The debate over whether or not Beowulf is a hero can be taken many ways. My thoughts are that Beowulf is a true hero. Beowulf always shows characteristics of being a hero, he is seen as a leader to his people and never backs down from a challenge or the opportunity to further his legacy. Beowulf was always revered as a great warrior and ruler to his people. He would travel great distances to help other people and to fight off legendary beasts like Grendel, also Beowulf would travel to unknown landsand to the deepest depths of the ocean to battle great beasts that wreaked havoc to villages and kingdoms throughout the known world at that time.Beowulf displayed a great show of bravery and loyalty to protect people when …show more content…
Beowulf also ripped off Grendel’s arm and hung it from the ceiling in the Herot so his legend would beremembered.One of the most persuasive parts of Beowulf that makes him seem heroic is after many years another monster would arise terrorizing the Geats. It was a great fire breathing dragon, Beowulf aftermany years of not fighting and at a much older age would return to battle against a much greater opponent than Grendel, the beast was so massive and powerful that Beowulf would break his sword on the dragons massive scales. In this battle Beowulf would kill the great beast and he would be forever remembered as a hero. In the quote “ The brave geats build me a tomb when the funeral flames have burned me , and build it here, at the waters edge, high on this split of land so sailors can see this tower and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower and boats in the darkness and mist crossing the sea will know it.” This is a good example of his legend being carried on and him being remembered furthering his reputation as a hero and insuring him being remembered.In conclusion Beowulf was a great hero and a great protector of his people. Beowulf always looked to further his reputation as a hero and insure that he would be remembered. So to finalize my thoughts I feel like that Beowulf was a true
that will stick forever, loyalty, courage, and bravery. Now today, older traits are still being withheld but they are portrayed within diverse types of heroes. Loyalty, courage and bravery are with“Whether ancient or modern, the distinctive characteristic of the heroic figure… ‘Is willing to risk death.’” (acculturated.com) Heroes are willing to face the fear of constant violent death and embrace fate to have inner peace or exceptional value within themselves. The model hero in ancient times was the type to kill and conquer just to be remembered whereas today, things have shimmered down. Beowulf’s effectiveness as a modern-day hero has taught us something that will stick forever, loyalty, courage, and bravery.
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.
Beowulf killed Grendel, and his mother to save the Geats. “Beowulf carried the head of Grendel / to King Hrothgar and the returns gift laiden / to the land of the Geats, where he succeeds to the throne” (Beowulf 666-668). Beowulf successfully saves the Geats from monsters terrorizing them, and he was throned for his accomplishments. Ultimately Beowulf was killed in his last fight against the dragon, saving his people one last time, and he is forever honored for that. “ 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 his heroic deeds, for / a life as noble as his deeds” (Beowulf 830-835). Beowulf’s legacy will forever live with his people. Beowulf’s accomplishments molded his everlasting legacy he has among his people.
Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses.
We have all had someone whom we have considered our hero. We call them our hero because they have exhibited certain characteristics that make us feel safe or protected in harmful situations. A few books demonstrate heroic characteristics masterfully through their characters. Beowulf portrays a strong, self-sacrificing hero. Canterbury Tales shows us a wise and caring hero. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight displays a flawed, loyal hero. These three men give us some of the attributes it takes to be considered a hero. These books tell us that to be a hero, you have to sacrifice, have wisdom, and loyalty.
Christopher Reeve once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to preserve and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Hero’s are around us in our everyday lives such as firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect people and their property. Other hero’s can be found in literature. These hero’s, also know as an epic hero, exhibit superhuman qualities to help fight and protect others while on their quest. Being a hero means taking on enormous responsibilities. With these responsibilities comes great praise from others which both Beowulf and everyday firefighter receive for their extraordinary work.
As Beowulf lies at rest, the question must be asked. Was he a true hero? Wanting only to help the towns people and keep them safe? Or just a mighty man wanting to be king, loathed in fame and riches? That is something that may always stay
This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and the modern day hero. All soldiers that are fighting for my country certainly comes to mind first, when I think about a modern day hero. Both hero’s are fighting for a good cause, get rewarded for what they do, and get treated with much respect. Although a soldier might not withhold unworldly strength as one such as Beowulf, they both are putting their life at stake, which gives them both the title as being a hero.
Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroes are superhuman types of beings. They have a noble birth and show great bravery. They display great intelligence and resourcefulness. They have a reverence for G-d and for the values of their society. They are dominant male figures and suffer severe pain, but in the end, they conquer evil (Vivone 9/27/99). In addition to Beowulf’s heroic qualities, he is very strong. Beowulf was said to have “the strength of thirty [men] in his mighty handgrip” (Bloom 11). Early proof of Beowulf’s extraordinary strength is evidenced by his dismemberment of Grendel’s limb, the fight in the cave under water, and the
“People who claim they’re evil are usually no worse than the rest of us. Its people who claim they’re good, or any way better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of.” This quote from Wicked can be applied to Beowulf in the sense that a hero is not truly a hero if he brags about his accomplishments. The ‘hero” in the story is named Beowulf and he takes upon himself the duty to rid Denmark of the evil sources threatening it. His bravery is outstanding as he marches into a battle knowing he may die but, leaving the outcome up to fate. He never shies away from the monster he has committed to destroying and because of his persistence, he wins the battles; therefore, the bad in Denmark is exterminated because of Beowulf and his
A true hero does not fear death or, but instead risks all that he is for what he believes to be right, moral, and just. Beowulf is an epic and tells the story of a legendary hero, conquering all obstacles as if he was immortal. Up until the end of Beowulf’s life he was constantly looking to be the hero. However, his humanity is exposed by his death. Heroes all share the characteristic of their willingness to die in their effort to accomplish their heroic act, thus making the act in itself heroic. Throughout the epic, Beowulf in many ways exhibited all the qualities and characteristics needed to be a true hero.
In the movie Spider-Man, the hero has a rivalry with the Green Goblin. The Green Goblin taunted Spiderman for a very long time until the alter ego of Peter Parker had enough of the Goblin. Every encounter between Spiderman and Green Goblin always turn into a retreat of the Goblin but at the very end of the movie, Spiderman turns out to be victorious. Spiderman is considered to be a modern day hero. An Anglo-Saxon hero is a hero from the Medieval years and fights with swords, not spider webs. Just like Beowulf, he wins a lot of his battles. Each hero has his own special characteristics that make him unique. In the poem Beowulf, the hero clearly demonstrates bravery, boastfulness and super strength within his fights.
Beowulf does not fail his people, even at the last, when as an old man
Beowulf is an old english poem from the Anglo Saxon time period, it's an epic poem written by the Beowulf poet, it shows the traits of an epic hero, the main character, Beowulf illustrates: loyalty, bravery, devotion to duty, and superhuman strength. The fact that this poem is being passed down orally over many years, makes the poem very interesting. SECTION HEADER The physical description of Beowulf shows how he is an important epic hero. For example, “I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still.”
Beowulf was the ideal hero because of all the brave courageous things he did to put the safety and protection of his people first also he was a very fair fighter. Beowulf heard about the attacks Grendel has been committing so Beowulf and his 14 men suited up and traveled to Herot to go and take down the evil Grendel once and for all. When Beowulf and his men arrived at Herot they went into the mead hall and had a feast with the geats and danes. Once the feast was over Beowulf's warriors went to sleep but Beowulf didn't he stayed up waiting for Grendel to come because Beowulf knew that Grendel fights unfairly by attacking at night so Beowulf being the fair fighter he is did not bring a weapon to use because he said ”I have heard that the monster's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none nor will I”(. He isn't using a weapon because he doesn't want to fight unfairly and become a coward. So after waiting a little while Grendel comes up from his cave and goes into the mead hall and eats one of Beowulf's men so Beowulf took action