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Beowulf Is Not A Hero Essay

643 Words3 Pages

Emily Festavan
Mrs. Morris
English Advanced 12- 6th period
4 December 2017
Beowulf is Not a Hero Beowulf is characterized as a hero but he uses these qualities wrong making him not a hero. An epic hero is supposed to have seven traits such as: noble birth, strength and courage, warrior, adventure, heroism, humility, and faces supernatural. Beowulf possess these traits but his actions do not show him as a hero. What Beowulf says and does speaks louder than him just being characterized as a hero. Beowulf is not a hero because he is conceited, seeks pride and self-glorification, and thinks he is more superior than others. Beowulf is conceited by seeking glory only for himself and not giving credit to those who aid him in battle. Beowulf does not need help from his army he can fight anything and everything by himself. Raffel translates, “No one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster” (57). Beowulf is saying that the other people with him could not win this battle only him. Beowulf thinks he is better than everyone else and will take all credit for them winning the battle. Beowulf puts himself into battle even when he does not need to, he just wants glory …show more content…

Beowulf is stronger than others. Raffel translates “They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood” (56). Even after battle when Beowulf is exhausted he has rose from war with strength. Beowulf’s strength has been seen by others so his strength is undeniable. Beowulf is bigger than the rest of his army that fights along with him. Irving writes “singles out Beowulf from the rest of the band: he is bigger, braver” (par 10). Beowulf is braver than the rest of his army and not afraid of anything. Beowulf does not have to prove that he is stronger the author makes him superior over the others. Beowulf is superior over the others by being bigger and

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