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Beowulf: A Monster Eating Warrior

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A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Beowulf is someone that has a strong will and mind. He believes that he can not be defeated and has the confidence that says so. He is an incredible fighter not letting anyone intimidate him no matter what their strength might be. Beowulf has a strength that some others did not. He was very loyal to his dad’s old friend, and people that crossed his path. Beowulf takes pride in his killings and battles. He does not let one thing bring him down; he comes back unashamed and 10 times harder. Beowulf is a hero because of his strong mind, perseverance and the will power he always carried. Beowulf is described as a monster eating warrior. He …show more content…

Breca and Beowulf were childhood friends. When he had a contest with Breca in the sea, it was argued that he didn’t win by Unferth. He took pride in it and just told them that everyone knew he had one. Beowulf claimed that they were shoulder to shoulder the whole entire match.'But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine.' Everyone knew the type of pride Beowulf had. He had defeated 8 sea monsters and made it clear that nothing could stop him and his beliefs. Beowulf also killed Grendel’s mother after she too tried to attack. He put her head on a stick and showed his accomplishment. Hrothgar told Beowulf ‘ Beowulf fights the dragon saying that nothing he does will change him from killing him. He said, 'When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins.' (Website) So therefore, Beowulf is an epic hero for the things that he conquered. The power and pride he had in doing so. Beowulf had no shame in telling people the truth and standing up to anyone that crossed his path. He was loyal to those that were loyal to him and always kept his word. Beowulf was like his father and cherished time spent together. But everyone knew not to cross his path because it was hard telling what was bound to happen. People looked up to Beowulf for keeping his

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The hero in the epic poem Beowulf is the main character, Beowulf. He demonstrates heroic qualities as soon as the readers are introduced to his character. Beowulf proves himself to be courageous and brave by voluntarily fighting the “undefeatable” monster, Grendel. He is greatly admired by both the Danes and Geats for his courageous acts. Although his motivation is altered to only benefit himself with the title of the greatest warrior, his plan to save the Danes is greatly appreciated by all in the land.

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Although monstrosity is the root of problems in Beowulf, Monstrosity is employed to as a narrative tool to challenge the power structure within the text. In this way, each representation of evil, human or monstrous, serves to enforce the underlying narrative of the culture. Each and every monstrosity in the text influences the main idea of the time which was the Code of Comitatus. A code enforced among the people to maintain the loyalty to their kings no matter the situation or outcome. Therefore as the code of comitatus activates order throughout the people the actions of Grendel and the Dragon through fear creates conflict between the king and his people.

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The definition of a true hero is very subjective as people have their own opinions on what makes someone a hero. Some people might consider someone who does the right thing a hero, for some it may be people who fight for their country. The characteristics of a hero might vary, but in the epic “Beowulf,” Beowulf is sought out to be the hero because of three main traits; his noble cause, code of honor, and his strength and courage. Each of these traits makes up the hero he is portrayed to be. One of the first qualities described in the epic is the act of a noble cause.

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Alexander Hamilton once said, “There is a certain Enthusiasm in liberty that makes Human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” Beowulf is an epic poem in which the main character Beowulf did acts of service, but he fought for those who couldn’t fight. The overall theme of good versus evil in Beowulf had Beowulf dealing with challenges that no ordinary man would be able to handle unless they were a true epic hero. Throughout the poem Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his strength, bravery, and sacrifice.

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Was Beowulf a hero? A hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage. Not just anyone can be a hero it takes a great amount of bravery and great outstanding achievements. In the Anglo-Saxon a hero was to be a warrior. They had to be strong, intelligent, and courageous and be able to face any odds.

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Therefore, the outlook he has puts him in considerable danger since he is prepared to fight Grendel without the use of weapons in order to prove his reputation and acquire fame. Susan M Kim supports the quote, “Are you that Beowulf who contented with Brecca, competed in swimming on the broad sea, where you two because of pride made a trail of the water, and because of foolish boasting risked your lives in deep water” (Kim 13). Kim acknowledges the risk Beowulf takes in order to cement himself as a legendary hero and fulfill his sizeable ego. This self confidence brings him to take on risks he can not handle

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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.

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Beowulf is a legendary way of being able to stay calm and expect any fate whether it be his death or victory. He “Strode calmly, confidently” (647-650) as he went to fight the dragon. Beowulf being able to remain calm and attentive throughout his fight is what defines him as a hero. A hero is characterized as a warrior who by their accomplishments and wins make him a hero. Beowulf's acts of being a warrior have been able to define him as one such as when he defeated Grendel and “ ended the grief,the sorrow, the suffering forced on Hrothgars’s helpless people by a bloodthirsty fiend”402-405).

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In today’s society, anybody can be considered a hero. A hero is a selfless person who is admired for their courageous achievements. A mother, celebrity, or even a mailman can be a hero to someone. In Beowulf, the epic poem translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf is recognized as a hero who craves too much glory. In today’s world, Beowulf is viewed as an irrelevant hero since he displays poor qualities of arrogance and selfishness.

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Beowulf says “The noblest and wisest counselors of my people advised me to come to you, lord Hrothgar because they knew of my great strength. ”(page 13, paragraph 4) Beowulf says he destroyed the race of giants, killed sea monsters and he endured hardships to avenge

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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.”

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This proves that he is strong and brave because no one else could kill Grendel let alone face him. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and without armor on. Other warriors could not even kill him with a sword and armor. “Beowulf’s intention to fight Grendel with only his strength proves that he carries the characteristics of a true hero”(Hailey).

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The continued honor shown in Beowulf’s character shines through when Beowulf never mentions that Unferth’s trusted sword was no match for Grendel’s mother. Beowulf could have simply boasted how the sword was useless and ineffective against the female beast, yet he was silent out of respect for Unferth. Finally, during Beowulf’s time as ruler (fifty winters), another beast arrives: a dragon. This time, Beowulf is much older and is in a much weaker state than when he first defeated Grendel and his mother. However, that does not deter Beowulf from going out and defending his kingdom.

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Not only have we seen brute strength, honorable courage, and admirable loyalty shine through beowulf, Beowulf also possess a great trait not many others have; his will to fight to the death, or self sacrifice. Not once throughout the story did Beowulf ever turn down a battle. Not once did he fear or flee his enemy. Not once did he ever give up even if death had him by the throat causing his mind to flood nothing but fearful thoughts and feelings throughout his body. Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is.

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Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.

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