Beowulf's Heroic Characteristics

When one hears the word hero many think of a man in tights with a cape who possess powers that he uses for the greater good, but not all heroes wear capes. In the epic poem Beowulf, author unknown, the main character, a man who the work is named after, shows heroic characteristics as he battles monsters that threaten the safety of the people. Beowulf exemplifies himself as a hero throughout the story by displaying heroic characteristics such as: bravery, honor, and loyalty.

One example of how Beowulf is a hero is that he is brave. Throughout the story Beowulf exemplifies courage and bravery as he encounters the challenges of facing monsters that cause havoc. The first example of Beowulf’s bravery is when he faces Grendel, a monster who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Hrothgar, a Danish king. When Beowulf faces Grendel, Beowulf removes all of his armor and protection choosing to face Grendel using hand-to-hand combat. Beowulf is victorious in his battle with Grendel, ultimately tearing the

Beowulf demonstrates his honor when he faces off with Grendel. Because Grendel is untrained in the art of fighting, Beowulf sees his armor and his weapons as an unfair advantage. So, Beowulf gives up his protection and weapon in order to fight a fair fight, a kill is deemed unacceptable if not done fairly. Later, Beowulf shows honor again when he refuses to back down from the fight with the dragon, despite his old age. Lastly, Beowulf displays the heroic characteristic of loyalty. Everything Beowulf does is fueled by loyalty. In the beginning of the story, Beowulf displays his first act of loyalty as he leaves his homeland to sail to the home of the Danes to help face Grendel. Beowulf also shows loyalty to his father. King Hrothgar had once helped Beowulf’s father, by helping Hrothgar in his time of crisis, Beowulf is able to demonstrate his loyalty to his father and by paying back the