Preview

Heroism of Beowulf

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
415 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Heroism of Beowulf
Heroism of Beowulf

Beowulf was written in the eighth century by an unknown author. The story is centered on

Beowulf, the main character, who goes to Denmark to offer his assistance in fighting off, Grendel,

the monster who has been haunting them. Beowulf most definitely proves to be a hero. His

heroism is exemplified first when he kills Grendel, then when he kills Grendel's mother, and finally

when he kills the dragon, called Worm. This makes him a hero because he risks his own life to

save the people of Denmark.

The reader first experiences Beowulf's heroism when he encounters and then kills

Grendel. Grendel was a constant threat to the survival of the Danish people because he was using

them as food. One night Beowulf awakes to find Grendel over his bed. Rather than trying to

escape, Beowulf not only faces Grendel but also pursues him when he tries to escape. Like any

other hero Beowulf purses the danger until it is conquered.

The reader experiences Beowulf heroism a second time when he kills Grendel's mother.

Grendel's mother wanted to avenge her son's death and went back to the mead hall where a lot

of warriors slept and attacked. Beowulf came and was ready to fight but Grendel's mother fled.

Disregarding his own safety Beowulf persistently tracks Grendel's mother to her cave, where the

head of the chieftain was found. Despite how colossal Grendel's mother was Beowulf stuck it out

till the end and eventually stabbed Grendel's mother leading to her death.

The third time the reader experiences Beowulf heroism is when he fights and kills the

dragon, the worm. Once again Beowulf completely disregards his safety and decided to fight this

monster. This time Beowulf ended up need some assistance from Wiglaf. Fortunately the worm

was killed. However, Beowulf too was injured and was dying. He made a few requests that he

wanted to be done after he died for

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The few men who knew were scared until Beowulf defeated Grendel. Hanging his arm in the pillar as a trophy. Grendel’s mother came to retrieve it and have some pay back. Beowulf followed her to the bottom of the lake to end the terror on the land. Saying “take care of my men and send my items back to the homeland.”…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    5. Reread lines 506 to 512. Who is credited for keeping Grendel’s mother from killing Beowulf.…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grendel. Beowulf decides not to use weapons to fight the beast because Grendel does not use…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Grendel enters Beowulf's land, determined to kill the people. With all of his effortless kills, he expected an easy victory. Grendel wouldn't fight King Hrothgar because he was said to have God on his side. Having said this, Grendel planned to fight, and kill Beowulf (prince) without and struggle. As Grendel proceeded to the meet hall, he saw all of the soldiers resting in one, laughing he decided to feast on one body and wait until the next day to attack fully. When he does prepare to fight Beowulf, he expected a fast and easy win. What he didn't expect was a harsh, and long battle. As Grendel and Beowulf fought, Grendel learned that Beowulf had the strongest hand on anyone he'd attacked yet. Beowulf pulled back at Grendel's claws with force,…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The happy days had come to King Hrothgar’s Kingdom. Hrothgar had just built a mead hall, named Herot, for his people. May feasts and grand occasions happened here, but not at night. At night, a great monster, Grendel, came to attack. He would kill and eat soldiers. Known as a descendant of Cane, a Biblical figure, he would murder anyone. many warriors had tried to defeat him, but all of them them had been defeated. No soldier was a match for him. Eventually, the greatest soldier had came. At that time, Beowulf was one of the greatest soldiers. His name had been widespread. At first, he was interrogated by a guard. When he originally landed, the wise watchman interrogated him, but soon impressed by him, delivered his message to the king. The king recalled his childhood friendship with Beowulf. In his honor, Hrothgar kept a feast at Herot. Slowly, Grendel came. He started to eat the people. Soon, Beowulf wrestled him down and his group of strong soldiers tried to attack it with the sword, but did not work. Seeing them troubled, Beowulf used more force and pulled his arm out, which led to Grendel eventually dying. This led to great joy in the town. There celebrations and parades held in the town in honor of Beowulf. Because of this great achievement, the name Beowulf spread far and he received international fame. The Ring Prince received a great celebration, but he did not know a great danger awaits.…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the first part of the book, Beowulf heard of the trouble facing King Hrothgar in Denmark and decided to take action, he arrives to find out that it has been twelve years since anyone has dared step foot inside of Hrothgar or face peril at the hands of Grendel, whose only motivation is to prevent any type of joyous noise. He is routinely described as a descendant of Cain, as a disfigured and ugly creature, with huge and lumbering features…

    • 1276 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beowulf's Loyalty

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Page

    Beowulf goes out his way to kill and monster that threatens anyone in any place he goes to herot and helps them not with one but three monsters grendel, grendel's mother and her second son the dragon which wiglaf, beowulf and…

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the battle with Grendel he had to prove to the Danish people that he was really there to help him. Beating Grendel proved that Beowulf was not just any warrior but one with honor and integrity. The battle with Grendel's mother was very different. Beowulf went to great depths by plunging into a marsh into the underworld to defeat her. Beowulf went into the monsters territory proving that he would do anything to help the Danish people. 50 years later now old in age Beowulf came back to fight a dragon. This would only prove that no matter what Beowulf's honor never left fulfilling his father's…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grendel was descendent of Cain, who heartlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt shame for himself. When he heard of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf quickly left to go help the Danish. Although he did have backup, he started a battle with Grendel and chose to do this with no armor or weapons. Nevertheless, Beowulf would still be crowned the winner, as the arm of Grendel would symbolize his trophy. Beowulf would continue to attempt to kill Grendel’s bitter mother and a dragon, who thought the Geats had gone against him. The victory with the dragon would prove to be his last, as it took a lot out of him.…

    • 1606 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many times a group of people seek a leader they can trust and have confidence in to protect and lead them the right way. In the epic poem Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons have found just that, a powerful leader, they can trust. Beowulf, the main character and leader, proved his worth and receives lof from his people. Beowulf shows his lof, or fame and pride, by showing his cultural heroism by fighting Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon.…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    So Beowulf took his strongest men to the Herot to wait and fight Grendel. When the brave men are waiting, Grendel attacks but only takes out one before Grendel got a piece of him. This part of the book shows how Beowulf is a good guy because he is trying to protect his people by stopping Grendel.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf by Gareth Hinds is graphic novel based on the Anglo-Saxon epic from 1000 A.D. This work tells the story of a warrior-prince named Beowulf, who completes various heroic tasks throughout the epic story. How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster teaches the reader the real qualities and characteristics it takes to be a true hero in literature. In his quests Beowulf proves that he is a true hero in literature.…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beowulf - a Noble

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages

    his mother was very angry and killed a knight in king Hrothgar's court the same…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beowulf

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first of his three major battles was Grendel, a beast who ventured into Heorot (the Danish mead hall) and swept up all the drunken men for a feast. Hearing of this monster Beowulf set sail from Sweden to Denmark to face Grendel. Before the battle he and his men only had one drink to ensure they had their wits about them. Then later in the night they lay waiting for the beast to appear acting as if they were drunk and unconscious. Grendel burst through the large metal doors. The stench of so many of the dead choking the air, looks around and finds his first target, one of Beowulf’s men. He snatches him up, bites his head off and proceeds to drink him like a juicy-juice before consuming him whole. His next victim wouldn’t be taken so easily though. The foolish Grendel grabs at Beowulf who is waiting patiently for the beast. Beowulf then grabs onto Grendel’s arm and proceeds to tear it clean off at the shoulder. Scared Grendel runs with his tail between his legs back to the hellish pit he calls home where he dies before his own mother.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf Epic Hero

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Grendel’s mother gets angry when she knows about Grendel’s death. She wants to kill Beowulf. Beowulf has difficulties killing the most powerful monster grendel’s Mother. “Then she carried him, armor and sword and all, to her home; he struggled to free his weapons, and faild” (582-584). This quote shows Beowulf has difficult to killing Grendel’s Mother. Grendel’s mother caught Beowulf very tight and brings him to the battle hall. He is tried to free from her weapons, but he can’t free from her weapon. After so many problems finally he was able to kill Grendel’s Mother. “Caught her neck and cut it through, Broke bones and all. Her body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood, and Beowulf rejoiced at the sight” (642-645). Beowulf fights with Grendel’s mother for long time. Finally he able to kill Grendel’s Mother. He use magic sword to kill Grendel’s Mother.Her body fell down the floor. Her blood is all over the floor. Finally Beowulf won the battle. This is the high point of the story. Beowulf fights and defeats the most powerful…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics