Heroism of Beowulf
Throughout the poem of Beowulf he shows heroism in different way, He is someone who has superhuman qualities who embodies the value of his society and who is larger than life. And also someone who defeats something that is bigger than him.
To start off, Beowulf meets with the Danes to discuss about this evil monster name Grendel. He is a powerful creature who live in the darkness. Grendel is someone who made his home in hell because the type of creature he is. As some of the Danes sleep Grendel snatches up 30 of them kills them and carries them back to his lair while the blood is leaking from him , he is also the type to only hunt at night when no one see’s him or can hear him. News got around to Beowulf about Grendel so he sailed across the sea to Hrothgar. Beowulf than ask permission to kill Grendel because he feels as if it’s the right thing to do. Beowulf than defeats Grendel and takes his body parts and hangs them up to prove to people that
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But it is something bigger than the battle with Grendel and Grendel’s Mother. It’s a dragon who has come and is trying to take over his world. He fights the dragon and he has defeated but the wound the dragon had gave him is getting worse. He comes to an end and the last words he says is that he would have wanted to bestow his armor to his son, but he does not have one. The geats bury jewels, gold and treasures in the barrow to honor Beowulf. Twelve of them ride the tomb singing dirges, honoring Beowulf by describing his heroic deeds.
As a Result, even though Beowulf died fighting a tough battle he died a hero , why because he did all he could to save his world and others. He was a loyal, courageous and might warrior. He did all the things a hero should do while fighting multiple battles. And of that he has died of Honor to everyone who lived in the Danes. This is how Beowulf showed heroism throughout the
People today do not take the risk like he did and it fascinates me to think that even in death he was honored. His nephew did everything he asked and more. Beowulf is not like other heroes. He is not in it for others to look at him and say he is a hero mostly he just wanted to help. He was loved, committed, and fearless.
The hero in the epic poem Beowulf is the main character, Beowulf. He demonstrates heroic qualities as soon as the readers are introduced to his character. Beowulf proves himself to be courageous and brave by voluntarily fighting the “undefeatable” monster, Grendel. He is greatly admired by both the Danes and Geats for his courageous acts. Although his motivation is altered to only benefit himself with the title of the greatest warrior, his plan to save the Danes is greatly appreciated by all in the land.
Beowulf vs Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon all represent a creature from hell and Beowulf is a god-like warrior who ends up slaying evil. “Like a man outlawed/for wickedness, he must await/the mighty judgement of God in majesty” (Beowulf 976 - 978). This quote talks about Grendel and his demonic soul. Beowulf points out that he is an evil creature and no creature ever to exist is powerful enough to smite God. Once Grendel dies, Grendel will be in God’s hands and Grendel will regret ever being evil or committing any evil action to anyone or anything on Earth.
It 's easy to flee a battle, but it 's hard to stay knowing death is a definitive factor. Beowulf shows that he is willing to die for his glory and to protect the Danes in every battle he faces. Against Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. During his battle with
Even though the monster’s hall was flooding with luxurious treasure, “all that Beowulf took was Grendel’s head and the hilt of the giants’ jeweled sword” (lines 266-268). Beowulf “sought Hrothgar to salute him and show Grendel’s head” (lines 299-300). 17) After being given the golden hilt of the sword from Beowulf, Hrothgar notices inscriptions written on it. He realized that written on there was a story of ancient wars between good and evil. The inscriptions state, “The story of ancient wars between good and evil, the opening of the waters, the flood sweeping the giants away, how they suffered and died” (lines 342-347).
This scene is relevant due to its differing plot from the other two slayings. During the killing of Grendel, Beowulf tears off his arm and ultimately destroys the wretched monster alone and without frivolous weapons. When the duel between Grendel’s mother arises, Beowulf
Beowulf makes known that “no man but [himself] could hope to defeat this monster, [and] no one could try.” Beowulf wants to have this fight all to himself, so he can take all of the glory. He is too selfish to conclude that only he could defeat the monster alone. Beowulf cannot be thought of as a hero because “Beowulf only longed for fame.” Beowulf does not perform heroic deeds just to save the citizens, but to receive more admiration from the citizens.
At this point he still struggles with his destiny and role in life as the villain. Beowulf is insane because everything he does seems mechanical. He kills with eagerness and lives for the pain of his kills. In page 171, the novel says, “Grendel, Grendel! You make the world by whispers, second by second.
Beowulf’s bravery became an example for all of the warriors who would follow after him in Herot and even in other lands as his story spread all
In the story Beowulf they make Beowulf out to be the hero. I believe that he is the hero because of his way that he presents himself when he gets to as his crewmen walked off the boat and they looked bad in clothes Beowulf looked very nice and very manly other than his crewmen looked bad and also he was a hero because he was the only one to come to and help the town. Defeating the monsters which was mother dragon and the last reason that he was considered a hero because after all the monsters he killed he decided to give all of the gold and supplies that he won from the battle with the monsters to all the people in herot and also he was reconized as a hero because he let God decide his Faith during the battle with the monsters.
This is the beginning of Grendel falling directly into the role that the dragon said he would need to fill. Grendel’s murderous tendencies completely reflect the monstrous side of his personality and the more he kills the more he grows insane, separating from rational, humanistic thought. “I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bone-fire... I am blazing, half-crazy with joy” (168). It is clear that, by the time Beowulf arrives, Grendel has embraced the fact that he is required to be evil, despite the fact that he previously claimed he would oppose that destiny.
Selflessness is a necessary trait in all heroic figures, though Beowulf lacks even this essential building block of a respected man. After the introduction of Grendel’s mother, Beowulf states his belief that "Fame after death is the noblest of goals. " As well as this display, Beowulf consistently disregards the concerns of his men while leading them into battle, whether it is the fight against Grendel’s mother at the lake or the final battle between his sword and the dragon. Even as he is stricken down, one of his last wishes was to be remembered and immortalized through eternal
In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is depicted as a heroic figure who fights monsters and defends the weak. During its time, Beowulf would be considered a great hero, however in today 's standards Beowulf would only be considered a great warrior. That’s because a hero should value the lives of the people and not seek to be rewarded. Instead, Beowulf committed heroic acts for his own selfish reasons and never shows to values the lives of the people. From fighting Grendel to slaying the dragon, Beowulf only fought because he value the fame and fortune that comes along with those accomplishments.
But he knew the greatest threat came knocking at his door for a fight that will live on being told for eternity. Beowulf sacrificed his own life for those around him, “Quickly, the dragon cam at him, encouraged as Beowulf as Beowulf fell back; its breath fared, and he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames- a king, before, but now a Beaton warrior” (lines 687-691). In the end Beowulf fought till the end fighting not only for himself but for his people. He fought like a king until his death. Beowulf gave the ultimate sacrifice to save his people.
Beowulf risked his life twice to help the community of Heorot become safe again and with that received ultimate praise. For a last time Beowulf risked his life to save his own community who were his citizens as king. He conquered a powerful dragon that fatally injured him as well. Beowulf knew his life was at stake yet persevered for the sake of his