Beowulf is a perfect example of an epic hero. What is an epic hero, you may ask? An epic hero is one who is determined to show their strength, bravery, and honor by heroic and dangerous actions. In the epic, Beowulf, the main character himself shows many qualities that defines him as an epic hero. Beowulf’s many battles are examples of how he is an epic hero. On numerous accounts, Beowulf involved himself in many challenges such battling Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon to prove himself as a hero. In the beginning of the reading, Beowulf faces a rude and self-absorbed being with the name of Grendel. Grendel causes much destruction and terror for the kingdom of Herot by killing many people for their display of happiness. Once hearing …show more content…
She then tries to avenge his death by brutally killing many men of Herot. She, like her son, causes much distress for the kingdom. On lines 441-445, citizens of the kingdom as of Beowulf’s help. The quote says, “Our only help, Again, lies with you. Grendel’s mother Is hidden in her terrible home, in a place You’ve not seen. Seek it of you dare! Save us.” (pg. 52) Beowulf is very aggravated by what Grendel’s mother is doing therefore, he travels to kill her too. A mighty and dangerous battle between Beowulf causes great confliction for the epic hero. During the time, it had seemed that Grendel’s mother was about to win victory over Beowulf. That is until Beowulf used his mighty sword, killing Grendel’s mother. The fact that Beowulf is willing enough to kill Grendel’s mother shows how determined he is to be classified as a …show more content…
His battles along with his death will always be remembered and cherished. A quote from lines 856-865 shows the amount of love and respect followers of Beowulf had. “And then twelve of the bravest Geats Rode their horses around the tower. Telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, Praising him for heroic deeds, for a life As noble as his name. So should all men raise up words for their lords, warm with love, when their shield and protector leaves His body behind, sends his soul, on High.” (pg.58) So many lives were saved because of Beowulf. The beings in which caused many troubles for Herot are now no longer a threat because of Beowulf. He alone is responsible for many right doings in the kingdom. An epic hero is one who remembered for their bravery, strength, and honor. An epic hero, is
On of Beowulf’s other attributes were the bravery that he displayed. In Grendel, only recollections of Beowulf's missions are seen. Resulting in the reader not being able to actually read about beowulf’s mission, leading to not giving the reader a actual idea of how strongly he would be able to destroy his opponents. On the other hand, Beowulf's ego is demonstrated well in his poem named after himself, and the very detailed description made by the author when describing the horrific battle between beowulf and grendels mother. He is made out to be this strong brave man who can not be harmed in order to boost his appearance and ego.
The mother once again had such tough skin and the curse on the sword Beowulf had an issue trying to kill her. Beowulf just decides to try to beat her with his super human abilities too. Knowing he couldn’t he grabbed a sword off the wall and cut her head off. He went and cut Grendel’s room to find him dead in the corner so he cut his head off to and took it back up for his men to carry it back
Imagine that if you have a sword that can hold rights, but it can backslide something to you in return. A true epic hero will not use the sword. In Robert Nye’s Beowulf, Beowulf meets all standards of an epic hero. Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by demonstrating superhuman strength, risking death for good,and being a reasonable leader.
Grendel had being killing and terrorizing Hrothgar’s people. The news of Grendel had travel to the land of the Geats and Beowulf had come to provide assistance to Hrothgar. One day after Beowulf and Grendel’s fight, where Beowulf tears off the demons’ arm, the monster’s mother came to vengeance her son’s death. She was also defeated and killed by Beowulf, for which he received many gifts and praise by Hrothgar and his wife Wealhtheow.
Her actions do seem cruel and evil, but she is also a grieving mother that wants to avenge her son. After Grendel’s death, “Grendel’s fierce mother” begins to exhibit human-like characteristics such as her caring and protective nature for her child. This can be shown when she carried “off the claw that Beowulf tore from her child” to demonstrates her anger and grief for her son’s death. While she is characterised to be a “she-wolf,” she is also a “mighty mother” that just wants to protect her child. Her whole purpose of killing Hrothgar’s friend and wreaking in Heorot is was to avenge Grendel’s death.
He would overcome many obstacles of evil and bring good to the Geats. It was a miracle that Beowulf could fight this evil and actually trounce it. In remembrance of the heroic king and his miraculous triumph, Hrothgar and his men built a tower in Beowulf’s honor. Many elements of good and evil bring the “epic” element to an epic poem. Beowulf became an epic hero because of all of the great achievements he accomplished for his
Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.
The “Monstrous ogress” was “savage in her grief,” and her actions become even more beastly than her sons (Beowulf 1258-76). Women in this Germanic Warrior society were meek, so the actions of Grendel’s mother greatly contrast with the typical behavior of a woman in this time period. Grendel’s mother’s gruesome actions are beastly in nature, but her emotions of outrage and grief for the murder of her son are human. Once again, Beowulf’s victory of the savage monster shows the overall theme of good winning against evil.
We see different perspectives from both authors of how two different characters see Beowulf. A self centered perspective is not always the best way to see a character’s true persona. However, Grendel’s perspective is not the most credible and is hard to understand at times. All in all, Beowulf is a man who killed Grendel for the kingdom, but no one will ever know if it was simply a coincidence that Grendel slipped in his own mess, or if Beowulf was really this incredible man who was this great
His masculinity proves to be Grendel’s mother’s ultimate downfall. No matter her strength or power, it was no match for Beowulf, the manliest of all
As Beowulf and his men devour in the Heorot, Grendel approaches. Beowulf battles Grendel without protection and completions him by ripping his arm off. Before sufficiently long Grendel's mom knows about her child's demise and chooses to retaliate for him. Beowulf then kills Grendel's mom and wins. Beowulf
Prior to ever killing Grendal the Danish king, Hrothgar, knew of Beowulf’s father and therefore expected much out of him. Legends of Beowulf could range but he did speak of himself battling sea monsters, several of them all killed by Beowulf. After defeating Grendel Beowulf could have easily left, but instead he stayed to finish the job he had come for. He fought Grendel's mother till bitter death than afterwards took Grendel's head as a trophy to the king of the Danes, Hrothgar. In his later years Beowulf became king after his father before him and his kingdom was under siege by a Dragon, instead of telling his men to slay the beast he fought it himself.
Alexander Hamilton once said, “There is a certain Enthusiasm in liberty that makes Human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” Beowulf is an epic poem in which the main character Beowulf did acts of service, but he fought for those who couldn’t fight. The overall theme of good versus evil in Beowulf had Beowulf dealing with challenges that no ordinary man would be able to handle unless they were a true epic hero. Throughout the poem Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his strength, bravery, and sacrifice.
Christopher Reeves once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Although Beowulf was human, he was not an ordinary individual, hero, or king, for he was a man who displayed superhuman qualities in his efforts to protect the Danish and Geatish people. Beowulf, who was established Geatish warrior that spent his life in battle, showed these extraordinary characteristics that made him an epic hero, one who possesses superhuman, almost god-like qualities. Being constantly on a quest, risking his life for glory and the greater good of society, and being superiorly intelligent, courageous and strong are the three most important reasons why Beowulf deserves such a notable
No matter what he would always protect his house and his mother. He loved both of them so dearly. He never gave up on anything he believed in. Beowulf made sure nobody got to neither one of them. Grendel is a very bad demon.