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Examples Of Beowulf As A Hero

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In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf is seen as a hero of the Geats and the Danes. He saves the Danes from the monster descendant of Cain, Grendel. He also saves the Danes from the atrocity’s mother. He saves the Geats by becoming their king for fifty years and killing the dragon which factored in his ultimate demise. The idea of a hero has existed throughout the ages. In ancient times the idea of someone risking their life to save someone else’s is astonishing. From modern times to tales in ancient epics, the idea of a hero has been passed down through generations. Throughout the story, the characteristics of Beowulf make him a hero. A hero exhibits strength, bravery, honor, and is able to complete tasks with divine intervention; Beowulf embodies …show more content…

The chain mail he wears while facing Grendel’s mother. Grendel’s mother pounces on Beowulf hoping to avenge her only son. When she does, Beowulf is not scathed because the chain mail he wore saved his life. He would have surely perished if not for that. With God on his side “it was easy for the Lord to the Ruler of Heaven, to redress the balance once Beowulf got back up on his feet” (Beowulf, 1271). Another way in which there is divine intervention is while Beowulf still facing Grendel’s mother. The first sword he uses is Hrunting which does not even make a scratch on her. While glimpsing through her armory, he spots an ancient heirloom from the days of the giants. Only Beowulf could wield this weapon (Beowulf, 1271). While fighting her the ancient sword was the only thing that could pierce her skin. Beowulf with his God sent strength is able to defeat her. Margaret E. Goldsmith writes, “Beowulf comes as a God-sent deliverer to cleanse Heorot.” While facing the dragon he also receives divine help. Beowulf, with his super human strength is a force of nature unto himself; although it was not his idea to use a sword in battle that was made of iron. Beowulf when wielding a weapon “no matter how blooded and hard-edged blade, his hand was to strong the stroke would ruin it” (Beowulf, 1295). Beowulf strength is more than meets the eye. His grip is so hard that by barely swinging a sword it breaks. Most mortals could not even begin to attempt half of the things Beowulf has because they do not have the same strength given unto him by the

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He carefully strategized his plan to defeat Grendel. He waited for Grendel to come to Heorot, then surprise attacked him. Grendel put up a fight, but Beowulf was stronger and more intelligent. Beowulf ripped the arm off of the beast, sending him away to die. Not only did Beowulf have to defeat Grendel, but Grendel’s mother came back for revenge, so Beowulf set out to the darkness where Grendel and his mother lived.

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Not just through characteristics, but through Beowulf's struggle and endeavors throughout the story, it resembles that of an epic hero. J.R.R Tolkien suggested the theme that a ‘man alien in a hostile world, engaged in a struggle which he cannot win’ states that Beowulf struggled in the hostile world, and in something he could not win; though he may have won battles through struggle, he never fully won. Being larger than life, going on a quest, and dying a symbolic death are the characteristics of an epic hero shown by Beowulf. In the theme of the story, the man alien was in a hostile world.

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Before confronting Grendel, Beowulf "removed the cap and gave his orderly/the designed sword" (672-673), choosing that utilizing a weapon or assurance of any sort

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Beowulf’s strength had lead him to victory when he “lifted the sword high over his head and struck with all the strength he has left, caught her in the neck and cut all the way through, broke bones and all, He body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood.” (page 54, line

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Beowulf shows immense courage and bravery which anglo-saxons believed to be his fate. Grendel has never found a harder opponent in battle than Beowulf “.... Had he met a man whose hands were harder.... ”(167) At this moment

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I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (2511-2515). In conclusion, Beowulf is an epic hero. Although he made risky decisions, he did them for his people. He possessed the qualities of a hero; bravery, loyalty and fearlessness.

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In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is depicted as a heroic figure who fights monsters and defends the weak. During its time, Beowulf would be considered a great hero, however in today 's standards Beowulf would only be considered a great warrior. That’s because a hero should value the lives of the people and not seek to be rewarded. Instead, Beowulf committed heroic acts for his own selfish reasons and never shows to values the lives of the people. From fighting Grendel to slaying the dragon, Beowulf only fought because he value the fame and fortune that comes along with those accomplishments.

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Beowulf sets sail with fourteen of the Geats to battle Grendel. Grendel is so powerful that mere steel cannot injure him. Despite knowing this, Beowulf still chooses to fight him. Not with a sword and a shield, but with his bare hands. “ My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linen shield: my hands alone shall fight for me,” (166-174).

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Beowulf was invincible in his strength. He battles terrifying monster and risks his life. He showcases his heroic stoicism through his super-human physical strength. Grendel was a horrendous monster that was the incarnation of maleficence. Beowulf’s men had tried to use their weapons to fight, but Grendel “ blunted every mortal man 's blade” (Line 485).

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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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Near the end of his life as a king, Beowulf found that his citizens were being terrorized by a dragon. Although he was old and grizzled, the king took it on in battle. He showed tremendous courage even when knowing the odds were not in his favor. Previously, during his time in Denmark, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother with the sword made for a giant. This showed his superhuman strength because as an ordinary human being Beowulf was able to handle and control the giant’s sword.

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Reminiscing about the fight fought against Grendel’s mother, Beowulf says he fought her using an enchanted sword that disintegrated after one fatal strike. This shows how Beowulf has developed his way of dealing with evil, as this time he actually uses a weapon to kill his

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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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665 Words | 3 Pages

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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1363 Words | 6 Pages

Beowulf bravely follows her back to her home, where he must find a way to slay her. She also has a spell placed on her, so Beowulf’s sword does not harm her. Just as all hope seems to be lost, Beowulf spots a giant sword on the wall that can be used against the beast. The sword is “so massive that no ordinary man could lift [it]”, but Beowulf uses what strength he has left to lift the weapon (Beowulf 54). This scene in the story represents the Magic Weapon archetype.

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