Beowulf Is An Epic Hero

There are five different traits that must be examined when deciding whether or not a character is an epic hero. The hero must be of noble birth or a high position, his actions often display courage and superhuman deeds, the setting is vast, the hero must be known nationally or internationally for his heroism, the hero must have humility, and the hero must face a supernatural foe (Characteristics of Epic Heroes) These characteristics match the poem of Beowulf and can be used to show that he is an epic hero. For example, In Sean Heaney’s, Beowulf: A New Verse Translation, it says that “So ought a kinsman act, instead of plotting and planning in secret to bring people to grief, or conspiring to arrange the death of comrades. The warrior king was