Dental Draft
In the book “Beowulf” by Heaney Seamus , Beowulf can be identified as an epic hero for his strength as he fights evil.
In the beginning of the book Beowulf travels to see King Hrothgar to offer his duty to defeat the malicious demon names Grendel. Beowulf begins to boast about his strength when he went up against supernatural monsters. Beowulf states “ All knew of my awesome strength. They has seen me boltered in the blood of my enemies when I battled and bound the five beast, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes”. (Heaney 29). The audience begins to get an image about the kind of character Beowulf is since he talks about killing these supernatural monsters that an ordinary person couldn’t kill. Beowulf is obviously a strong anglo-saxon warrior as he is the one to go up against Grendel to save the kingdom and defeats evil. In the book it states “He was overwhelmed, manacled tight by the man who of all men was foremost and the strongest in his days”(Heaney 88). In the first battle Grendel and Beowulf are fighting and Beowulf shows his strength by gripping Grendel in a tight embrace and is able to beat him, causing Grendel to run off and die alone. At the end of the battle Beowulf proves the that he is the strongest and was granted victory. The author stated in the book “Beowulf was granted with the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen-banks” (Heaney 78). Grendel was this vicious monster that was attacking
First of all, in the epic poem “Beowulf”, Beowulf substantiates that he is courageous, has strength, and is honorable. Beowulf demonstrates his courage through the battles he is fighting and his men. None of his men are willing to go out or join Beowulf during the battles. This can be seen when Beowulf is fighting his last battle and none of his men give him a helping hand, “None of his comrades Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble Followers; they ran for their lives, fled deep in a wood”. This went in account for Beowulf’s courageousness. Moreover, Beowulf has astronomical amount of strength, and Beowulf’s Battle against Grendel said it all. This goes to accommodation when Beowulf has to use his bare hands, “And was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm…nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands were harder… his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke”. So to be able to give Grendel fear and break his
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
In “The Battle with Grendel” we also see how Beowulf can be violent. For example, lines 385-397 demonstrates how powerful Beowulf is while fighting Grendel. The quote says, “Grendel/ Saw that his strength was deserting him, his claws/ Bound fast, Higlac’s brave follower tearing at/ His hands. The monster’s hatred rose higher,/ But his power had gone. He twisted in pain,/ And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/ Snapped, muscle and bone split/ And broke….Grendel escaped,/ But wounded as he was could flee to his den,/His miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh,/ Only to die, to wait for the end/ Of all his days” (385-397). This moment in the text shows how intense and extreme Beowulf’s actions were while fighting the monster. We, as readers, start to see how Beowulf slowly becomes who he is trying to defeat.
To begin with, One of Beowulf’s characteristics for being an epic hero would be his strength. Beowulf first killed Grendel, which no one else could defeat because Grendel was too powerful. Then, Beowulf killed Grendel’s Mother who was defeated by Beowulf’s bare hands because his sword wasn’t powerful enough to kill her. Last, Beowulf defeated the Dragon by taking his heart from his body which is something no one else could have done. Beowulf’s dedication and strength set forth to him being able to defeat the dragon. "I’d use no sword, no weapon, if this beast could be killed without it, crushed to death, like Grendel, Gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb." (42). This quote means that when Grendel couldn’t be defeated by any weapons, Beowulf made it simple and said that he was going
Beowulf’s strength is beyond any of human comparison and has allowed him to accomplish tasks that would have obliterated lesser men and gain renown throughout the world. Beowulf’s boasts of his strength are not to be received as prideful or egotistical but rather as a true representation of his power as Beowulf always fulfils his boasts. When Beowulf pledges to vanquish Grendel, he does not take it lightly and tells Hrothgar and his wife, Wealhtheow, that “..I shall fulfil that purpose, prove myself with a proud victory or meet my death here in the mead-hall.”(636-638), showing that he is prepared to die, if needed, to defeat this hellish creature. Later that night, in his battle with Grendel, Beowulf showed his strength. “The Captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth… in all his days, he had never been clamped or cornered like this”(749-752,755-756). Beowulf’s strength surpassed that of even supernatural beings and allowed his to go on the offensive against a foe that had ravaged Heorot for years and thus allowed him to fulfill his boast. Beowulf power is brought out in his recitation of his deeds and again later actions against the mother of Grendel and a fire breathing dragon that threatens his home. In all of this fights, Beowulf is not seeking glory for himself, but
Epic heroes can have many different characteristics. Some heroes may even be mean. In this story our hero is Beowulf. Beowulf is a great epic for being so brave, fearless, and trustworthy.
Beowulf was very, very strong as heroes are. The evil monster was shocked at the strength of Beowulf, not expecting to encounter one with such strength. Beowulf ripped the monster’s arm off. (Line #__) . Fearful for his life, Grendel struggled to free himself from the grip of Beowulf. “Grendel’s one thought was to run from Beowulf and flee…” (314-315). Great strength, as exhibited by Beowulf and recognized by Grendel, is yet another characteristic of an ultimate hero.
The epic poem Beowulf describes a famous hero of the Anglo-Saxon period. The hero Beowulf, is a seemingly unstoppable person with the inhuman traits required of a hero. He uses his courage and physical strength to put his people before himself. He encounters many monsters and rigorous
In today’s world not everyone can relate to fighting monsters and having to save their family financially, but there are characteristics in both situations that can be experienced by anyone. People in everyday life may feel like they cannot overcome or other people do not 100% believe that they can complete a hardship or responsibility. In the epic Beowulf, the main character Beowulf from Geatland had to defeat three monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s Mother (both live in a swamp in Denmark), and a dragon (who protects treasures in a cave in Sweden) so that the monster will no longer disturb the peace of the humans in both communities. In the novel How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, the main character Johanna Morrigan comes from a family of six
Beowulf is from an epic story, who is a prince and leader of the Geats. What makes Beowulf a hero is that he goes and helps other people even when they do not ask him to. Beowulf does not fight evil and protect others to get riches and fame, he does it because he feels it is his responsibility to do so because no one else can. He risks his life for others no matter what dangers there are. Beowulf has super strengths such as, in one arm he can carry 30 men in each, he could hold his breath for a long time underwater, and he could swim long distances. What makes Beowulf an “epic hero” and not like any other typical hero is that he is only human too. He just stops evil with his physical strengths, not any magical powers how the modern day superheroes
Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf's boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, warrior around. Beowulf increase his reputation by fighting monsters and dragons. This was important to him because he wanted to protect his people. “Beowulf, a prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, Ended the grief” (Raffel,49 829-831). Beowulf had killed this monster name Grendel that no one could ever defeat except him and the people from the Geats were thanking Beowulf for defeating this monster. Little by little he was gaining reputation to his name by defeating stronger opponents. When he kills Grendel’s mom he gains more reputation from the people and it was important to him because he wants to be the strongest warrior/king. Beowulf always wants to fight alone because
Beowulf as an Epic Hero Beowulf is the epic hero in Anglo-Saxon poem. He possesses characteristics of honor, pride, braveness, exhibiting these in his battles with Grendel, Grendel’s Mother and the Dragon. Beowulf proves the theme that leaders should use their strength for the good of all society. Beowulf called on a quest to defeat the supernatural beast that causes hell in the famous land of Danes.
The story Beowulf, is about an epic hero in the Anglo-Saxon period. An epic hero is someone who is noble and brave and is affected by great events. Beowulf was a strong warrior and king, but how much could he actually handle? He fought many battles during his life; however, the three main battles he fought during his life included a vicious dragon terrorizing his town, a revenge seeking mother who lives in a cave beneath the mere, and a terrifying descendant of Cain who lurks over heriot seeking a meal.
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