Beowulf Character Analysis Essay

History presents numerous tales of exemplary “epic heros” exhibiting courage, honor, and divine virility; the character Beowulf possesses all three of these character traits. Throughout the epic, the character Beowulf demonstrates courage by battling raging monsters and fire-breathing dragons in order to protect innocent civilians. Beowulf acquired honorability by battling in fairness, considering the villains fighting tactics before deciding upon his own. During the battle, Beowulf presents other-worldly strengths that no ordinary man could obtain. Beowulf does not retreat from any of the three battles during the epic. No matter the odds stacked against him, Beowulf does not hesitate to plunge into a fight. For example, Beowulf traveled from Geatland to Denmark with the purpose of defending Hrothgar and his people in Herot against the evil Grendel. Beowulf vows to
Divine intervention is a key factor in these feats Beowulf is able to accomplish. For example, Beowulf was able to life the shewolf’s magic sword. Lines 530-534 “Then he (Beowulf) saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy/Sword, hammered by giants, strong/And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons/But so massive that no ordinary man could lift/Its carved and decorated length.” During this scene, the epic Beowulf holds the irony of the character Beowulf slaying the shewolf with her own sword. During the battle with Grendel’s mother, the shewolf was unable to harm Beowulf with her sword. Also during the battle, a bright light burns all around Beowulf. Beowulf’s inability to be harmed along with the bright light represents the divine intervention incorporated into the epic. Lines 485-491 “Then he realized, suddenly,/That she’d brought him into someone’s battle-hall,/And there the water’s heat could not hurt him./Nor anything in the lake attack him through/The building’s high-arching