Beowulf

29 August 2013
Beowulf Essay And over and over they swore that nowhere on earth or under the spreading sky or between the seas, neither south nor north, was there a warrior worthier to rule over men.Beowulf has many characteristics of an epic poem hero. When Beowulf found out that the Danes, led by Hrothgar, were being harassed and attacked by the monster Grendel, Beowulf set out on a quest to make sure that Grendel would cause no more harm to Hrothgar and his people. While he was on his quest to defeat Grendel, he would need to use his superhuman strength to kill the monster and save Herot from its tormentor. After his battle with Grendel, he returned back to his homeland with riches and treasure and became the king. His final battle was with the fire-breathing dragon, where he died fighting to protect his people. Beowulf was the greatest warrior in the entire world. He was such a superior warrior that he would never turn down an opportunity to battle. He was always seeking fame and glory as a warrior. Beowulf has many characteristics of a hero in an epic poem. The best characteristics are that the hero is on a quest, he has superhuman strength, and he is significant and glorified.

Beowulf has several qualities of which are excellent examples of an epic poem hero. The greatest quality that he exhibits is that he is on a quest. When Beowulf heard that there was a monster terrorizing Herot, he made it his mission to go help the Danes. He set out on a journey with 14 other of the greatest warriors he could gather so that he could bring peace to the land. His pursuit to bring peace to the Danes and to kill the monster that has killed so many other soldiers in cold blood is only one of Beowulf’s bold and daring achievements. He would find that in his battle with Grendel, he would need all of his superhuman strength to be victorious.

Of all the heroic traits that Beowulf has, perhaps the one that stands out most is his superhuman strength. This trait can be seen throughout several examples in the story. One example of his strength is when he fought the monster Grendel. He took hold of Grendel’s arm so tight that he was able to tear off Grendel’s entire arm. Another example of his superhuman strength is when he fought Grendel’s mother in her underwater home. Not only did they fight underwater for hours, but he was able to lift a sword made specifically for the monster to use because it was so heavy that no ordinary man could hold it. This is how he defeated the monster. His battle with Grendel and his mother gave Beowulf a prodigious reputation, and he returned home to the land of the Geats a hero. He was later crowned king and faced with a challenge to kill the fire-breathing dragon. However, Beowulf’s incredible strength would not be enough to slay this monster. His final battle would make him much more significant and glorified than he would ever know.

Beowulf was a warrior who fought monsters to gain fame. He believed that fame was given to those who wanted it most, so he was always seeking glory through battle. For instance, when he swam against Brecca, he was trying to prove that he was stronger than Brecca. Although Beowulf lost the race, he only lost because he was out fighting huge monsters while Brecca only wanted to beat Beowulf. Another example is when Beowulf killed Grendel, he hung the monster’s arm from the rafters on the ceiling in Herot, and people from all over came to see what Beowulf had accomplished and they praised him for his doing. Beowulf fought his final battle as the king of the Geats. He was killed in battle fighting the fire-breathing dragon that was going to attack his people. Beowulf’s death was not the end of his legacy though, because his people made a monument in his reverence, which shows how significant and glorious Beowulf’s life was.

Throughout the story of Beowulf, there are many examples of how he is on a quest, how he has superhuman strength, and how he is significant and glorified. The battle with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the fire-breathing dragon were all how he proved that he was the greatest warrior in the world. Through his quests and expeditions, he found ways to achieve greater glory by using his superhuman strength. These are just a few of the epic hero characteristics that Beowulf possessed.