Compare And Contrast Epic Hero In Beowulf

Saying that all heroes must be stubborn and unchanging is preposterous; many heroes must change their opinions about many things in order to remain heroic. Odysseus does not have the best personality throughout the entire book, yet he remains a hero and after he kills over a hundred people in the battle of the suitors, he is even given rewards, "Athena lent him beauty, head to foot. She made him taller, and massive too, with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth but all red-golden." (Applebee 691) Athena’s blessing would only be given to a hero of epic proportions, and Odysseus fits the description perfectly.

A hero does not fight for fame and glory but for the greater good. A hero is someone who goes through adversity to help others in desperate times. A hero fights evil, and defends people. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he is a strong, brave warrior who defended his people and slayed evil monsters. Beowulf proves himself to be a strong, brave warrior by killing Grendel the monster.

As a king, Beowulf must learn not only to think in the now but to plan for the extensive future for not just himself but for his entire race. In the eyes of several of the Geats, Beowulf’s dauntless encounter with the dragon is morally questionable because it dooms them to a kingless state in which they remain vulnerable to attack by their enemies. He throws consequence out the door and reverts to being the hero. But since all of these kings were great warriors in their youth, the tension between these two important roles seems inevitable and ultimately irreconcilable. Fame was worth the

This quotation shows bravery because Beowulf knew the dragon was much more powerful than him, but he took it upon himself to fight the dragon alone and risk his life to protect the people. Beowulf defeated the dragon but also lost his life while fighting for his people. He states, “So God/Gives guidance to those who can find it from no one/Else” (Beowulf 12-14). This quote is saying, how Beowulf will do what others will not do, he’s showing his bravery towards Hrothgar. The other criteria the Anglo-Saxon hero shows is generous.

Beowulf declares that he “drove five great giants into chains, [and] chased all of that race from the Earth.” He is immensely overbearing at that point because he is too proud of his achievements. Being excessively prideful does not exactly label Beowulf as a hero. Beowulf assumes all of the courageous acts he fulfills will make him

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

The dragon and Beowulf went to battle, which resulted in a defeat for Beowulf. The dragon was an outcast for not socializing with the kingdoms and staying in his cave for years. This was another example of Beowulf as an outcast; he battled without an army resulting in him being alone, or an

Like Odysseus and his wits or Martin Of Redwalls amazing swordsmanship. But no two heroes are alike, like Martin Of Redwall and Odysseus, who’s nothing alike, but the hero 's journey is almost spot on. Let 's start with The Call To Adventure. The call to adventure is the part of the journey that leads to the start of the adventure. In Martin’s

Among those character traits, being brave is remarkably important. Odysseus exhibits this trait multiple times throughout the story. Though, one of the more notable times he displayed this trait was when he decided to face the cyclops and stab his “big hand spike…deep in his crater eye and not just flee when they had the chance. Another heroic trait he

Although both kings have had an impact in this poem, Beowulf is the more successful king. The king of the Geats is a truly noble and courageous leader. He showes true bravery to be a great role model to his and Hrothgar’s people. “O flower of warriors, beware of that trap.

The odds seem unlikely for a regular man; however, Beowulf is not like most men. Another trait of Beowulf includes his loyalty to his friends and family. Beowulf leaves his country to travel to an unknown land to defeat a monster who could kill him. He has the loyalty to this country which he has not even stepped foot on it. A couple of years after Grendel’s death, he becomes friends with the Danish king.

They both were seeking for something that was greater than themselves, something that would help them but both wanted something different. Beowulf looked for the best interest in his people and went to other nations to aid them in defeat of monsters or other terrors harming them. He was looking for fame and glory and did so by helping others and although this seems selfless in the end it was all to benefit himself. While beowulf helped others in his search for fame gilgamesh was only concerned with himself. In his journey gilgamesh grows bored with his life and decided to go and fight the monster humbaba, who was sent by the gods to watch over the cedar forests.

Beowulf was stunningly brave, courageous and put his abilities in the service of others. However, he was too conceited and obsessed about his reputation. Macbeth was a brave warrior, but his Achilles heel, his ambition, turned him into a tyrant. Macduff loved his country and did his best to save it from a tyrant, but at the same time didn’t exercise good judgment in safeguarding his family. Rather than judging people and their actions purely in black and white terms, we should recognize that human beings are complex creatures and have lots of shades of gray.

Beowulf is telling us that he doesn’t value the lives of his citizen, but instead values glory and is willing to fight for it. In the end, Beowulf slays the dragon but paid his life as the price. In conclusion, Beowulf would be considered a great warrior, but not a hero. Although Beowulf accomplished many heroic deeds he never did any of them for the right reasons. Therefore, Beowulf is not a hero, but only a warrior who values renown and rewards.

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’”