The basic traits of being a hero are simple. You must have courage, selflessness, humility, loyalty, patience and care deeply about others. “A hero is a person or main character of a literary work who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength, often sacrificing their own personal concerns for a greater good. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero)”. One of the most important works in Old English literature is Beowulf, it is a great example of an epic hero. Beowulf shows great feats of bravery throughout the story/epic. “In the beginning of the story Beowulf is called upon to rid the people of Herot of the monster Grendel, who had been on a killing rampage for the past twelve years, he lets it be known that he will do so with his bare hands. (http://study.com/academy/lesson/beowulf-bravery-quotes-examples-analysis.html)”. Another act of bravery by Beowulf is when he fights and kills the dragon. Beowulf’s final boast was, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight …show more content…
Beowulf shows great loyalty to his family honor, his King, and his men, making loyalty a powerful inspiration for him to put others’ needs before his own. “Beowulf shows his loyalty to Hrothgar when he agrees to help him rid the castle of the monster, Grendel, who has been terrorizing the mead hall for the past twelve years, ''For twelve winters, seasons of woe, the lord of the Shieldings suffered under his load of sorrow.'' (http://study.com/academy/lesson/loyalty-in-beowulf.html)”. An excellent example of loyalty in Beowulf is when he is fighting the Dragon, all of his men flee except for one, “None of his comrades came to him, helped him, his brave and noble followers; they ran for their lives, fled deep in a wood. And only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what kinship should mean”