Comparing Beowulf, An Anglo Saxon Epic Hero

Courage, bravery, and strength are three heroic Anglo-Saxon characteristics that tie together perfectly. Without courage, you will not have strength and bravery. Without strength and bravery, you will not have the courage to face your challenges. Anglo-Saxons believed three of these characteristics were perfectly interwoven in the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero (Garcia). Beowulf identifies to three of these Anglo-Saxon characteristics flawlessly as he fights the monstrous Grendel. Courage means fighting even if it means death; it means challenging your fate and being brave no matter the circumstance (Cascio). Beowulf shows special strength and bravery when he has the courage to renounce his use of weapons and protection when battling Grendel. “No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he [Grendel] shall face me if face

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 confidence in his abilities and courage to carry out his mission exhibits how he could be considered an epic hero. When he first hears of the Danes’ plight with the monster Grendel, Beowulf wastes no time in “his plan to sail the swan’s road and seek out that king” who desperately needs assistance in his troubles (Heaney 201-202). He eagerly accepts his call to action, wasting no time in ensuring King Hrothgar of his “awesome strength” and exhibiting an unwavering self-assurance as he recalls how he “battled and bound five beasts” (Heaney 418-420). In these first encounters with the hero, it is evident that Beowulf’s defining characteristics include his courage and pride. There is no fear or reluctance in his attempt for glory,

“Beowulf” is a medieval heroic epic. The poem originated on the basis of ancient traditions related to pagan times. The poem represent an early example of precisely moral heroism, but not the one that is caused by the desire for fame and power. The main character of the poem, Beowulf, is capable of sacrificing himself and courage in the name of justice. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect others. His courage is shown by not hesitating to risk his own life to pursue the Dane’s enemies. By being self-assured, Beowulf is able to successfully defeat the fiends, Grendel and his infamous mother. At the time Beowulf is planning to pursue the vindictive dragon, the epic poem states, “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.” (ll. 2511-2515). He feels no fear, is confident in fighting the dragon alone, and has no qualms in risking his life to save others. He declares his bravery by saying, “When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins... No one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster.” (ll. 2525-2534) In his actions, Beowulf’s bravery is clearly shown throughout the poem. As king, Beowulf is the

In the epic poem, Beowulf truly exhibits bravery and courage. There is no doubt that Beowulf is a brave man. As soon as Beowulf is summoned by Hrothgar, he doesn’t hesitate to take up the challenge to battle with Grendel. Beowulf is valiant as he said,“ my hands alone shall fight for me” (Beowulf 38). He intends to fight Grendel with his bare hands not knowing what the outcome will be. Beowulf is willing to risk his life for others which makes him courageous and brave of them all. As a young warrior, Beowulf has proven

Throughout history the world has had many heroes. Some heroes have done incredible measures to save the world. Other heroes fly on tv screens. While other heroes simply smile to make someones day. In the epic poem Beowulf the hero shows braveness, selflessness, and his strength to be a hero for the Anglo Saxon Society.

Heroes, from Beowulf to Superman our cultures have always created heroes. We may always have political, social, economic and religious differences, but at the end of the day we all have one thing in common, heroes. They help define who we are and what we want to be. They give us hope and inspire us to head in the right direction. They show us that good will always triumph over evil and that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Heroes give us the inspiration we need to overcome problems in our own lives and that is why we create them. Beowulf perfectly embodies the idea of a hero. He defeats the evil Grendel and his mother, slays the dragon and saves his people. He is

Beowulf’s last test of courage comes in his old age when his people are threatened by a “mighty” dragon. Beowulf felt as if something he had done had caused the irascible beast to wreck havoc on his people, “killing and destroying” them and their homes with its “molten” breath. Knowing what had to be done, Beowulf bravely faced the dragon, while all of his people, except for one, fled in fear. His last battle, which ended in death, displayed Beowulf’s unwavering courage, the type that every hero should possess.

Because Beowulf is courageous, dependable, and selfless, he is a hero. Beowulf is very courageous, so he is a hero. Throughout the poem, Beowulf shows how courageous he is multiple times. The definition of courageous is not deterred by danger or pain(Courageous). One specific time that he was courageous was when he left Geatland to go fight a monster over in Denmark.

Modern heroism is fighting for others even when one is uncertain of the outcome. Being a hero is sacrificing one’s own safety and comfort for the benefit of others. Heroism involves pushing all fears aside and achieving the ultimate. Beowulf’s heroism evinces itself throughout the epic, primarily through his dialogue in the text, as well as the use of imagery, alliteration, and kenning. Beowulf constantly displays characteristics of a hero from the beginning of the epic to his demise at the end of the epic.

One of the first epic poems, Beowulf, written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet features the most heroic man at the time. The hero, known as Beowulf possesses, all the extraordinary physical appearances and character traits qualifying him to be an Anglo Saxon hero. Allegedly, he seems to be an invincible being with super-human strength and abilities that he uses to protect his allies. Beowulf never fears death; he is always encountering beasts and horrible monsters such as the evil Grendel and the dragon. Although he is always risking his life for glory, he is an outstanding character, with great leadership qualities and achievements.

Originating in the Anglo-Saxon period, the epic poem Beowulf portrays a legendary hero. Beowulf established the earlier form of heroism, and was then later introduced in to the English culture. Praised and admired by many people, Beowulf possesses several distinct traits that allow him to be defined perfectly as an ideal Anglo-Saxon hero; his eagerness to seek glory and fame, rather than richness and treasures, his loyalty and graceful attitude not only to his rulers but also to his followers, and his contradictory beliefs of faith and fate

Epic poetry recognizes larger than life heroes, strong and mighty. Beowulf exemplifies bravery from the minute he shows up at Herot, decided on killing Grendel and saving the Danes. Beowulf, bravery pulsing through his veins, competes with sea monsters and defends himself in the open sea (Raffel 277-290). He kills Grendel, saves Herot, and defeats Grendel’s mother before he is ultimately defeated. The culture praises risk and bravery for the sake of glory, victory, or revenge.

Beowulf embodies the Anglo-Saxon concept of a hero by taking and accepting all challenges. In the text it states, " My job is to watch the waves of the raider, any danger to Danish shore." (Beowulf, pg 19.) We can see how Beowulf treats his heroism as his priority. Also, Beowulf has a lot of strength, making him the best to defeat the evil.

Beowulf within the story is set up as a usual Epic hero as he has the qualities of bravery,