Beowulf the Epic Hero Beowulf is a thrilling, daring, and exhilarating epic poem of the past written by an anonymous author in a single manuscript passed down through many generations. Being the protagonist of the poem, Beowulf is also a noble role model. He shows the true qualities of an Anglo-Saxon epic hero through various acts of courage, strength, and loyalty.
Beowulf proves himself to be an Anglo-Saxon epic hero by being courageous. Courage is described as the mental or moral strength to persevere through difficulties, pain, and danger while having no fear. Beowulf shows his first example of courage when he explains how he will fight Grendel with his bare hands, leaving his fate up to God and courage, He shows this in the following quote from the text “Go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid Behind some broad
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Against the monster. God must decide Who will be given to death’s cold grip.” (Lines 170-175). Next, Beowulf proves himself to be courageous, in lines (165-169), Beowulf says “May purge all evil from this hall. I have heard, Too, that the monster’s scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I.” Beowulf shows courage by explaining, if Grendel doesn't need a weapon and fears no man, Beowulf doesn't fear Grendel or need a weapon to fight him. Again, in lines (312-315), Beowulf shows courage when he holds Grendel and won't let go, giving him no escape when the author states “That mighty protector of men Meant to hold the monster till its life leaped out , knowing the fiend was no use To anyone in Denmark.” Another example of Beowulf’s courage is shown when he says “Great king. They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies’