Beowulf could slay the greatest monster of all, Grendel. Beowulf killed Grendel; Grendel had never come to such a match among 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 physical strength that Beowulf embodied. And Beowulf also shown honors of a warriors when he defeated Grendel. Beowulf was fearless of all opponents and fought to defend his fame and glory.
Thou he doesnt know the true outcome of his beliefs he wasnt conscious of his own or other peoples lives but instead focused on his natural wanted defeat. "Human eyes were watching his evil steps, waiting to see his swift hard claws, Grendel snatched the first Geat he came to, ripped him apart, cut his body to bits with his powerful jaws." [ Lines 414 - 424 ] The "human eyes" referring to the eyes of Beowulf who was explained tobe watching Grendel "dismantle" one of his own warriors. In which an epic hero is someone who is on a quest, risks his or her life for the glort of fame and embodies the ideals and or values of his or her cultuer in which all the listed essential of an epic hero clearly resembles Beowulf. In contrasr to Beowulf, Grendel is envious, resentful, and angry toward all human kind for the fact that he feels as thou God blesses all b ut the ogre he is, and thinks he could never be blessed.
Then, Beowulf shows his strength by killing Grendel with simply his bare hands. In the past stories we heard of Beowulf, he had fought and killed many sea monsters while swimming in the ocean for days. He had also slain a dragon no one else could. Beowulf and Grendel are also both loyal. Beowulf shows his loyalty by being loyal to his Geat cousin and uncle even though he is stronger than they and by carrying out his promise to Hrothgar to rid him, and the Danes, of Grendel.
Fifty years ahead and now King Beowulf faced a task of killing a dragon. He would “[fight] with fate against him” (724) seeing as his “the ancient blade broke” (727) while striking the dragon’s side. The beloved king would eventually die with “None of his comrades\Came to help him” (745-746) and his “Followers… ran for their lives…” (745-748). King Arthur’s story is also an epic poem which speaks about an honorable leader who will do anything to defend his people. Arthur went off to battle, with his comrades at his side the whole time and is able to defeat his foe, but doing so left him fatally injured, until he is eventually killed.
Another theme in this story is the theme of men versus monsters. This theme comes to light when Grendel is described. Even in Chapter 1, it is made known that Grendel is going to be a monster. He is called the “enemy of mankind” (29) and rightly so. That automatically makes the reader see him as a completely evil character.
In the epic poem, Beowulf, the title character epitomizes an Anglo-Saxon hero with his bravery and his skill in combat. Throughout the poem, Beowulf’s ineffable skills in combat are highlighted in his battles with each of his foes. Initially, when Beowulf faces the beast Grendel, who is attacking the great mead-hall of Denmark, Beowulf requires no more than the strength of his bare hands to overpower the beast. Grendel is subdued when “every bone in his body quailed and recoiled,
An example of Beowulf representing this characteristics is when he battles Grendel. In the battle with Grendel, Beowulf overpowered him with just his hard hands, of great strength. In the epic it states “He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over...” (pg. 43).
This character is brought upon conflicts and challenged by inhuman creatures that threaten his existence and the perseverance of his culture. Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf battles three monsters. The adversaries and their conflictsare an allusion to the war against the fall of the Anglo-Saxon society, their values and morals The first beast he encounters is one described sinisterly as a dark, lurking devilish creature that hates humans and their qualities; and feasts on human flesh, terrorizing the Mead Hall of the Danes. This creature of the night is confronted by Beowulf in a graphic battle on which the herofights with courage as his only weapon. With little struggle, the protagonist rises as a victor in a symbolic fight against the disintegration of his society.
The true definition of an epic hero is a character that will take on any challenge even it risks death, posses’ godly strength and ability, and finally will valiantly sacrifice themselves for the good of their people and ideals. In this case, Beowulf is the spitting image of an epic hero. Not only does he fit the description but also he emits pure heroism in almost every thing he does from fighting Grendel to the Dragon. Beowulf portrays the epic hero in the following ways such as taking on seemingly impossible challenges like his swimming competition with Breca, possessing godly and superhuman strength when fighting Grendel and his mother, and finally sacrificing himself by fighting and defeating the Dragon while also dying for his people. Beowulf could not fit the image, attitude, and qualities of an epic hero any more perfect.
This character is brought upon conflicts and challenges by inhuman creatures that threaten his existence and the perseverance of his culture. In the epic poem, Beowulf battles a monster named Grendel. This adversary and his conflicts are an allusion to the war against the fall of the Anglo-Saxon society, their values and morals. In some ways, Beowulf reminds the reader of the heroes in today's world. He has superior physical strength, he is ethical, and he risks his life to save others whose lives are in danger.