beowulf epic hero

Beowulf Epic Hero Essay. “A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men”(Plato). A hero is a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. During the medieval era, a story titled “Beowulf” was spread in Anglo-Saxon by word of mouth. Beowulf as the hero was called was not just an ordinary man, but was “the strongest of the Geats, greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world” (line 109-111). Beowulf is considered as an epic hero due to his superior human strength and can risk death for glory or for the greater good of society. First of all, Beowulf is said to be an epic hero because of his superior human strength. In the story, there were three obstacles that Beowulf had to overcome. During the time of Hrothgar, Beowulf had to face a vicious monster named Grendal. Grendal was a monster who had been tormenting the Danes for twelve years. Grendal was so strong that “no weapon on earth is capable of harming him” (line 220). But Beowulf‘s superior human strength, “fought and ripped Grendal’s arm completely out of socket. Fatally wounded, Grendal slinked back to his swampy home and died” (Line 221-230). Additionally, Beowulf again exhibited his superior human strength during the battle with Grendal’s mother. Hrothgar told him that there was another vicious monster in the lake. So Beowulf dived into the lake, where he saw Grendal’s mother waiting for him. He started to fight Grendal’s mother. She was about to defeat Beowulf when he saw a sword on the wall. It was so heavy than an ordinary man can never lift it up. With all his strength, he lifted the sword and cut Grendal’s mother’s head with it. She fell on the floor and died instantly (line 520-543). Furthermore, when Beowulf was about 70 years, a fire breathing dragon started to destruct his kingdom. Beowulf once again had to