Beowulf: The Perfect Hero

He is the archetypal hero. And not only does he fight for good, but he represents it as well. For Beowulf to signify good there must be a contrasting evil to complete the balance. Beowulf, who comes to help the Danes fight the dreaded Grendal. Beowulf is a classic epic hero and is honored by being passed down in the story.

He also reflects true suffering and struggle. Homer compares feasting and suffering very closely to show that struggle results in something deeper than the result of feasting. The significance of struggle is that you take everything head on despite the fact you could fail. The foremost reason Odysseus is unmatched is because he has no need for nice things, only need for destiny/ things of relevance. Not only does he commit countless heroic acts in situations of high pressure where he could die, he also never loses faith.

Gawain volunteered himself because he believed that he was the weakest the knights from Arthur’s round table we are shown just how honorable Gawain was to King Arthur when he said, “Were I not your nephew my life would mean nothing; to be born of your blood is my body’s only claim.” (356-357) Beowulf and Sir Gawain are seen by audiences as both tremendously heroic. Beowulf might have been the strongest man, but Gawain was honorable and moral, much like a true hero should

As an underdog, no matter how hard life hits you, you will find your own motivation and keep going. You show life not only how hard you can hit it back, but that you can overcome anything. In chapter 1 of Allison Scott and George Goethals’ Heroes: What They Do and Why We Need Them, they explain why it is necessary to have a hero within a story. These writers state, “One reason is that the creators of fiction purposely construct characters who perfectly embody classic heroic stories or narratives. […] These make-believe individuals are thus crafted to be hero prototypes—individuals possessing powerful heroic qualities that we easily recognize and admire” (Scott 32).

The anti-hero is someone who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities such as Idealism, courage and moral goodness. A real hero is the person who possesses all the heroic qualities all of the time which is in real world seems to be untrue as there is no perfect human beings. An anti-hero is a character who experiences both villainess and heroic treats, an anti-hero is a person with an ultimate objective to make the world a better place. Although anti-heroes participate in villainous, they are considered to be heroes as their main aim is to benefit the society, the surroundings or the mankind itself. A modern clear example for an anti-hero is Breaking Bad the TV series.

Although Victor very well fits the role of a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, he also fits the role of a hero. He sacrifices years of his life to work towards a goal that would forever change the world. Victor creates this creature not knowing what it will turn out as, risking his own life for the science world. It is also very heroic of Victor to go through the process of bringing something to life because it was something no one had attempted before. Therefore, Victor is the most capable and best epitome of an epic hero.

“A Hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”, quoted by Christopher Reeve. Beowulf however, tends to be an epic hero based on the definition of one. Beowulf was definitely a hero, not because of his super strength, smartness, or even his sword. But because when everyone backed down he was the one to step up & sacrifice his life to save others. “ Beowulf fights in various battles which shows his hero characteristics such as supernatural, bravery, and leadership.

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 .

In Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon’s epic poem of a hero fighting to save his kingdom from death and destruction. Good versus evil is the most common theme presented throughout the poem Beowulf. The writer makes it clear that great and malevolence don't exist as just contrary energies, however that both qualities are available in everybody. Beowulf speaks to the capacity to do great, or to perform acts sacrificially and in help of others. Goodness is likewise demonstrated all through this epic as being able to wash down underhandedness.

Every culture has rules and customs written in stone, in which they describe to be the perfect human being. This person is usually made into a hero and with all these perfect traits comes a perfect story to be told, it is usually told as an epic. There is always something that separates this character from the rest, from extraordinary strength to humble leadership. According to T. Mercadal, “The hero archetype is an ideal person (usually male) who possesses virtues and outstanding traits meant to be admired and imitated, such as courage, leadership, noble sentiments, self-sacrifice, bravery, and strength.” This assertion portrays the main characteristics of the Germanic heroic Code that are presented throughout the poem. The qualities of the Anglo-Saxon hero are well established by Beowulf's actions.