Beowulf: The Heroic Qualities Of An Epic Hero

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Beowulf is set in an historical period where the magnitude of the men is demonstrated by their strength in battles and their courage, instead of by money and beauty like today we are sadly used to. During the Anglo Saxon time period Beowulf was known as a phenomenal epic poem written by the Beowulf poet. All the characteristic of an epic hero: strength, loyalty, bravery and devotion of duty are envisioned in the protagonist, Beowulf.
The physical description of Beowulf allows the reader to see how significant of an epic hero he is. We can find a description in the section “Last battle of Beowulf” when the narrator describe his change after 30 years: “The gray-bearded lord of the Geats had ended those flying, burning raids forever” (Ln 792 pg 68). This explain the loyalty of an epic hero who never gives up until the death. He is an aged king and leader to his people after 50 years of …show more content…
He is an epic hero due to his abnormal strength , he can kill monsters without using weapons.
Even the thoughts: “ I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I’m old now , but i will fight again” (Ln 605-611 Pg 62). They reveal the intelligence and the mentality of a fighter and his tenacity in what he did for all his life. Moreover Beowulf is an epic hero by fighting for his people despite his age and weakness, devotion of duty is apparent here.
Not only the actions of the protagonist are important to considerate, because for example we can see the pure soul and the devotion of duty of Beowulf in Hrotgar’s speech: Beowulf, you have come to us in friendship, and because of the reception your father found at our court” (Ln 191-192 pg 48). This explains that in Anglo Saxon period alliances and loyalty were precious and

Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

Beowulf promotes his role as a heroic protagonist by having the willingness to sacrifice his own life for the greater good. In doing this, Beowulf uses the characteristic such as bravery, honor, and superhuman physical strength to take down Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. A hero is someone who is looked up to for their courage, abilities, sacrifice, and noble qualities that are rare or not usually seen in others. Beowulf travels great distances and uses his own bare hands to defeat the…

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Odysseus And Beowulf Analysis

additionally educated viewers on the attributes that define a hero. Being the most renowned out of all literary works, the narratives centered around the heroic acts of Odysseus and Beowulf are notable exemplifications of these heroic qualities, as both characters idealize the elements of unity, loyalty, bravery, selflessness, and wisdom. However, as we can also see through the examination of our own modern heroic tales, the stories of Odysseus and Beowulf share…

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Heroism In The Epic Poem 'Beowulf'

Radovicich English IV 18 September 2017 Heroism Beowulf is an epic poem that was written during the 11th century. “Beowulf”, is the protagonist’s name whose actions define him as an epic hero. His qualities consist of his showing of bravery and responsibility. Bravery The text starts off introducing Beowulf as great warrior. “So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns” (1). It presents the Spear-Danes were…

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Herot Vs Beowulf

two versions of Beowulf there are many similarities, but also some captivating scenes that differ and alter the comprehension of Beowulf’s true qualities. The book portrays this brave man as a classic epic hero with outstanding courage and determination to obtain eternal glory. While the movie does identify his braveness and willpower to save Herot, in this film Beowulf becomes more realistic, showing signs of weakness when he surrenders to sinful actions, thus making him a tragic hero. In…

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Beowulf: The Qualities Of An Epic Hero

Anglo Saxon time period, an epic poem, Beowulf, was written by an anonymous Poet. The Protagonist, Beowulf, presents a phenomenal epic hero example throughout the adventures he embarks upon. The epic hero traits audaciously represented in Beowulf’s loyalty, superhuman strength, devotion to duty, and bravery. Beowulf kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon, all of which are heroic deeds that no one else was able to surmount or willing to take on. The foes that beowulf fought were all beyond superhuman…

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beowulf hero essay

Beowulf: Epic Hero Final Essay Gillespie British Lit The legendary hero Beowulf had great -- sometimes superhuman -- physical strength, incredible bravery and confidence, and he was protected by special armor and weapons. He was also accompanied by a loyal friend, Wiglaf, who assisted him when he needed help defeating the dragon. A hero had to have courage, strength, and the will to overcome obstacles. He had to be a good leader and a father figure to his followers. He would be merciless to enemies…

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Who Is Beowulf An Epic Hero

Who is the epic hero Beowulf? Matter of fact, what makes Beowulf the person we read about today? The hero like no other man, but still relatable as a person. What makes him so relatable is his courage, confidence, and wisdom. That’s just to name a few of his many more quality traits. They may not be a lot, but these are the most important human qualities of Beowulf. Thinking back to Beowulf’s most courageous act was the fight between him and the dragon. Before this battle, Beowulf always had a army…

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Beowulf's Quest

English 12 5 March 2024 The epic “Beowulf”, an oral product Translated by Burton Raffel, is about an epic hero who is seeking glory. Beowulf is a hero who goes on quests looking for glory. During these quests, he fights powerful evil monsters who harm others. Beowulf's immense valor towards finding glory in his quest is the reason why he's a legendary epic hero. Beowulf is a hero of mine. Being a hero is a good trait to have, especially when people depend on you. Beowulf travels far to help others…

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Epic Poem Beowulf Essay example

September 10, 2013 Beowulf What embodies the true characteristics of a hero? Within the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist portrays countless qualities to help define the true essence of a hero. In the ninth century a hero was expected to be courageous, strong, and loyal. In order to live up to the expectations of a ninth century hero you must be courageous. In Beowulf’s final battle he was well aware he would be encountering his sudden demise but he didn’t flee. Beowulf stayed to fight his enemy…

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Flat Characters In The Epic Of Beowulf

Battle after battle, Beowulf fights off evil for his people. Beowulf has three encounters in this poem. Those encounters are Grendel, Grendel's mom, and the dragon. Each time he fights he seems to have a different motive, it could be that he starts to realize his impact when he fights. Grendel is a man eating demon and Beowulf is the hero. Although these two characters sound so different, their motives are alike. These two characters did not change throughout the whole story, which is called a flat…

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