What Makes Beowulf An Epic Hero

There are many elements of an epic that are present in Beowulf that make Beowulf a true epic hero. In most dictionaries an epic is defined as a “long poem, usually one that is derived from an oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic figures or the history of a nation”. With this being true, the epic Beowulf also contains many more of these elements that made this poem an epic poem. Some of which are the story takes shape around a hero of unbelievable stature, the hero also possesses superhuman strengths, and there are many otherworldly and supernatural beings. This stories plot takes place around a hero of unbelievable stature, that hero is Beowulf. Beowulf is able to finish what everybody is only able to attempt, with this stature come a great blessing of being protected by God. During the fight with Grendel’s mother god not only protected him from her “brown
When he is about to face Grendel he makes a promise that he will not use weapons due to the fact Grendel himself does not possess any. He says he will rely only on his fist because he will not “let his sword / go where his feet were afraid to” (ll. 265-266). This shows how he believes in his god given super strength and is just courageous enough to take upon himself this challenge for more glory not only for himself but also the Geat’s king, Higlac, turning this fight into a contest of strength as well as good versus evil. When Beowulf introduces himself to Hrothgar he tells him of all his accomplishments, and great feats of strength and valor. He speaks of how he had risen “from the darkness of war, / Dripping with his enemies’ blood. He drove / Five great giants into chains” (ll. 247-249). Here Beowulf’s gift of super human strength and great valor is shown because no man would think to go head to head with five great giants and expect to win, but he took the challenge and beat