Beowulf: A True Epic Hero
The great actor, Robert Downey Jr., once said, “I think that we all do heroic things, but hero is not a noun, it’s a verb. In the epic poem “Beowulf,” the main character, by the same name, fits this quote perfectly. Beowulf sets off on a journey to rid the land of the Danes of the evil that has haunted it. Beowulf is a true epic hero because he embodies traits that were highly valued in his time and he possesses seemingly supernatural traits. During Beowulf’s time, the Anglo-Saxon period, strength and courage were highly valued traits of a man. Beowulf displays these traits throughout the story. Beowulf puts his strength on display by defeating so many monsters. “They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness
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While speaking with Hrothgar, at the beginning of the story, Beowulf boasts about his many triumphs. He says, “ I swam In the blackness of night, hunting monsters Out of the ocean, and killing them one By one” (155-158). In order to battle monsters in ocean, one would have to be able to hold their breath for an extensive amount of time which would not be possible for a normal human. Beowulf would have to possess a supernatural ability in order to stay underwater long enough to battle one of these monsters. Beowulf’s next display of a supernatural ability comes when he decides to battle Grendel with his bare hands. “I have heard, Too, that the monster’s scorn of men Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I” (166-169). Furthermore, Beowulf not only defeats Grendel, but he proceeds to rip Grendel’s arm off in the process. “He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split And broke” (337-340). No ordinary man would be able to cause such damage as this with only his bare hands. Thus, this accomplishment illustrates Beowulf’s possession of supernatural strength. The idea of an epic hero has been around for several centuries. Spectators can see them today in literature, movies, and television shows. Beowulf represents a true epic hero because he embodies highly-valued traits of his time and he possesses supernatural
While speaking with Hrothgar, at the beginning of the story, Beowulf boasts about his many triumphs. He says, “ I swam In the blackness of night, hunting monsters Out of the ocean, and killing them one By one” (155-158). In order to battle monsters in ocean, one would have to be able to hold their breath for an extensive amount of time which would not be possible for a normal human. Beowulf would have to possess a supernatural ability in order to stay underwater long enough to battle one of these monsters. Beowulf’s next display of a supernatural ability comes when he decides to battle Grendel with his bare hands. “I have heard, Too, that the monster’s scorn of men Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I” (166-169). Furthermore, Beowulf not only defeats Grendel, but he proceeds to rip Grendel’s arm off in the process. “He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split And broke” (337-340). No ordinary man would be able to cause such damage as this with only his bare hands. Thus, this accomplishment illustrates Beowulf’s possession of supernatural strength. The idea of an epic hero has been around for several centuries. Spectators can see them today in literature, movies, and television shows. Beowulf represents a true epic hero because he embodies highly-valued traits of his time and he possesses supernatural