Beowulf – An epic hero? After reading Burton Raffel’s translation of Beowulf, it is portrayed that the lead character was an incredible epic hero. Even though Beowulf is known for his great strength, he has other traits that make him so fantastic. Our character did many good things and many bad things. Some of which were acts of bravery.
An epic hero is a brave and noble character from an epic poem. Beowulf is exactly that. Beowulf demonstrates most of those traits. Beowulf demonstrates an epic hero because he was charged with a quest, he had super strength, and traveled underwater to a supernatural world. These are just some of the values shared by the epic hero Beowulf.
43). This quote displays us that not only did Beowulf defeat Grendel, but he defeated Grendel with just his bare hands. This example confirms the characteristic of how Beowulf is an epic hero by completing a great deed with great strength and courage. Another characteristic someone may see in Beowulf, is him being a great warrior. Before a hero completes a journey in his epic, he must establishes his name another way.
Matt Eisenschmid Mr. Bloh English 3, Period 8 February 3, 2014 Beowulf: A True Epic Hero Throughout the history of literature many heroes have been created and observed in epic quests and stories. Many of the greatest stories about heroes are told in poems such as The Odyssey, The Iliad, and Beowulf. The heroes in these poems are defined “epic” by their valiant actions and the massive scale of their quests. An epic hero is more than just any typical brave soul; this type of hero does much more than saving a princess. 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.
Beowulf and his people displays these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances throughout the tale. Beowulf was "the strongest of the Geats" and also "greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world". Beowulf is shown to be the strongest among the strong. Physical strength was very much envied by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf could slay the greatest monster of all, Grendel.
In eighth century culture, a legendary reputation made a man immortal. We see from his exploits in the poem that it was far more important to Beowulf to build a reputation than to build wealth. Beowulf’s bravery and skill in combat made him an Anglo-Saxon hero of his day. His valiant death as a warrior solidified his legendary status in the minds of his people. Beowulf’s embodiment of Anglo-Saxon heroic ideals has insured that tales of his great deeds will continue to endure for
Epic Hero vs. Universal Hero The Anglo-Saxons characterize Beowulf as an epic hero and these views relate to how modern day society portrays a universal hero. An epic hero is a main character in an epic whose actions are legendary; according to the Anglo-Saxons Beowulf is an epic hero. The qualities of an epic hero range from having the willingness to die to performing great feats. TEXTUAL SUPPORT ( evenly matched with Grendal, Grendal’s mother, dragon and willingness to die before each fight). EXPLANATION.
Even the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has immensely different definitions for the word, such as “a mythological figure, often of divine descent, endowed with great strength or ability” or simply “a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities.” The poem Beowulf portrays the main character, Beowulf, as an exemplar hero in Anglo-Saxon times. He was courageous, proud, and valiant in battle. While the Anglo-Saxon ideals of heroism set forth in Beowulf have many superficial similarities to those of modern times, there are many subtler differences that show how the concept of heroism has evolved over time. In every time period, courage and bravery have been key characteristics a hero must possess. Throughout the entire poem Beowulf sustains these qualities with every monstrous encounter he faces.
During the age of classical Greece, there was an emergence of three heroic figures. Alexander the Great was a fierce leader who obtained many military achievements during his reign. His charismatic personality and tactical mind also helped him to become an outstanding political leader. Furthermore, he left behind a legacy that influenced the course of history and helped to shape the world today. He was also a more heroic leader than either Hannibal of Julius Caesar, due to their vicious and uninspired tactics.
The hero will be faced with challenges. They believed that good will always defeat evil. Such as Beowulf he was brave, strong, and an epic hero. Beowulf was boastful he faced many challenges, such as “Drove 5 great giants into chains, chased all of that race from earth”. Beowulf describes an epic hero during the period of Anglo-Saxons.