The Ideal Hero

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Carl Edwards Junior English- 7th Period Hero Essay August 25, 2011 The Ideal Hero “But so massive that no ordinary man could lift”, this is referring to the sword that Beowulf used to kill Grendel’s mother (Line 636). If no ordinary man could lift something so massive, then what would Beowulf be considered? Many people who read Beowulf think of him as a Hero. There are a plethora of things to consider before calling someone a hero. Three important things that it takes to be considered a hero are one’s strength, courage, and confidence. When talking about a hero, one’s strength is something that cannot be ignored. This is one of the many traits in which Beowulf had. It was said in Beowulf chapter 3,”the strongest of the Geats- greater and stronger than anyone, anywhere in this world”, which proves how they portrayed him (Lines 110-111). Strength can be seen in many different places such as in a gym or in the World’s Strongest Man Competition, however strength is not the only thing that makes someone a hero. Beowulf can also be portrayed as a hero by his courage. Beowulf showed his courage throughout his battles against many beasts such as Grendel and Grendel’s mother. He also showed his courage by the fact that he didn’t fight in close combat shown through the words of Beowulf saying, “My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to” (Lines 169-171). Not only does this show his courage but it also shows how he wanted to keep his honor with his king Higlac. One of the most important traits that a hero must have is to have confidence. This is very important because someone could have a lot of good traits that could give them the ability to become a hero, but if they do not have enough confidence to use these skills, then they will be an ordinary person. Someone who tries to get what they want in life must often have the

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