According to Campbell a hero is someone that must go out and take victory over a life-threatening challenge that will change who the hero is as a person. In “Beowulf” the title character demonstrates a hero as he ventures out to save the Danes from multiple beasts such as Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon.
At the beginning of the poem Beowulf is introduced in his ordinary world, Geatland. Beowulf is presented as,”Higlac’s/follower and the strongest of the Geats”(109-110). He demonstrates stage one as this introduction describes him as the strongest Geat and he is unaware of the challenge that faces him in the future. Soon after, Beowulf faces the “call to adventure,” which is when he learns about the terror Grendel is reaping upon the Danes. After he receives
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Arriving to the Danes is a big part of being a hero for Beowulf because it demonstrates his courage, as he leaves the comforts of his homeland to help others in territory that is unknown to him. Additionally, arriving to Denmark represents Beowulf “crossing the threshold,” because he is leaving the “ordinary world,” to enter an unfamiliar land. Soon after arriving in this land and discussing the issue, he must face Grendel, a test that will greatly define who he is as a hero. Beowulf finally meets Grendel as the monster comes,”From the foot of misty/Hills and bogs bearing God’s hatred”(285-286). Beowulf meets the beast and remains courageous. Beowulf attacks this “test” head on with no hesitation even after seeing the monster rip apart one of his own Geats. He fights and is able to scare away the beast and stop the terror. Beowulf defeating the beast truly demonstrate him as a hero as he headed out into the unknown with confidence, and defeated the difficult challenge he had to face, to help save the