulf faced an overwhelming obstacle when he faced Grendel. Beowulf faces Grendel in the hall Heorot. Grendel is a man eating monster that killed many people in the nights before. Grendel is an overwhelming obstacle because he wasn’t able to be defeated even by groups of elite soldiers and Hrothgar combined. Also, Grendel was capable of committing mass murders in minutes. He fought with Grendel one night without a sword. Grendel ate a guard during that

Beowulf’s virtues of courage and strength appear throughout the poem during his life as a warrior and as a king. He begins the story with courage and “the strength of thirty / in the grip of each hand” (380-381), which are vital to his accomplishments as a warrior. His courage and strength are apparent when he fights Grendel without the use of weapons. Both virtues are crucial to his success in that battle and lead him to become a leader of wisdom and stature. As king of Heorot he uses his courage and strength in the battle against the dragon. Before the fight he has a feeling of uncertainty and it is stated “He was sad at heart / unsettled yet ready, sensing his death. / His fate hovered near, unknowing but certain: / It would soon claim his coffered soul.” (2419-2424). His sense of forthcoming death may illustrates a lack of confidence in his ability to slay the dragon; however, it also shows tremendous courage by involving himself in an unevenly matched fight. Although his physical strength may have abandoned him in his last fight against the dragon, his courage and wisdom intensified his glory beyond his death.

    Beowulf displays great feats of strength while both young and old. The strength of young Beowulf is rivaled by no one. Young Beowulf first shows this strength when he tells the Danes of his previous glory. He recounts a time when he defeated nine sea monsters alone, with nothing but a sword. He then proves his strength to them by slaying the beast Grendel and his mother,  that no Dane could defeat. Though he has aged significantly, old Beowulf retains the strength of his youth. However, his strength is first seen in peace. After Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, a time of peace comes to them. The neighboring nations would not dare start a fight with Beowulf. Towards the end of the tale, we finally see the older Beowulf in action. Beowulf confronts a dragon by himself, and holds him off for quite awhile. He ends up needing aid from one of his men, but even then he slays the dragon. However, he does die shortly after this, due to poison from the dragon. Some may say this proves that he has