Example Of Heroism In Beowulf

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost,” (Ash). A true hero is mellow and unpretentious. One who is willing to do anything for an individual or group of individuals. This sacrificial love a hero has is completely selfless and is not in result of starvation for fame or fortune. A hero receives fame through word of others and does not strive to become famous. A hero is meek, they do not brag about accomplishments, instead letting their actions do their boasting. Beowulf falls short of authentic heroism due to his lack of humility, dearth of selflessness, and failure to reign supreme after his final task.

Many people disagree on who might qualify to be a hero. While a few people could qualify to be called a hero, many people have done some heroic things at some point in their life; Beowulf and Cuchallain demonstrated heroism through their actions. A hero in the medieval times is considered to be someone that is a noble character that fights for his honor or the honor of his kingdom or community and also someone that is willing to risk his or her life for the greater good. Beowulf was a brave man that volunteered to fight a monster that was terrorizing the people of Herot. He heard about the monster, and decided to travel all the way to Herot to assist the king in defeating the monster. “ I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel’’

Beowulf is determined as a hero in my eyes, throughout the brave and heroic attributes that he had undertaken within this poem. When defining a hero in our first week of class, we had come up with the idea that a hero is someone who is: selfless, has strength, sacrifices everything that they have for the greater good and shows confidence. Beowulf has shown all of these attributes beginning with being selfless. Beowulf came to the Danes because he knew that he needed to not only keep his kingdom safe, but surrounding kingdoms. Beowulf’s heroism was defined on these next couple of lines. On line 193, “There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful. He ordered a boat that would ply the waves. He announced his plan” (Heaney, 15, 193-196). Beowulf knew the dangers that fighting this demon could bring, but he sacrificed everything he had. If Beowulf would have lost the battle, his Kingdom (Geats) would have been left with nothing and Hrothgars kingdom would still be under attack. Beowulf also shows his strength throughout the poem. When Beowulf arrives at the Danes, he shows no fear. Beowulf speaks with Hrothgar to learn what is true about his threat. Beowulf speaks giving the Danes much hope, line 294 “ whatever it is, this danger abroad in the dark nights, I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel” (Heaney, 21, 294-298). Beowulf is a hero and a leader, even if we look at him within modern times. Beowulf shows cause and reason to why he is at the Danes, he creates leadership upon his men and he has shown devotion towards this cause of wanting to defeat Grendal the demon in the poem. Every move Beowulf takes in this poem is what I believe we would want in the modern times of war. We want a leader that will be able to take charge and follow through with the actions they speak upon. In modern time, we also want a leader that protects our land and has their best opinion out for their Country. We want a leader like Beowulf. There is times that as a reader one could think that he is only completing these heroic attributes to uphold his overall reputation of himself, but isn’t that everyone’s main goal when completing a monumental task?

Just as Beowulf works to maintain his image as a hero, Unferth, struggles to keep people from recalling his position in society as an outcast. His position as a lowly man is evident “from where he crouched at the king’s feet.” (Line 499) Unferth has no glory of his own to share; he is extremely resentful of the accolades Beowulf receives; he resents Beowulf’s status as a hero in society.(1C) “Beowulf’s coming, his sea-braving, made him sick with envy: he could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enjoy greater regard than he did.” (Lines 501-502) Bitterness causes Unferth to lash out at Beowulf. He attempts to publicly humiliate him by proving that he lost a swimming match to his rival Breca and that he will not last against Grendel. This proves that Unferth is trying to make himself not so pathetic by demeaning Beowulf in public. “So Breca made good his boast upon you and was proved right. No matter, therefore, how you may have fared in every bout and battle until now, this time you’ll be worsted; no one has ever outlasted an entire

First off, Beowulf is portrayed as a hero because of the danger he puts himself in to save people. Like heroes, Beowulf makes sure people are safe and never leaves anyone behind to leave them

What is a hero? What do they stand for or what do they even need to do to be considered a hero? Over the years different people have been called hero’s even if they weren't, although there is one so called hero that can really be explained as a true hero. This man is named Beowulf.

Heroes are everywhere in our daily lives. People save one another everyday, not because they are asked to but because they know it's the right thing to do. People like Beowulf from the epic of the same name. He saved those who couldn't save themselves. Beowulf embodies the ideology of a true hero.

weapons he then began a subsequent raiding for twelve years until his death at the hands of Beowulf. The poem of Beowulf is “ambivalent about its hero, making him an inspirational figure, but also tragic. His strength and reliability make him a champion, but his pride and conceit make him flawed.... Monsters in both pagan and biblical traditions have been symbols of hubris.” (Asma) Or better known as great pride. But the difference lies in the viewing of the heros is what has changed the most. In pagan cultures the heros are seen as great men of action that are needed to save their family or their own village. But with the Christianity coming in the idea of heroism is showing that heroes suffer and that they have to be humble. The hero of Christianity, Jesus, had to suffer

A hero is usually defined as a person who has bravery and is admired by others because of their achievements. Beowulf, a great Anglo-Saxon warrior, who defeated the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon with is heroism. Apparently, he is courageous and loyal. However, indeed, he is actually selfish.

The epic poem Beowulf spanning over 3000 lines provides a tale of great warrior and his battle throughout his lifetime. Beowulf may be the oldest surviving poem from old English, and it gives us an idea of heroism and what hero should be. Many famous works have made references to Beowulf and its heroism. These works include The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim.

Beowulf is portrayed as the fearless hero in his very own epic poem. A native of the Geats, Beowulf is “the mightiest man on earth,/ high-born and powerful” (197-198). He holds a powerful position as the Thane of Hygelac, king of the Geats as well as the title of a powerful monster slayer. Besides Beowulf’s prominent title and advantages in strength, what defines him as a hero? Those who have heard of Beowulf place unfailing belief in his abilities. The men of his homeland have faith in him even in the face of grave danger:

Beowulf is a classic, epic story which theme focuses on good versus evil, “Beowulf is essentially a heathen poem” (Bodek) said F.A Blackburn because it consists of elements drawn from Anglo-Saxons culture before they were converted to Christians. It is tidily divided into three parts; The battle with Grendel, The battle with Grendel’s mother and the battle with the Dragon. The poem deals with Germanic forebears, the Danes, the Geats and the Swedes. This story features a super-strong warrior Beowulf from the Geatland who help protect the people from the evils of the land with his super-strength and God’s will. He fights for personal honor, but he’s committed to the service of his people. Beowulf’s pride and self-adoration almost nullify his

The first story ever to be written was called Beowulf. Beowulf reflects a man with superhuman powers fighting mythical monsters and dragons. People around the time that this story was told thought of Beowulf as a hero. Beowulf, however, possessed multiple aspects about him that prove otherwise. Although Beowulf had strength like none other, he enjoyed bragging about it and using it for some selfish reasons. Since the time of Beowulf, the ideology of heroism has assimilated into modern days conception of heroes, but core characteristics from Beowulf’s time, such as strength has remained.

Heroism has been a part of the human experience ever since the beginning of time. The good has always been celebrated, glorified, venerated; the bad cast out, shamed, and feared. A hero essentially embodies bravery, strength, resilience, passion, and a drive to do good and fight evil. Heroes can be seen all around us, both in real life and in literature. In the classic epic poem Beowulf, the main protagonist, Beowulf, personifies all of these heroic characteristics which he demonstrates throughout the story. By volunteering to defeat the monster Grendel, and with no weapons, to save the Danish kingdom, successfully killing both Grendel and his mother, and dying a glorious death after slaying the dragon, Beowulf clearly earns the title of the first English-language epic hero. While Beowulf certainly fits perfectly into the traditional definition of a hero, my personal interpretation is a bit different. To me, a “hero” is someone who stands up, believes in, or fights for good, a good cause, or with good intentions, all while exhibiting courage, perseverance, and strength.

Beowulf did many amazing things in his life that made him a hero. Not just in battle, but also with the citizens in the kingdom where he reigned. Those acts were consisting of slaying Grendal and his mother. As well as slaying a dragon that was terrorizing his kingdom even after it leaves him mortally wounded. His acts to the citizens included helping another king when the time came as well as when Beowulf protected his people from the dragon.