Selflessness In Beowulf

Beowulf is an epic poem originating from the Anglo-Saxon culture. A warrior society that ruled northern europe(Proper Noun) during the the period between the late 700’s to the mid 1000’s a.d.(capitalization) Their influence has shaped english(capitalization) culture and literature and subsequently the culture of the United States.(RO) The poem itself focuses on the hero Beowulf, who embodies all the traits praised by the Anglo-Saxon culture at this time, most of which are also valued attributes in almost every culture in the western world. Beowulf’s courage, leadership, and selflessness is literally, “the stuff of legend”. Each of these are characteristics, we in the modern world still see as essential to a hero.

Beowulf’s courage was shown time and time again. From the battles with the stealthy Grendel and his vengeful mother, to his final moments battling the
An average parent is selfless when it comes to their children. A person dropping change in a Salvation Army bucket Christmas shopping is displaying an act of selflessness. Then again, Beowulf fighting those monsters and expecting nothing in return is an act of selflessness. This proves you don't need to be in a book or be well known to be a hero you just need to have selflessness. Truly the definition of hero is a matter of perspective and isn't an absolute title.

Courage, leadership, and selflessness are skills we all attribute to image of the ideal hero. Beowulf is one of the earliest accounts of a legendary hero in the Western World. While the tools of the hero trade along with what that hero may look like has changed throughout time the basic characteristics have not. Looking it in the face, it is hard to see the likenesses between people like Martin Luther. King Jr., George Washington and Beowulf. Delve deeper and you'll see that not just them but all heroes share the traits that we all consider the makeup of a