Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Hero

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People contain many different characteristics, but only a small number holds characteristics of a hero. Intelligent, courageous, bravery, and integrity are a few of the many which heroes are made up of. Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon hero who is a man with heroic characters such as probity, astute, and bravery. For example, he helps people in need of assistance because he knows he can help them. Although, he does not have to provide aid he does so and makes it strategically. Astute, when on the brink of death battling with Grendel’s mother. Beowulf was able to defeat her without sustaining any injuries. The last characteristic of Beowulf being heroic is bravery. In order to battle with the creatures he did. One would have to have an incredible amount …show more content…
Not to mention, he traveled to the Danes to defeat a monster. Equally important, no one had defeated Grendel who had been invading the Danes ferociously for 12 years. Also, he goes underwater for hours in order to defeat Grendel’s mother who killed Hrothgar’s closest friend. “He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone’s Answer; the heaving water covered him Over. For hours he sank through the waves.” (467, 469) And, Beowulf journeyed to the Dragon’s lair to slay it. However, before he could get to Grendel’s mother he had to battle many creatures. “All of that race from the earth. I swam in the darkness of war. Dripping with my enemy’s blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all that raced from the earth, I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one.” (247-254) Another example of Beowulf’s bravery is when he went to the dragon’s lair to defeat it. “The Beowulf rose,s till brave, still strong, And with his shield at this side, and a mail shirt on his breast, Stride calmly, confidently, toward the tower, under The rocky cliffs: no coward could have walked there!” (650-653) For the most part, bravery is a heroic characteristic and Beowulf constantly shows throughout the story he is a …show more content…
Firstly, he battled Grendel with his hands because Grendel’s skin was impenetrable to swords. “A path for his evil soul, but their points Could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon Had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells That blunted every mortal man’s blade.” (374-378) Correspondingly, Beowulf won against Grendel because he did not use a sword and killed him by ripping off his arm. “He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split And broke.” Secondly, when battling Grendel’s mother, on the verge of the death he picked up a sword and claimed victory. “Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy Sword, hammered by giants . . . now, angry And desperate, lifted it high over his head And struck with all the strength he had left, Caught her in the neck and cut it through, Broke bones and all.” (530-540) And, while battling with the Dragon he used a shield, wearing chain mail, and the sword forged by giants. “And with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast . . . Beowulf’s ancient sword Was waiting, unsheathed, his sharp and gleaming Blade.” (651, 652, 674, 675, 676) In the final analysis, Beowulf is smart in the life or death situations he
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