Professor Garza 3
English IV
5 October 2014
Beowulf Essay
Beowulf is a humble, strong, wise, and courageous hero who embodies the character traits in the Anglo-Saxon religion; these characteristics all come together to make up an epic story. He has the behavior, traits and beliefs that were respected in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf displays these traits in his own actions and words during different circumstances throughout the story. Beowulf was "the strongest of the Geats" and also "greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world". Beowulf is shown to be the strongest among the warriors. Strength was very much envied by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf could slay the greatest monster of all, Grendel. Beowulf killed Grendal, and Grendal had never met a stronger person "That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime knew at once that nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands were harder". This shows the powerful strength that Beowulf held. Beowulf was fearless of all enemies and fought to defend his glory. Beowulf did not need to tell anyone that he was fearless; he showed them how fearless he was. Beowulf didn’t need a sword or a shield to protect him from when he killed Grendell with his own hands "My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster". Beowulf jumped in the disgusting water to fight Grendels mom, he did not know where he was going yet, he went showing no fear.
Beowulf shows how humble he is when it comes down to fighting Grendals mom, due to the fact that he uses a sword to defeat her. "Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy sword, hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons", "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." Beowulf saw the sword and saw it was his only opportunity to defeat Grendal’s mom. Beowulf