Beowulf is the epitome of the ideal Anglo-Saxon epic hero. The numerous amount of characteristics that he possesses benefit him in many ways, but eventually lead to his downfall. As depicted in Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, the qualities found in Beowulf that were most admired by his society include inhuman strength, unreserved loyalty, and unending bravery. Beowulf was said to have inhuman strength amounting to “the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand” (380-381). Beowulf exposes this truth even further by dismembering the arm of Grendel, a devilish ogre brute, from his body.
Beowulf displays a strong sense of superhuman strength based on his actions. Beowulf’s objective for his quest is to defeat Grendel and his mother. He eventually defeats both of them but is killed while fighting the dragon. Although, while he was battling Grendel’s mother, he defeated her by using force instead of a weapon.
As it is written on lines 91 and 92, Beowulf was “The strongest of the Geats‒greater / and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world.” The writer of this story paints a very good picture of just how much stronger Beowulf is than everyone else with this one quote. Similarly, after he kills Grendel’s mother, he takes Grendel’s head and carries it with one hand out of the water. When he hands it to the rest of his men, it is so heavy that they start “staggering under the weight of Grendel’s skull, / Too heavy for fewer than four of them to handle” (564-65). This quote is yet another example of the superhuman strength that Beowulf has.
In addition to modern super heroes, Anglo-Saxon super heroes are brave, loyal, and very strong. In Beowulf, an epic poem with an unknown author, Beowulf sets a precedent for all super heroes. As the first documented superhero, Beowulf exemplifies bravery, loyalty, and superb strength. To begin, Beowulf displays bravery throughout the epic poem Beowulf. This is because he is always prepared to
Beowulf is shown to be a threatening beast that will take down anyone. When Grendel wins the fight, he does something that is dishonoring to Beowulf. A quote explains what Beowulf did, “Hanging high from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s arm, claw and shoulder and all” (Beowulf 356-358). This is a wonderful example of how nobody respects Beowulf so much that Grendel hung his arm up for everyone to look upon. On the other hand, many people respect the boundless warrior Achilles.
An epic hero is someone who has to preform heroic deeds. The King of Geatland at the beginning of the poem was Hrothgar, Beowulf is just a Geatish Warrior, once Beowulf finds out about Grendel attacking he steps in to help the tribe. Beowulf kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon in this poem. The battles Beowulf fought were beyond human strength and capabilities. Beowulf’s first battle was with Grendel, whose arm was ripped off with a pair of bare hands, this became his first heroic achievement.
In the fight with Grendel’s mother, the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf culture values physical strength above all else. During the fight with grendel 's mother, Beowulf was giving a sword that was suppose to protect him from the wrath of the beast but the sword had failed him. However, that could not stop him. To Beowulf, “If weapons were useless he’d use his hands” (506-507). This shows Beowulf 's strength and want for frame and glory empowered him.
Beowulf was brave and selfless to be able to fight these type monsters without being afraid which made him
The poem of Beowulf focuses on the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero of Beowulf and explores the meaning of heroism. Throughout time, it is clear the definition of a hero has changed, there have been significant modification in what a hero’s morals are as well as their true intentions. Beliefs in today’s society pursue the idea that Beowulf would not be in the parameters of what we may consider a heroic individual. The perfect hero in today’s standards would be an unselfish individual, one who would not worry about materialistic things such as wealth but instead their focus would be on others, in different ways they can assist people and or change their lives for the better. In the Anglo-Saxon time period the idea of lof, fame after death, and wealth were goals of people who wanted
Hero; a person of notable bravery and courage, respected for valiant deeds and gallant qualities. The idea behind heroism can be traced back to the beginnings of time, with heroes such as Achilles who embodied courage. The warrior people known as the Anglo-Saxons; Germanic tribes from Denmark as well as northern Germany , extremely valued the concept of heroes. Despite being converted to Christianity around 597 CE, the Anglo-Saxons treasured heroic ideals such as bravery, modesty, and valor; and were very interested in traditional heroes . Heroes were not their only value, these people also heavily cherished community, family, and retained high moral standards.
Beowulf shows physical strength in the poem by defeating Grendel who was a man-eating demon. He fought Grendel with his bare hands to make the fight fair. Defeating Grendel’s
Both characters demonstrated courage and strength by fighting many vicious monsters to protect their lands. It asserted in Beowulf that “The monster’s whole body was in pain, a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. Sinews split and the bone-lappings burst. Beowulf was granted the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen-banks, fatally hurt, to his desolate lair” (814-820). Here, we see that how Beowulf fights bravely.
Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf is an old epic poem in which the protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats come to the aid of Hrothgar, king of Danes, whose great hall, Heorot is plagued by the monster name Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel’s mom with a giant sword and later becomes the king of Geats. Then after a period of fifty years, he defeats the dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle and dies. After his death, his attendants burn his body him in the huge funeral pyre and then bury him. Hero is the person who is admired and idealized for his courage, outstanding achievements, noble qualities, and is good in the opinion of others.
Beowulf is an epic poem written in Old English that dates back to 1000 CE. The ancient poem contains the tale of the title character, Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon warrior in the 6th century. A hero in Anglo-Saxon is told to be greatly defined by Beowulf because of his strength, bravery and courage. Dying in battle is what Anglo-Saxons saw as heroes. The Geats and the Danes looked up to Beowulf as a leader and a hero.
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.”
