Beowulf Is a Hero Essay

An epic hero displays bravery, courage, and strength. An epic hero also wants to achieve immortality through heroic actions. Beowulf can be categorized as a legendary epic hero. There are many things that prove Beowulf is an epic hero in the poem. He proves that he is an epic hero through his heroic actions that occur throughout the poem.

Being a hero can be defined many different ways. Several qualities like courage, respect, and strength can define heroism. A hero is noted for his or her actions for being brave, powerful, and acting with honor. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf shows all of these characteristics by defending the Danish king, Hrothgar, and his people. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect others. Beowulf embodies the qualities of bravery, being powerful, and demonstrating his honor; therefore, he can be considered a true hero.

Beowulf’s strength is exemplified many times in the story. Beowulf was said to have “the strength of thirty men in his mighty handgrip.” He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. In his argument with Unferth, Beowulf explains the reason he lost a swimming match with his opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel’s mother, he is able to slay her by slashing the monster’s neck with a giant sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When he chops off her head, he carries it from the ocean with no difficulty, but it takes four men to lift and carry it back to Heorot. This strength is a key trait of Beowulf’s heroism.

Beowulf is a true epic hero because he is fearless, very strong, and well honored. Beowulf portrays all of the traits of a hero throughout the epic. He never hesitated to kill a monster, or even to give a helping hand at any time. He could always back up his boast with perfection. Beowulf is not a god, or a supernatural man, but he was the closest man to

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

However, their sleep did not last long. During the night, Grendel’s mother came to avenge her son’s death. She enters the hall and grabs Aeschere and her son’s arm. Beowulf goes to follow her and swims for an entire day in her pool before he sees the bottom of the mere. When Beowulf descends into Grendel’s mere, he loses ground as the fight progresses. It is then assumed that Beowulf is fighting desperately for his life. Then, the water closed over him. It was “the space of a day,” before he could see the bottom of the mere (Burlin 121). The hero’s physical powers grow far beyond human dimensions. Beowulf is about to attempt to use a weapon although they were useless against her; “then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy sword...but so massive that no ordinary man could life its carved and decorated length” (72). Once he is in Grendel’s mother’s mere, Beowulf remains underwater for more than a day (Burlin 120). Finally, Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, and her blood melts his sword (Bloom 16).

A hero should always be a Epic Hero one who is larger than life, and who knows good values in life. In Beowulf especially, it speaks much about strength, but not only strength in his arms, but the strength to stay strong and love people. In the poem we learn about how Beowulf who is the hero during Anglo Saxton times. We learn how invincible and mighty Beowulf really is. He’s actually a great example of a epic hero, cause of his great strength and abilities.

While Beowulf was battling the monsters, he used all his strength to try and defeat them. With his strength, he was able to defeat Grendel and Grendel’s Mom. Throughout the battle with Grendel’s Mom, Beowulf expressed his strength in multiple ways. The narrator states, “He raised His arms and seized her by the shoulder; anger Doubled his strength, he threw her to the floor” (37). It takes strength to be able to throw a monster to the floor, and Beowulf has that strength.

“Epic heroes possess qualities that mere mortals lack. Bravery beyond compare, superhuman intelligence, strength or skills and a driving desire to find success.” This is a description of what an epic hero is and it perfectly describes Beowulf and his actions throughout the story. Anglo-Saxon heroes are willing to risk their lives in order to do what’s right. Beowulf went to battle

In conclusion, Beowulf is an epic poem that portrays many characteristics of what an ideal hero of this time would be, the flaws that can come with that burden, and the lasting impressions an ideal hero should have on the people affected by it. Beowulf had confidence he his abilities which led to his reputation being known and well liked. The way he handled the battles and the faith that comes with it, allowed him to be seen as an ideal hero in many peoples’ eyes. As with most heroes though, things become more demanding and they tend to slip in the ways they believe

In the beginning of the story he fights for himself to gain fame and glory. Later on in the poem Beowulf matures when he becomes king as he fights to save his people instead of his own personal gain. “Beowulf is less confident, and worries more about his people than his own reputation“ (Stitt 1). Its obvious that Beowulf is an epic hero. His strength and courage is unquestionably remarkable, he would do anything for the good of his people no matter how big the task.

Beowulf takes part in three major battles in his journies, all of which consist of their own risks. Grendel, the Danes' monster, had been fought by many previous heros, and he never failed to win. Beowulf took on this monster, not only unknowing of his fate, but without any sort of weapons, since he wished to be equal with Grendel. He defeated the monster, keeping his arm as a trophy of victory. Grendel's mother returned with vengeance, and Beowulf took her on in her own underwater cave, mostly unprepared with a useless weapon. However, he managed to find a weapon within her cave that had the powers to kill her, and so he did, successful once again. If that was not enough, fifty years later, Beowulf faced a dangerous dragon with only one other companion, and managed to defeat him and collect his treasure before his death. Riding into a battle at such an old age with no army to help defend was extremely courageous, and added only more points of bravery to Beowulf's heroic

The Anglo-Saxon story of Beowulf shows considerable heroic statements. Beowulf was an admirable hero that everyone looked up to, much like modern heroes today like, Spiderman and Batman. Beowulf was thought of as a strong character that was virtually flawless. Everyone that went up against him failed. There are many things that separate him from an everyday hero, and there is much that is alike between the two.

However, it is not only feats of physical strength that make Beowulf a hero. He also shows moral strength by being a champion of the values of his society. Beowulf's boasting is shown as a good thing; he is showing everyone his qualifications for being a leader and is building up his fame in a world where fame is the only thing that lasts. He also shows himself worthy of heroic status by displaying generosity in giving much of his treasure to his followers. This makes him the opposite of the dragon, who is a villain precisely because it keeps all the treasure for

The characteristics of an epic hero range from unfathomable strength and courage to simply being a good person. A typical epic hero has super strength, courage, devotion, loyalty, a strong sense of justice, a primary weakness, a love of glory, and they are usually champions of freedom. There have been innumerable changes in the characteristics of an epic hero over time; however, there are a few key traits that will forever stay the same. Beowulf is a prime example of an archetypal epic hero—past and present—because he exudes qualities such as loyalty and honor, courage, and adroitness to risk his life for others and the “greater good” of society.