Beowulf could have had all the humility in the world, but it wouldn’t have come to anything if he didn’t have an enormous amount of courage and superhuman strength. This is something that is touched upon in the tale at length especially in the battle when Beowulf places Grendel in an arm lock that eventually leads to the dismemberment of Grendel’s arm and his eventual demise. “For Hygelac's kinsman kept him helplessly locked in a handgrip. As long as either lived, he was hateful to the other. 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. His days were numbered, the end of his life was coming over him, he knew it for certain; and one bloody clash had fulfilled the dearest wishes of the Danes.
The man who had lately landed among them, proud and sure, had purged the hall.” (Heaney 55) This passage details Beowulf’s incredible strength and shows his courage in the face of a seemingly undefeatable foe.
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In Beowulf, this happens when the hero decides to travel from his native Geat-Land to assist Hrothgar in defeating the monsters that were plaguing his lands. Travelling such a distance wouldn’t be a problem now, but during the time when this tale takes place the hero would have had to travel through vast amounts of perils to reach his destination. There is also the matter regarding a character meeting the specification of being a figure of national renown. Beowulf becomes a figure of national renown after his defeat of Grendel and Grendel’s mother. This is shown in the tale when Hrothgar’s wife Wealhtheow stands before him and proclaims, “take delight in this torque, dear Beowulf, wear it for luck and wear also this mail from our people's armoury: may you prosper in them! Be acclaimed for strength, for kindly