Beowulf: A Modern Day Hero

When Beowulf approaches Hrothgar and offers to kill Grendel, he is already a very very skillful warrior who has (accomplished or gained with effort) many feats, and he is a hero to the people. Later in life, Beowulf changes from a young warrior to a wise king who later dies in order to save the people of his kingdom from an (imaginary, huge, fire-breathing animal). The extreme danger of the job is illustrated through the fact that Hrothgar 's own men 's tries to kill Grendel have been useless/pointless.

Beowulf is one of the oldest and most well-known epic stories throughout the world. The main character in this story is Beowulf himself. Beowulf is a true and epic hero, who ultimately loses his life while trying to protect the he cared for. Beowulf was a man of great strength, which allowed him to defeat monster and make him the hero that he was. He did not have this strength on his own accord, but was assisted with some divine intervention.

To be considered an epic hero, one must not only exhibit acts of courage but also perform acts of being superhuman. Beowulf, known for his great feats of strength, is considered to be one of the greatest epic heros of all time. He posses all the qualifications necessary for him to be categorized as being an epic hero. What does it take to be an Epic hero? It's a name given to few.

Beowulf is the longest epic poem composed in Old English. This epic poem deals with a man, Beowulf and his adventures toward killing a great monster, Grendel. Throughout his adventures, we the readers realize many negative traits about Beowulf. Beowulf’s main trait is that he is a charismatic leader. Even though being charismatic is fine in many cases, Beowulf being the main character over boasts himself.

Battle-worn armor and razor-sharp sword held high, Beowulf an epic hero from the Anglo-Saxon era is the epitome of heroism today. He unselfishly risks his life to defeat evil that plagues innocent lives. Although he was a hero before our time, his heroic qualities have surpassed time. Beowulf's bravery, strength, and willingness to help others are qualities that we commend today and are possessed by our modern-day heroes.

Beowulf was a strong hero based on glory. “Beowulf celebrates warrior culture and deeds requiring great strength and courage” (page 36). Defeating Grendel, the monster terrorizing the Danes, took great strength and courage. He was a huge monster who killed many; however, Beowulf was not afraid. He didn’t even use a weapon, yet easily destroyed Grendel and more.

What he is most noted for is how important he finds glory to be. When he requests to fight Grendel for Hrothgar he states he will fight without a sword, as Grendel fears none and fights using his claws. Beowulf fears that if he points his sword to a creature that uses none would be disgraceful and will not bring glory. “But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle” line 486, this shows that even as Beowulf is faced with a fight that may be his last, his need for glory

Beowulf fits the description of having superhuman abilities in many different ways. He is extremely strong and powerful in the book, and his strength is showcased in his fight with Grendel. Beowulf is also courageous, he was willing to take up a fight that nobody else dared to. Beowulf also possesses advanced oratory skill, he often is able to persuade people to bend to his will and aid him in his travels, as seen with the border guards early in the story. Beowulf

He said, 'When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins.' (Website) So therefore, Beowulf is an epic hero for the things that he conquered. The power and pride he had in doing so.

On page 52, as the “mighty protector of man”, Beowulf is seen to be a legend who would protect his nation from any crisis, accompanied by the quote on page 46, “ the strongest of the Geats -greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world “, the narrator described Beowulf as a man who has Super Natural strength , letting him accomplished different assignments that any other human could not complete, consequently,These three characteristics of an epic hero are related in some way, for the purpose of create a mythical figure, battling and defeating supernatural

Beowulf’s traits help make Beowulf the epic hero of this myth. Beowulf’s bravery helps him defeat the mystical creatures. When Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother, it seems like all hope is lost before he kills her with the magical sword. Even though the odds were not in his favor, he never gave up.

Sometimes ones greatest trait can also be the leading cause of their undoing. We see exactly that in the epic hero, Beowulf, of the anonymously written, Beowulf. As much as he is an epic hero, he is also a tragic one. His pride and excessive braveness lead him to fall while sacrificing himself to defeat a dragon, saving his kingdom. Creon of Sophocles' tragic play Antigone, deals with the same issue as Beowulf.

Additionally, Beowulf’s immense courage makes him fit for representing the ideal epic hero. Beowulf is brave and he does not avoid doing anything that might be dangerous or risky. Beowulf is even willing to give up his life, when he performs some of the courageous deeds. For example, when Beowulf plans to fight Grendel, he tells Hrothgar: “’the monster’s scorn of men / Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. / Nor will I’”

Beowulf is the epitome of the ideal Anglo-Saxon epic hero. The numerous amount of characteristics that he possesses benefit him in many ways, but eventually lead to his downfall. As depicted in Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, the qualities found in Beowulf that were most admired by his society include inhuman strength, unreserved loyalty, and unending bravery. Beowulf was said to have inhuman strength amounting to “the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand” (380-381). Beowulf exposes this truth even further by dismembering the arm of Grendel, a devilish ogre brute, from his body.

Beowulf was an amazing hero. His life was full of battles and epics that would take demy Gods to complete. Beowulf has conquered many tasks that would make many men see him as a God in the body of a man. Beowulf was a great tale told for a long time to inspire people that man can do great things, can be heros.