The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, But wounded as he was could flee to his den, its miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh. Only to die, to wait for the end” (lines 498-503). Finally in Beowulf part two explains after the defeat of Grendel and his mother he became king because since Beowulf had so much honor in battle, that people learned from him and is looked up to (pg 43). These steps that Beowulf went through define what an archetypal hero perfectly and this is why Beowulf is an archetypal hero. So to the following conclusion Beowulf is an archetypal epic hero because he carries both traits of both an archetypal and epic hero.
D. Defeat in Beowulf (818-822) After defeating to great and treacherous monster, Grendel, the people of Danes believe that they can feel security once more on their land. Grendel is symbolized as darkness and evil throughout the poem. Grendel has been banished into darkness given his ancestral connection to Cain. Beowulf proves himself as a warrior by satisfying and pleasing his own self – pride. Mounting Grendel’s arm in Herot, the heart of Danish society, represents society’s victory over the outsider.
The pagan elements Beowulf are apparent in the characters heroic image. Beowulf takes it upon himself to save the Danes from Grendel. In his battle with Grendel, Beowulf chooses not to use weapons; he relies on his own strength (Beowulf 681 - 685). He wrestles with Grendel until he is able to rip one of the monster's arms out of its socket. These superhuman acts also appear in the fight with Grendel's mother.
The character Beowulf killed a murderous “grim demon” being called Grendel, saving the Danish kingdom Heorot from further devastation. Fifty years later, Beowulf rescued his own kingdom from the torment of a dragon. The Geat warrior is the savior of both of these kingdoms, but one must ask where what Beowulf’s motives lie for his heroic actions. Although Beowulf appears heroic for altruistic motives he is in fact acting out of desire for his own glory by winning battles. The battle against Grendel was seen as a game to Beowulf more than an actual serious matter.
God’s approval of Beowulf as a leader is manifested throughout the poem by God’s helping hand. Grendel, a big demon monster was be defeated by an average-sized mortal Beowulf. Similarly, when Beowulf was battling the dragon a magical sword appeared out of nowhere that was able to penetrate the dragon. Once the battle was complete and the dragon was slain, a light appeared on Beowulf demonstrating God’s hand in the victory (2700). Beowulf knows that he has the divine right to be king from God and has no doubts of this.
This poem describes the hero Beowulf marching with his fourteen warriors when they arrive at the place of Heorot where Beowulf finds that the king of Heorot, Hrothgar, terrified by a monster called Grendel. Beowulf is able to kill Grendel and his monster-mother at his abode beneath a lake. After that he returns to his country and becomes the king there and rules his kingdom for fifty years. He dies of the wounds he got once during the combat fought with a dragon. An epic in definition is an extended narrative poem that reencounters actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes.
What it means to be good in the world of Beowulf, the relationship between individual prowess or ability and ethical value, the meaning of being a member of the community, the role of the monster in defining virtue and community and the role of language are the importance of individual virtue and its relationship to community are all the many characteristics that can be read in the story of Beowulf. Beowulf was all about being a hero. Everyone saw him as a courageous, super-strong epic hero. What did it mean to be good in the world of Beowulf? Beowulf was strong, intelligent, humble, and kind and in the eyes of society this was their view of being good.
All hale BEOWULF. The kingdom is being saved by the confident, strong and monster slayer Beowulf. Beowulf is known to have experience in killing monsters. This heroic figure is brushing on shore in his fancy ship to put the kingdom of Denmark on his shoulders! He WILL kill Grendel!
Grendel ran as the second he was free, but that was the end of him bleeding to his death. When Beowulf swam to the bottom of the lake to fight Grendel’s mother, it took him hours to get to the bottom of the lake. Holding your breath for so long is another superior thing for a mortal. That was not the only thing, but when he was fighting Grendel’s mother he saw a sword hammered by giants, it was said that it was blessed by magic. It was the best of all weapons so massive that no ordinary man can lift it.
Grendel terrorized and killed all of Hrothgar's men, who were also called the Danes. After many years of the Danes continuously suffering from Grendel, a young Geatish warrior named Beowulf came to put an end to Grendel's evil ways. When Beowulf arrives to King Hrothgar's kingdom, there was a huge feast held in his heroic honor. King Hrothgar was well acquainted with Beowulf's family because long ago he had once paid Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, a favor. The feast lasted late unto the night unitll finally Grendel arrived.