In the dark, rainy Gotham city, the Clown Prince Joker and the Dark Knight Detective Batman are battling it out in the Madhouse. Imagine if Joker and Batman existed in real life. In Robert Nye’s book, Beowulf: A New Telling, a character almost like the Joker exists. A hero similar to Batman is needed to stop monsters like the Joker. But not any hero, an epic hero. Beowulf shows he is an epic hero in three ways. These characteristics of Beowulf are superior strength and courage, performing brave deeds, and that he went on a quest. To start off, Beowulf is an epic hero he if has superior strength. In this text, “Beowulf had pulled off Grendel’s arm out of its socket”(Nye PDF 76). This shows why Beowulf is an epic hero because of his superior strength because to pull an arm socket off it would take 7Kn(Newton) to 30Kn, indefinitely it would at least take 1543 pounds and 3.77 ounces to 6746 pounds and 2.32 ounces. This means that Beowulf is a superhuman and an epic hero almost always superhuman. For another reason why Beowulf is an epic hero is because he has courage. In this text, “Beowulf shrugged. “My sword? Oh, I left it in the sun somewhere. I need no sword.” “No sword! But how—?” “Does Grendel use a sword?” demanded Beowulf. “Of course not. But he will eat—” “Have swords been any good against him in …show more content…
However, even though he lost to Breca in a swimming match. But, even though he has lost to Breca it does not mean he doesn’t have superior strength, for example, he rips Grendel's arm off (Nye PDF 76) which takes 7Kn to 30Kn. Which means he superhuman. Another example would be when he fought five sea monsters by himself(Nye PDF 61). This is significant because Beowulf had the strength to fight five sea monsters in a storm by himself. To close, even though Beowulf had lost to Breca in swimming doesn't mean he is
Author, the character Beowulf portrays several traits of an epic hero .The first trait of an epic hero Beowulf demonstrates is superhuman strength. The narrator describes Beowulf as the strongest in the world ‘’Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats – greater and stronger than anyone in this world’’ (line 110, pg23).This quote from the epic poem goes to show Beowulf’s superhuman strength makes him an epic hero, furthermore, without his strength he would not fall into the category of an epic hero. In the next example of how Beowulf possess traits of an epic hero is his bravery. Beowulf is not afraid to chase monsters ‘’I drove five great giants
The main characteristics of an epic hero are strength, courage and loyalty. Beowulf demonstrates his strength in his battle with Grendel. With his extraordinary strength, Beowulf is able to bend back the claws Grendel “as Beowulf leaned up on one arm” (Beowulf line 190), and he keeps hold of Grendel’s hands long enough for Grendel to eventually fight back so hard his arm rips off. Not only is he strong enough to defeat Grendel with his bare hands, but Beowulf also lifts the sword of a giant to defeat Grendel’s mother. He courageously volunteers himself into battle with “A powerful monster, living down / In the darkness” (34-35). This monster also has a mother who is stronger than him, but Beowulf does not fear. Beowulf courageously goes down to the darkness where their den lies and comes up with Grendel’s head and the handle of the sword he uses to kill Grendel’s mother. Later in life, “Beowulf [utters] his final boast: / “ I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought / in endless battles. I am old, now, / But I will fight again” (483-486). Beowulf utters his final boast before he courageously goes into his final battle which he loses to the dragon. In loyalty to the men that serve him, Beowulf makes sure that if he does not return from his battle with Grendel’s mother they will be able to return to their homeland. He
Beowulf, like many modern heroes such as the ones we see in movies and read about in comic books has an unnatural amount of strength. Take superman for example, he has superhuman strength. Although Beowulf does not have the same amount of strength as superman he still has more than the average human. This gives him a typical “hero” trait that many people are familiar with today.
The character of Beowulf demonstrates several characteristics that make a great epic hero. Throughout his lifetime he displayed several characteristics such as honor, bravery, physical superiority, leadership, and glory. These characteristics all formed how the Anglo-Saxons believed one should live their life. Along with the valorous deeds that Beowulf accomplished he is considered to be a prime example of an epic hero. Beowulf would have even been considered a model human to the Anglo-Saxons due to how he consistently demonstrated these qualities.
An epic hero displays bravery, courage, and strength. An epic hero also wants to achieve immortality through heroic actions. Beowulf can be categorized as a legendary epic hero. There are many things that prove Beowulf is an epic hero in the poem. He proves that he is an epic hero through his heroic actions that occur throughout the poem.
Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroes are superhuman types of beings. They show great bravery, intelligence, strength and resourcefulness. They have a strong admiration for the values of their society. They are dominant male figures and suffer severe pain, but in the end, they
Beowulf is a true epic hero because he is fearless, very strong, and well honored. Beowulf portrays all of the traits of a hero throughout the epic. He never hesitated to kill a monster, or even to give a helping hand at any time. He could always back up his boast with perfection. Beowulf is not a god, or a supernatural man, but he was the closest man to
Beowulf was a hero not only because of his physical strength, but also for his concern for other people. “The hero must move beyond human limits in order to have the capacity to combat the monstrous forces that threaten the social order;” (Sharma 264) Beowulf has been deemed by most to have superhuman strength, but his superhuman strength alone does not make Beowulf any more a hero than Grendel’s strength makes him a hero. Beowulf rises above the limits of a regular human being
Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf displays the characteristics of an epic hero because he shows courage and loyalty to those around him by
An Epic Hero is a brave, noble character in an epic poem, and they are admired for great achievements or affected by a grand event. In another point of view, A Epic Hero has to have strength, faith and Braveness in order to perform heroic deeds. In the story Beowulf , Beowulf is an epic hero because he kills Grendel the monster, Grendel’s Mother and a dragon that no one else could have defeated. All the things Beowulf did throughout this story showed evidence of an epic hero, also with his personality and dedication. Beowulf is an epic hero because of how he sacrificed his life to perform heroic deeds. Also for his extraordinary strength, Braveness, and Faith.
Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroes are superhuman types of beings. They show great bravery, intelligence, strength and resourcefulness. They have a strong admiration for the values of their society. They are dominant male figures and suffer severe pain, but in
An epic hero is someone who is of great importance, they have supernatural abilities, have some form of connection with the Gods, and accomplish great deeds. In Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is the epic hero in his tale and he is considered great by those who know of his life. There are two versions of his story which portrays him in a certain way. The video version does not do its best to portray him as an epic hero but instead show that he is a liar, a womanizer, and a coward. The written version does not portray him as such, it portrays him as someone who is strong, brave, and fearless. The written version best portrays Beowulf as an epic hero by showing his actions involving superhuman deeds in battle.
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
In Anglo Saxon times, Beowulf is considered a well known epic hero. “Epic heroes are literary characters from ancient mythology and other stories, which were written down in the form of long, narrative epic poems. The hero is the main character, or protagonist of the poem”("Epic Hero: Definition, Characteristics & Examples."). The epic hero usually battles for accomplishments to a set of tasks to complete important goals. Beowulf is described as an epic hero because of his honor, bravery, and intelligence.
One quality that makes Beowulf a hero is his unnatural strength. Beowulf could take down giants and other monsters with his bare hands. The text points out Beowulf’s strength when it says he is “...greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world.”. He killed many of his enemies, and hunted