Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

Beowulf is an epic poem about the heroic journey of a great warrior named Beowulf, the king of the Geats. His desire was to reveal to others how strong and brave he was compared to any other monster. “There was no one else like him alive in his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high born and powerful”. He signifies the true heroic character because he is willing to risk his life for his ideals. Beowulf defeats three horrific monsters, two of whom are descendants of Cain.

A town called Herots is being attacked by a devilish monster named Grendel. Though they have defenses they need a hero to save them. This hero’s name is Beowulf. Son of Edgetho. A mighty man, greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world. Would come to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of Herots.

The world as it is depicted in Beowulf is home to many aspects of society that are at odds with behaviors acceptable in modern culture, but perhaps shares a startling number of similarities as well. As part of the Anglo-Saxon society, the concept of loyalty is imbued into the seams of the civilization, and allegiance can be found split between lords and kin. Tales concerning themselves with eternal human problems are not few and far between in Beowulf—given that it is an epic poem—and antithesis governs the flow of the narrative. In the midst of the battles raging between evil and good, heroes and villains, mourning and glory, and victory and defeat, death is omnipresent, constantly looming and prompting men to drift towards their swords. This is a society in which chances for a clean slate—a tabula rasa—are minimal, and every action is chiseled in stone, forever etched into eternity. During a time period when very little is certain, the only guarantee of being remembered, of having your name go down stamped with your identity, is through heroism and action. Boasting is a means through which one can build a reputation for himself, planting his name into his opponents’ heads and setting a foundation for success. It remains a skill to be used prudently, though, as overstating and misrepresenting one’s abilities has the great potential to yield adverse repercussions.

A man by the name of Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his/her life to something bigger than himself”. No matter who you are and what you do there are opportunities to be a hero all around you. You just have to know how to think and act like a hero. Beowulf is a story of a seasoned warrior who faces many trials during his life and becomes a leader among his people. By exhibiting certain traits he is able to find success and make a name for himself. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the author employs foil characters such as Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon to establish Beowulf as a true hero.

Main traits of a hero are bravery, courage, and selflessness. Heros are there for his or her people to protect them whenever they are in danger or a crisis. Abraham Lincoln he willing fought for the right for colored people. Some heros do it for money and fame others do it out of good heart. In the epic poem Beowulf the main character Beowulf proves that he is a selfless hero by serving and protecting people before and after he is king.

In this poem “Beowulf” was about a man who was the strongest man in the world who had very strong confidence in a lot of things. He was respectful to the king and listened to what the king had to say. He was the protector of all the men, He strongly didn’t like Grendel the most powerful monster that lived in darkness, he was set on getting rid of Grendel for the King to pay him back for what he did to save his father. He was a courageous young man who was very knowledgeable and extremely intelligent. But there’s a twist on the events between the Epic Beowulf and the new Modern Beowulf and how his character showed the difference and braveness.

The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of an Anglo Saxon hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters many monsters and horrible beasts, but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are outstanding and he is even able to boast about all his achievements. Beowulf is the ultimate epic hero who risks his life countless times for glory which to him meant eternal life.

In the dictionary, a hero is defined as a person that’s noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. Throughout Beowulf, the main character Beowulf is considered a hero because he is representative of the qualities and characteristics of his people. In The Canterbury Tales heroism is shown when someone is not afraid to speak out about something. For example, this was shown when the lower class was misinterpreted and people had very little freedom to speak out. In The Things They Carried, heroism is seen when there’s a split between the beliefs and the values about being in the war.

Many different themes and ideas can be found in Beowulf. It is one of the oldest stories in the english language, it’s also a fictional story inspired by facts. The setting is Scandinavia in the 6th century. Heroism was one of the main ideas, that was represented repeatedly. Beowulf’s stature, appearance, and demeanor demanded attention when one saw him.

Looking back at early forms of literature we notice the classic idea of heroism in Beowulf. As time passes by the notion of a hero changes. Consciousness in early literature such as, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, does not enter the innermost thoughts. The notion of a hero and the notion of consciousness changes within literature through time. In the novel, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen the hero is portrayed differently compared to earlier texts as well as the characters being aware of one’s environment. The author Jane Austen, carefully shapes her characters’ actions, feelings and affiliations in a specific way. In Sense and Sensibility we have a clearer picture of the consciousness of characters than what we see in Beowulf or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

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.

Heroism is a theme that has appeared throughout history in the literature of different civilizations. Heroes represent the principles and ideals associated with the varying morals of each individual society. The literature of Mesopotamia and Western Europe is a prime example of this. Beowulf, an Anglo-Germanic tale and The Epic of Gilgamesh, of the Sumerians, demonstrate perfectly, the ability of civilizations to convey the values and customs of their society through their literature.

The poem Beowulf presents the transformation of Beowulf from a brave warrior to an honorable King. The evolution of Beowulf shows how he fulfills his obligations to the warrior’s heroic code and then transcends into a King who loyally protects his Kingdom. Beowulf’s transformation is shown through a progression of three increasingly more difficult conflicts he must overcome- first with Grendel, then Grendel’s mother and finally against the mighty dragon. These three events are seen "as the three agons in the hero 's life"(Chickering 64). Through these adverse events Beowulf will change from brave young warrior to noble King. This paper will examine the manifestation of heroism in the poem

A hero is one who is not only strong, but one who uses his strength to uphold others. A hero is humble, philanthropic, magnanimous and selfless, a humanitarian at best. In the unprecedented epic Beowulf, the tale’s namesake exemplifies every characteristic befitting an Anglo-Saxon hero. He is honest, loyal, and courageous. He portrays these characteristics in the battle against Grendel, the affray with Grendel’s mother, and the fight against the dragon that inevitably ended his life.

The epic poem Beowulf, is an Angelo Saxon tale that represents heroism and strength. This poem was written be an unknown poet between around 1000 A.D and showcases the heroic character named Beowulf who comes to save the land of Danes from the beast Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel and then faces his mother the evil monster who is killed as well and is viewed by all the people of Dane as a hero who can never be beaten. An evil Dragon comes and Beowulf is able to kill the Dragon but sacrifices his own life as he is killed by the Dragon’s poison. Beowulf is about more than heroism this epic poem shows true English narration, represents Angelo-Saxon religion, and depicts women’s roles in Anglo-Saxon society