Nina Ybarra Mr. Butler English 12CP 1-27-2015 Beowulf the Epic Hero A true hero does not fear death and will risk all that he is to protect people from great danger. Beowulf is an epic hero and tells a great story about a legend who overcomes all difficulties; almost as if he was immortal. All heroes share their characteristics of their preparedness to die, this is what marks their actions heroic. Throughout the epic Beowulf exhibits various characteristics that makes him an epic hero. One of the characteristics Beowulf demonstrations is his capability of deeds of great strength and courage.
If one is brave, they’re generally arrogant. Beowulf was very arrogant, in that he is constantly saying he’s the strongest man alive and that no man’s strength is a match for his. Being boastful is a strong suit of an epic hero. If one thinks or knows they can do something, it gives them the determination and drive it takes to get the job done. Beowulf brags about his many, many battles, even in his later years.
His parents and many others told him that there was no chance of killing the beast, and Greece would retrogress into another Dark Age. However, the need for adventure, and the thirst for victory drove Angelos to train and train in order to be the one to beat Diavolos. Through his young years Angelos spent a great deal of time training with the best known swordsman in all of Greece,Sabre. Sabre taught Angelos skills and techniques that no one else had heard or even seen, and made the boy more and more powerful every day. After a decade of intense training, Saber knew that Angelos was a special boy, and had great potential stored inside of him.
Fifty years into the future Beowulf is faced with a horrendous dragon and gets into an epic battle with it. Beowulf slays the dragon but pays for his victory with his own life from a life threatening injury caused by the battle. He is then buried gracefully. Beowulf displays a hero that has to fight for his right of reputation and glory. It displays cultural ties between these early Anglo-Saxon periods; when glory in battle was of the up-most respect.
Beowulf could not fit the image, attitude, and qualities of an epic hero any more perfect. First, an epic hero may establish himself or herself through rigorous challenges. Any true epic hero would never back down from any challenge, as they want to establish themselves as the mightiest and the bravest. Beowulf shows this characteristic a multitude of times. The best example of Behold epic heroism is when he tells the story of his swimming challenge with Breca.
The dragon melted sword. With the help of his good friend, he defeated the dragon. After fighting with the dragon, Beowolf died, do to windiness. Beowolf died for his people. The Iliad is also another great epic story about a hero that fought his people.
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem written by an unknown author, between the 8th and 11th century. The poem takes place in present day Denmark and Sweden and is often referred to as one of the most important works of the Anglo-Saxon literature. The epic poem Beowulf is also known to be one of the oldest surviving epics in British Literature. In the poem, Beowulf, who is a hero of the Geats, has to endure many dangers and must battle with many enemies to obtain his victory. During his journey he fights three monsters; Grendel, Grendels mother, and a fire-breathing dragon.
This played a big role in his many victories, as he was able to win battles against the other leaders who did not have equally adequate positions. He also faced all the same hardships as his men by fighting in the battles alongside them. He once reminded them that all of them, including him, had “shared the labour and shared the danger”. This made him more heroic and trustworthy to his men, as it showed that he was not only prepared to risk their lives, but his as well. Likewise, Alexander was full of ambition as a leader.
Textual Analysis: Beowulf Attacks the Dragon “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open.” Beowulf was a great king and an even better man. He led when no other could, and he fought when no other would. He had displayed an unmatchable courage as he fought and defeated Grendel as well as Grendel’s mother. Along with these defeats as well as being king for now fifty years, there was not much more notoriety and respect that Beowulf could gain.
Beowulf eventually becomes king and dies defending his people from a fire dragon. Beowulf accomplishes his hero cycle through heroic deeds, encounter with numinous phenomenon, and his death, proving he is an ideal hero. To begin, Beowulf starts off the hero cycle strong by performing heroic deeds leading up to his challenge. He says, “A monster seized me, drew me swiftly toward the bottom, swimming with its claws tight in my flesh, but fate let me find its heart with my sword, hack myself free; I fought that beast’s last battle, left it floating lifeless in the sea” (Beowulf 273-278). Once in a swimming race Beowulf had been attacked by a sea monster and had to save himself.