Siegfried also fought against a dragon, with amazing results! "The great hero slew a dragon and bathed in its blood, which made him invincible against all weapons. No mortal can defeat him in combat.”(Ashliman). Siegfried was a shrewd ally when he secretly helped Gunther woo Brunhild. Like Achilles, Siegfried was made immortal by a magical bath, and like Achilles, Siegfried still had to have courage in the battles he fought.
The most famous written work is the poem, Beowulf. In the poem, Beowulf is a hero of the Geats. He comes to help Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, to defeat a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel’s mother attacks but is also killed by Beowulf. After winning both battles, Beowulf goes home and fifty years pass.
Beowulf was fearless of all opponents and fought to defend his fame and glory. Beowulf did not need to tell anyone that he was fearless; he showed them how fearless he was. Beowulf needed no sword or shield to protect him from Grendel when he killed Grendel with his own hands "My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster". Beowulf jumped in the water to fight Grendel's mourning mother, he did not know where he was going yet, he went for glory
Lines 115-116 quotes “Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar/ now when help was needed.” This explains thoroughly how Beowulf is daring and noble. Honest men fear neither the light nor the dark. Beowulf is willing to risk his life in order to earn fame by killing Grendel. Lines 357-358 quote, “From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it was the monsters/ arm, claw and shoulder and all.” Beowulf feels like a dynamic figure in the town. He has accomplished what no one could ever do!
Grendel terrorizes the people of the land, ripping men apart with his brute strength. The epic poem Beowulf tells the story of a warrior who throughout his life overcomes evils. It has many references to Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery, strength, and courage. For example, Beowulf brashly lists his accomplishments before entering each battle: "But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine ¦ other monsters crowded around me, continually attacking. I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword, (265-294).
Throughout the entire poem Beowulf sustains these qualities with every monstrous encounter he faces. From the very beginning he triumphs over Grendel using merely his bare hands, then chops off the head of Grendel’s revenged seeking mother, and lastly battles the lethal dragon in his elder days, ultimately resulting in his death. On his way out to face the dragon Beowulf says to another soldier, “This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me… I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away” (“Beowulf,” in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. I, 8th ed. Ed.
Beowulf Good vs. Evil The epic poem Beowulf is one of the oldest existing pieces of English literature, which can be dated back to 700 A.D. One of the main themes of Beowulf is the struggle or battle between good and evil. This is a theme, along with other themes in the poem, that is still used today in literature, which is remarkable as the story has been around for so long. In the poem, ‘good’ is clearly represented by the Geat warrior Beowulf. On the other hand, ‘evil’ mainly refers to the monsters that Beowulf had fought, including Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the fire dragon.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF THOR Thor is the heir to the legendary throne of Asgard. Being the son of Odin and the elder goddess Gaea, Thor is physically the strongest of the Asgardians. He is a brave but reckless warrior who longs for glory and the rush of battle. Armed with the mighty hammer, Mjolnir, made from the sacred metal uru and forged in the heart of a dying star. Thor is nearly unstoppable with the weapon in his hands.
Gilgamesh was a famous epic hero for various different reasons. Gilgamesh was a strong powerful leader who was two thirds God and one third human. Throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh he shows intelligence, skills, valor and reverence. One reason he was a hero is how he goes fearlessly into battle. He goes fearlessly into battle when he fights the powerful beast Humbaba, as well as when Ishtar tells Anu to release the mighty bull to trample Gilgamesh.
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.