In Emerson’s “Heroism” he explains his view on what a hero is supposed to be. “Heroism is an obedience to a secret impulse of an individual's character. Now to no other man can its wisdom appear as it does to him, for every man must be supposed to see a little farther on his own proper path than anyone else.” Emerson compares the heroic man who dares to stand out from the common men and really emphasizes how important it is that despite what the rest of the common men are doing, it’s the man who stands up for what’s right and has self-trust that ends up being known as the hero. One of the most important key characteristics from Emerson’s “Heroism” that is the most necessary for defeating a monster like Grendel is self-trust. “Self-trust is the essence of heroism. It is the state of the soul at war, and itsultimate objects are the last defiance of falsehood and wrong, and the power tobear all that can be inflicted by evil agents. It speaks the truth, and it is just, generous, hospitable, temperate, scornful of pettycalculations, and scornful of being scorned. It persists; it is of an undaunted boldness, and of a fortitude not to be wearied out.” What Emerson is saying is that when an individual has trust within themselves, trusting what they know is right and wrong and going against all the instincts that have stopped common men from becoming a hero as well. In order to defeat Grendel I believe that if you keep persisting and have self-trust, it will still be greatly difficult, but a hero never backs down. “To all the earlmen after evenlight’s glimmer, ’Neath heaven’s bright hues hath hidden its glory. This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them, Carles very clever, to come and assist thee, Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of the strength of my body.” This excerpt from Beowulf is Beowulf himself speaking to Hrothgar about how he travelled all the way there just to defeat Grendel with his strength and determination. In conclusion, I believe that Beowulf portrays many of the characteristics that Emerson deems necessary for being a hero.
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