Beowulf As An Ultimate Hero

“A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway”-Joseph Campbell. Stories have so much power connect you to another world and teach you lessons that are needed throughout history. Archetypes give the story a focal point and shape the lesson the author is trying to get across. When ideals get embedded into stories, usually it’s when the hero does something noble and valiant so they want their readers to follow in his footsteps. The Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and Medieval Christian King Arthur display many archetypes and ideals to shape the story and make it exciting. The Beowulf and King Arthur storytellers use archetypes to create stories with suspense and have their heroes display values of loyalty to their respective listeners.

In almost any story, whether novel or poem, lies a hero. Depending on the path, a variety of archetypes usually accompany the hero. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines “archetype” as “the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies.” Joseph Campbell’s A Hero With A Thousand Faces introduces the common archetypes often found in various pieces of literature, explaining “The parallels will be immediately apparent; and these will develop a vast and amazingly constant statement of the basic truths by which man has lived throughout the millenniums of his residence on the planet,” in his preface to the 1949 edition. To summarize, after learning of the different archetypes found in a story, one

An archetype is defined as an image, story-pattern, character, setting, symbol, or situation that recurs frequently in literature and in life. It demonstrates universal human experiences and associates strongly with readers through a subconscious understanding. In the Epic of Gilgamesh the main character, Gilgamesh, is an example of a superheroic archetypal hero. He took on an epic quest for everlasting life by following the archetypal steps of a hero’s journey. Through suffering due to tragedy, realizing the nature of his quest, seeking help from a mentor, experiencing failure, and returning home with a companion, Gilgamesh’s story followed the situational archetype of a hero’s journey.

Archetypes are characteristics or characters that can define a hero. They can be villains, scapegoats, damsels in distress, and the hero themself . The Odyssey is the perfect story for examples of archetypes seeing as it has so many of them.

An archetypal hero must have specific characteristics before embarking on a quest. For example many heroes, experience some sort of traumatic event during childhood. In the movie Star Wars IV: A New Hope the archetypal hero Luke Skywalker experiences the

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.

The first thing that Beowulf is known for his almighty strength against the foul beast named, Grendel. Grendel can not be defeated with any one man’s weapon, so Beowulf decides to fight him with his bare hands. In the battle he fights the beast, holding on to his arm with all his might. He will eventually rip Grendel's arm off ,which no man has ever done, and forces Grendel into submission. Beowulf would show great strength against Grendel’s mom killing her with a giant's sword which no other man could even lift, not to mention a swift blow to her neck.

A lot of people look up to heroes, but this hero was an epic one and his name is Beowulf. There are certain traits to become ideal. Three traits Beowulf had were loyalty, popularity and being physically strong. Beowulf was well known for fighting and defeating evil, vicious monsters throughout his life. This is what makes Beowulf an epic hero.

Heroes are great examples to use as archetypes. It defined as a symbols found in mythology and constructed from the previous stories using the same characteristic traits.

The word “hero” has had many different definitions throughout history, but all of them seem to include something about being courageous and having a desire to help other people. In the epic poem Beowulf, the main character (Beowulf) has many heroic qualities. Beowulf was a hero born in Geatland who sailed out to Denmark to protect the people. This piece of literature displays to the reader what Beowulf is like in his youth and in his old age. Over the course of his life, he shows many heroic qualities, making him a hero.

Many things evolve throughout time, including literature. Literature shapes many things including who people view as heros and what troubles a hero might face. In the past and throughout literature, heros had supernatural powers that made them greater than their peers and made them fit to be the hero. Today, the literary hero is a normal person who is in an abnormal situation and can make it through that situation, healthy and happy. The struggles of the hero have become more and more of an everyday struggle rather than a big, life-or-death battle. The hero has also become more diverse rather than the straight white male it has consistently been in the past. It shows how literature can reflect society and shape society. As literature has changed,

One of the traits to being a epic hero is you have to be a great warrior. Beowulf shows throughout the whole poem that he is a special person. He not only had his soldiers by his side but he also had the man above by his side. One of the biggest things that made him such a great warrior was him sacrificing his life for others. Most people would never think about dying for someone else.

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.

Ancient heroes had many common traits of heroism that we still see today. Throughout history there’s been many heroic figures like Gilgamesh, Cuchulain, Beowulf, and Hercules. They shared many qualities like strength, bravery, and determination. Many hero today still portray these features. A stereotypical hero in the past and today would have these characteristics, they’re basic traits a good hero should possess.

Beowulf is able to save the people in the land and establish his heroic identity. Smart and strong as he is, Beowulf chose to fight Grendel saying “Hand-to-hand is how it will be “ (Heaney ll. 438-9). Beowulf gains extra glory for himself turning this fight into a battle of strength; he wants to fight fair believing that it would be dishonorable to fight a beast that has no possession of a weapon. This works out in the end because Grendel is cursed and no man-made weapon could inflict any damage. During their fight Beowulf locks Grendel in an armlock and Grendel experiences “a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man” (ll. 750-1). Furthermore, Grendel is surprised at Beowulf’s strength and trembles in fear wanting to retreat back into his lair. Beowulf is ultimately victorious and thanks God as Grendel’s arm is ripped off as he bleeds out to face his demise. Beowulf’s success relies mostly on strength which is an important trait a hero must possess.