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Examples Of Loyalty In Beowulf

Decent Essays

When asked to list virtues of a hero, traits such as patience and wisdom usually come to mind. However, in Beowulf, the protagonist possesses a characteristic that is not typically found in a traditional adventurer: conceitedness. The epic poem Beowulf reveals that, in order to achieve glory, a hero must possess a degree of immodesty. Examples of this can be seen when Beowulf first meets Hrothgar and in Beowulf’s response to Unferth’s challenge.
One example of Beowulf’s cockiness is found in his first meeting with the Danish king. Facing Hrothgar, Beowulf gloats about his past accomplishments, stating, “My people have... seen my strength for themselves,/ Have watched me rise from the darkness of war,/ Dripping with my enemies’ blood”(149-153).

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