Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

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In Beowulf, heroism does not happen arbitrarily or spontaneously but is instead born from acts of vengeance. Heroism in Beowulf does not occur without first being a response to vengeance. However, the vengeance being responded to is often created through acts of heroism. It is because of this that it will be argued that heroism in Beowulf does not happen in a vacuum but instead occurs through a cycle of vengeance. Acts of vengeance present opportunities for heroism but success in these endeavors create opportunities for further vengeance. This relationship between vengeance and heroism causes a cyclical pattern of behavior within Beowulf. Grendel, enraged by the noise coming from the mead hall, “Each day, one evil dweller in darkness/spitefully suffered the din from that hall,” takes action: “so over and over the loathsome ogre/mortally menaced mankind with his crimes” (78-79, 142-143). Prior to Grendel taking action against the people of Hrothgar’s kingdom, Grendel had been seething in his own anger due to his lineage: “he had …show more content…
It is through another act of vengeance that the story picks up again and another heroic opportunity presents itself. A robber steals a “plated flagon” from the dragon’s lair (2009). “One treasure taken had tainted the rest” and the dragon, “waking in wrath,” spotted the footprints of the one who had broke into its lair (2012-13). “…Eager and angry,/the hoard-guard hunted the thief who had haunted/his hall while he slept…” and it is this vengeful tirade that offers Beowulf another opportunity for heroism (2019-21). Beowulf comes to the defense of his people, in the end only backed by one person: Wiglaf. The dragon is defeated but Beowulf loses his life. He is given a hero’s funeral accompanied by the treasures of the dragon’s horde- his final

Example Of Heroism In Beowulf

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Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

Beowulf is an epic poem that relays the traditions and cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons. Chivalry, honor, loyalty, and bravery are only a few of the powerful qualities a hero of this time must contain, qualities that are present in Beowulf, who stands as a prime example of heroism. The story deals with the struggles between Beowulf and monsters who represent the qualities opposite to those contained in Beowulf, a hero. The fiends Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon each represent a perverted…

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Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

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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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Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

Heroes are everywhere. All around the world, in every country, state, town, and neighborhood. A hero is someone who puts his or her own needs behind helping others. Are heroes born with the gift of heroism or do they develop it over their lifetime? What qualities makes a hero who he or she is? In Beowulf, the subject of heroes is explored as a fearless monster killer who conquers all challenges placed before him. Today heroes can be anyone from a friend in the hallway to a fireman or policeman. Malala…

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Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

In Beowulf there is the reoccurring themes of Vengeance and Heroism throughout the entire time. Heroism on it's own does not spontaneously happen, and it also does not happen without some sort of purpose or outside force causing it to happen. Instead, Heroism gets progressively developed in Beowulf after these certain acts of Vengeance are first displayed. Heroism throughout Beowulf also will not occur without it first becoming a reaction to these acts of Vengeance. Most of the time however, these…

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