Beowulf: Beowulf and Epic Hero Essay

Beowulf Project
Block 3
Beowulf As An Epic Hero Beowulf was an extraordinary epic hero in his time. Epic heroes have many traits that others lack, among these are physical strength, bravery, and wisdom all attributes of Beowulf. It all started out with his family, they were fully christian and strong hearted about it. But also his father on the other hand "was a famous soldier, known far and wide as a leader of men" (175-176). Edgetho (his father) is where he got his strength from and learned how to battle. Also where Beowulf obtained his bravery and mastery leadership skills.

Beowulf's family was christian and had a father and mother. But Beowulf's father owed a debt of honor to Hrothgar from a long time ago when Hrothgar stopped a feud between Beowulf's father and an enemy tribe. Since then Beowulf felt obligated and also just wanted to help Hrothgar kill Grendal "A powerful monster, living down in the darkness" (1-2), "and made his home in a hell not hell but earth" (18-19). Grendal was banished to hell "He was spawned in that slime….of cain, murderous creatures…. of abel's death" (19-23). Beowulf thanked god after ever battle he fought in, he idolized god. The Geats were Beowulf's clan. Fourteen Geats traveled with Beowulf on his journey to Denmark "the bravest and best of the Geats" (121). After Grendal and Grendal's mother battle he thanked god for everything. He knew that the lord was with him where ever he went at all times, which mad Beowulf not scared of anything not even death. Beowulf was all about glory and fame "bit holes in his helmet, and that to failed him…. worn to war it would earn no glory" (499-501), "but all he took was Grendel's head" (586-587). There is nothing wrong with wanting fame and glory, which is why everyone knows Beowulf as such an epic hero for all of the fame he has had.

As an epic hero Beowulf was surely the superman of our time then, he even swam the oceans. Beowulf's strength was god like, he was the strongest man on earth. "I drove five great giants into chains…. race from the earth" (248-250). Strength is a attribute of a hero and Beowulf has plenty of it and with that he is confident in it where he says "that the monsters's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none". (262-263). Grendal could not be touched by human weapons "they could hack at Grendal every side…. blunted every mortal man's blade" (372-378). But even with Grendal's spells Beowulf was so strong that when he fought against Grendal he ripped off his "arm, claw and shoulder and all" (410). Before fighting Grendal's mother "for hours he sank through the waves" (469). This battle he brought weapons because he did not know what kind of monster he was up against. But he soon found out that "If weapons were useless he'd use his hands, the strength in his fingers"

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Beowulf Is An Epic Hero

Beowulf And The Epic Hero