Darian Aker
Mr. Tate
English IV
27 September, 2017
Beowulf Essay
In this epic, the main character, Beowulf, faces many horrendous monsters. However, as the reader, and the interpreter, I am asked to explain how Beowulf portrays the qualities of an archetypal epic hero. After reading of his battles, his character displays great acts of courage, intelligence, and strength, while warriors revel as Beowulf defeats the creatures.
Following his battles, Grendel and Grendel’s mother, Hrothgar and his men celebrate and thank him for his acts of bravery with many cherished gifts. Beowulf is also glorified as his people construct a barrow in his memory. As his acts are significant, Beowulf is glorified for bringing peace to Hrothgar’s people.
In the last stage of Beowulf’s epic hero journey, fatalism determines his grand finale against the dragon. The warrior king’s long journey is now coming to a close and before going into battle against the dragon, Beowulf realizes that, “After many trials,/ he was destined to face the end of his days/ in this mortal world; as was the dragon,/ for all his long leasehold on the treasure” (Beowulf 2341-2344). After facing Grendel and his mother, fate has lead Beowulf to the crisis of his journey. The dragon is the final monster he must defeat in order to complete his monomyth cycle. He is a symbol of the deadly sin, greed.
An epic hero is an individual who must evoke a sense of heroism through legendary and inspiring deeds (Merriam-Webster). These heroes of tragedy have the ability to determine their own fortune due to the amount of admired characteristics they possess. However, the ideals of an epic hero are constantly fluctuating due to the ever changing ideals of society. Although the characteristics of an epic hero are under constant modification, Beowulf is still an effective modern-day hero due to his acts of courage, compassion, and dedication in relation to his people. Courage can be defined as any individual possessing moral or mental strength in the face of physical pain or indescribable hardship (Personalitytutor).
An Epic Hero is the main character of an Epic Poem who is far greater than the average man. Epic Hero's differ from ordinary warriors by their immense strength, unwavering bravery, and prominent battles with vile creatures. Beowulf is a great warrior who possesses all of the traits of an Epic Hero. Similar to all other Epic Heroes, Beowulf hold superhuman strength.
Beowulf's pagan warrior culture perceives fame as a way of leaving an eternal memory of an individual's actions. It’s something that will continue one's memory even after death. Beowulf believes that it will be a way of praising him for his deeds. From his compassion to courage, and his bravery and honor, all of Beowulf’s actions come together to prove he is an epic
“Dripping with my enemies blood, I drove five great giants into chains chased all of that race from the earth.” An epic hero is someone who possess qualities such as bravery, strength, and superhuman. Beowulf’s willingness and sacrifice of himself to save others is why I must really say he is and epic hero. Some people could be heroes but still not have it in them to want to slay dragons and fight monster, But that was no challenge for Beowulf.
Meghana Sunder Mr. Wachtor English 12 31 August 2015 Beowulf Character Analysis In the poem Beowulf, we see the Anglo-Saxon hero. It is an epic of a hero who embodies the honor of the Anglo-Saxon culture and tradition. The poem in itself is an elegant script of Anglo-Saxon times. Composed in 8th or 9th century the epic was passed down from generation to generation orally and has no known author.
A hero's journey is a pattern of narrative identities that appears in many dramas, storytellings, myths, and psychological development. The journey consist of twelve different steps and in the story Beowulf we read about the magnificent and rough journey that Beowulf and this men accomplish. Many people question if Beowulf is considered a hero and if what he did was good. The journey that he embarked on, leads me to believe that Beowulf is a hero and always will be. The first step in the hero's journey is called the “call to adventure” this is when something is disturbed from external pressure of from inner conflict.
Beowulf possessed the poised demeanor necessary to defeat all evils by the arrogant swing of his sword. The commitment shown by lending his life to the welfare of his people was imperative in order to be called a flawless warrior. Beowulf embodied the determination that Anglo-Saxons saw as unmeasurably valuable. If nothing more than just fiction, Beowulf is the ideal hero of the people from who he originated. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.”
Beowulf Beowulf is about a man, that is brave, loyal and will risk his life to protect and save other’s lives before lives before his. That is why Beowulf is a heroic figure in my eyes. Anyone willing to put others lives before theirs deserves to be praised as a God like figure. Beowulf symbolizes Bravery, Strength and a true hero. The dragon symbolizes death.
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.
Once upon a time, there was a marvelous warrior that was a hero to so many and king to some. In the story of Beowulf, the hero, Beowulf, must follow and go through the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey has twelve stages, or three acts. The stages go in the order: 1) The Call to Adventure, 2) Assistance, 3) Departure, 4) Trials, 5) Approach to the Inmost Cave, 6) Crisis, 7) Treasure, 8) Result, 9) Return, 10) New Life, 11) Resolution, and 12) Status Quo (Winkler). Since Beowulf is facing three different monsters, there is not only the story’s significant journey, but also multiple inside it.
My personal hero is my dad, and like most people’s father he has guided me to make the correct choices in life, just like how Beowulf guides his soldiers into battle. I trust my father to guide me in the right direction because of how selfless he is. Sizing up to someone with a resume as impressive as Beowulf’s is no easy task, but my dad comes closer than most. While my father, as amazing as he is, is no astounding hero from Geatland, he does put a lot of effort into leading and caring for the great kingdom that is our family. And for that reason, I believe my father is so great that he can and should be held to the same standards as Beowulf.
An Anglo-Saxon hero, a brave, courageous warrior, fearless enough to fight and risk one’s own life for others, represented by the character Beowulf in the epic poem Beowulf. Described as, “Follower and the strongest of the Geats--greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world…”(110-111). The Geats treat Beowulf with great respect and admiration due to his promise to protect them from the danger that oppresses
Before, I watch the movie I already know that the story of Beowulf is about heroism and bravery but during we watch it, I realized that Beowulf depicted not only heroism and bravery but also friendship. Dull, sleepy, and boring that was just some of the insight comes to my mind when I heard the title of the story. The story is not just a simple story but it give us many lesson. The story reminds us that we can be a hero in our own ways. And being a hero we should not wished wealth as reward.
The traits that build up a perfect hero are all described in the acts of an epic poem called Beowulf . This poem set its lights on the character called Beowulf , who is a hero from the tribe called Geats . With his exceptional characteristics , he vanquished the enemy of the Danes called Grendel , as well as Grendel's mother , and a fire-breathing dragon . One of the most essential attributes a hero should have is honesty , which is the act of being truthful or sincere towards people . Beowulf proved the existence of that trait in his personality when he stated all the battles he conquered to King Hrothgar in the time of volunteering to kill Grendel .