Why Beowulf Is Not An Epic Hero
Beowulf Essay Hannah Dudley 1st Period
Every generation and culture of mankind seeks a hero to emulate and look to for guidance. Heroes provide hope, determination, and safety to all who are affected by their actions. Epic heroes are smarter and stronger than the average human, and they are on a quest for something important to their people. They also have strong ethics and values. In the epic poem, Beowulf, Many would argue that Beowulf is an epic hero and can do no wrong, however his ethics and motives are incorrect. Beowulf is not an ethical man. When Grendel comes to the hall to attack, Beowulf watches him but doesn’t react, “Human eyes were watching his evil steps, waiting to see his swift hard claws. Grendel snatched at the …show more content…
They make him look arrogant to people. Therefore they question his abilities as Unferth does. Unferth believes that Beowulf is stupid for fighting all the battles he does because all of them are not necessary to save lives. Some of them are for the people. Yet some of them are only for the notoriety and money. For example, Unferth accuses Beowulf of being foolish in his quests, “Are you the same boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca, both of you daring, and young, and proud?” (lines 239- 243). This statement barely even fazes Beowulf, but it may convince the reader that his motives are wrong. It becomes obvious that Beowulf’s only motivation is the notability he gets when he defeats the beasts and the money he gains. Because he wants the fame so badly, he doesn’t think about the consequences of the battles before he goes into them. After Beowulf has defeated the dragon and is dying he is talking to Wiglaf. He tells him what to do with the gold he has earned.
“Have the brave Geats build me a tomb, when the funeral flames have burned me, and built it here, at the waters edge, high on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower, and boats in the darkness and mist, crossing the sea, will know it” (lines
Every generation and culture of mankind seeks a hero to emulate and look to for guidance. Heroes provide hope, determination, and safety to all who are affected by their actions. Epic heroes are smarter and stronger than the average human, and they are on a quest for something important to their people. They also have strong ethics and values. In the epic poem, Beowulf, Many would argue that Beowulf is an epic hero and can do no wrong, however his ethics and motives are incorrect. Beowulf is not an ethical man. When Grendel comes to the hall to attack, Beowulf watches him but doesn’t react, “Human eyes were watching his evil steps, waiting to see his swift hard claws. Grendel snatched at the …show more content…
They make him look arrogant to people. Therefore they question his abilities as Unferth does. Unferth believes that Beowulf is stupid for fighting all the battles he does because all of them are not necessary to save lives. Some of them are for the people. Yet some of them are only for the notoriety and money. For example, Unferth accuses Beowulf of being foolish in his quests, “Are you the same boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca, both of you daring, and young, and proud?” (lines 239- 243). This statement barely even fazes Beowulf, but it may convince the reader that his motives are wrong. It becomes obvious that Beowulf’s only motivation is the notability he gets when he defeats the beasts and the money he gains. Because he wants the fame so badly, he doesn’t think about the consequences of the battles before he goes into them. After Beowulf has defeated the dragon and is dying he is talking to Wiglaf. He tells him what to do with the gold he has earned.
“Have the brave Geats build me a tomb, when the funeral flames have burned me, and built it here, at the waters edge, high on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower, and boats in the darkness and mist, crossing the sea, will know it” (lines