The Epic Of Beowulf: A True Hero
A hero possesses many characteristics, Beowulf had many characteristics such as super human strength, pride, and wisdom. Although he had many more than those previously mentioned, he is a outstanding hero and shows it time and time again throughout the story, proving he is the ultimate hero. Saving his people and even people who are not his people. Beowulf had a substantial amount of superhuman strength. Beowulf is an outrageously strong man. It even says he is the strongest on the earth on line ( 111 ). Beowulf is also strong when he's in battle, when he's fighting Grendel on line ( 324 ) he was holding himself up with one arm while Grendel is trying to grasp him. He clearly proves his superhuman strength on line ( 619 ) after he is finished fighting Grendel's mother he goes to find
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Grendel and chops off his head, then carries it back as a trophy to Heorot. He carries Grendel's head with one hand and when he gives it for his troops to carry it took four of them to carry it. Beowulf is definitely the choice for a characteristic of superhuman strength.
Beowulf also showed a great amount of pride throughout the poem. He clearly shows his pride in ( 267- 268 ) he says “my hands Alone will fight for me” he is so full of pride that he will fight the monster Grendel with no weapon. Moreover onto line ( 624 - 628 ) after fifty years of being king, being in the proximity of 60-80 years of age, he says “I've never known fear, as a youth i fought In endless battles. / I am old, now, / But i will fight again, seek fame still, / If the dragon hiding in his tower dares / To face me.” Clearly by proclaiming his boast his shows a very large amount of pride not only for himself but to encourage his fellow battle comrades as well. Furthermore he shows pride in line ( 822 - 830 ) “...When the funeral flames have burned me, and build it / Here at the water's edge, high / On this split of land, so sailors can see / This tower and remember my name, and call it / Beowulf's tower, and boasts in the darkness / And mist, crossing the sea, will know it.” Beowulf is asking Wiglaf the new king to build a tower for his glory and shows a great deal of pride. This is obviously one of his biggest characteristics he shows throughout the poem.
Beowulf is a very wise hero and displays it within the story.
He shows his wisdom on lines ( 119 - 122 ) “.... Beowulf / Chose the mightiest of men he could find, / The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen / In all…” Beowulf is not going to go alone to fight this battle, although he probably could, he chose men to fight with him. Not only is Beowulf wise with choosing men for battle; He is also wise with directions in lines ( 123 - 124 ) “...He knew the sea…” Beowulf shows wisdom here, knowing the sea, guiding his men to Denmark. Beowulf obviously shows wisdom on lines ( 635 - 649 ) There is a fire breathing dragon that Beowulf chose to fight. In the story, Beowulf says “...I feel no shame, with shield and sword / And armour, against this monster…” choosing to fight such a gruesome creature with protection, obviously proves that he possesses wisdom. Beowulf indubitably shows his abundance of wisdom within the poem.
In conclusion, there are many characteristics that can describe an “ideal” hero. Beowulf has many characteristics and was surely the ideal hero throughout this story, proving it battle after battle, that he possessed the characteristics an ideal hero should
have.
Grendel and chops off his head, then carries it back as a trophy to Heorot. He carries Grendel's head with one hand and when he gives it for his troops to carry it took four of them to carry it. Beowulf is definitely the choice for a characteristic of superhuman strength.
Beowulf also showed a great amount of pride throughout the poem. He clearly shows his pride in ( 267- 268 ) he says “my hands Alone will fight for me” he is so full of pride that he will fight the monster Grendel with no weapon. Moreover onto line ( 624 - 628 ) after fifty years of being king, being in the proximity of 60-80 years of age, he says “I've never known fear, as a youth i fought In endless battles. / I am old, now, / But i will fight again, seek fame still, / If the dragon hiding in his tower dares / To face me.” Clearly by proclaiming his boast his shows a very large amount of pride not only for himself but to encourage his fellow battle comrades as well. Furthermore he shows pride in line ( 822 - 830 ) “...When the funeral flames have burned me, and build it / Here at the water's edge, high / On this split of land, so sailors can see / This tower and remember my name, and call it / Beowulf's tower, and boasts in the darkness / And mist, crossing the sea, will know it.” Beowulf is asking Wiglaf the new king to build a tower for his glory and shows a great deal of pride. This is obviously one of his biggest characteristics he shows throughout the poem.
Beowulf is a very wise hero and displays it within the story.
He shows his wisdom on lines ( 119 - 122 ) “.... Beowulf / Chose the mightiest of men he could find, / The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen / In all…” Beowulf is not going to go alone to fight this battle, although he probably could, he chose men to fight with him. Not only is Beowulf wise with choosing men for battle; He is also wise with directions in lines ( 123 - 124 ) “...He knew the sea…” Beowulf shows wisdom here, knowing the sea, guiding his men to Denmark. Beowulf obviously shows wisdom on lines ( 635 - 649 ) There is a fire breathing dragon that Beowulf chose to fight. In the story, Beowulf says “...I feel no shame, with shield and sword / And armour, against this monster…” choosing to fight such a gruesome creature with protection, obviously proves that he possesses wisdom. Beowulf indubitably shows his abundance of wisdom within the poem.
In conclusion, there are many characteristics that can describe an “ideal” hero. Beowulf has many characteristics and was surely the ideal hero throughout this story, proving it battle after battle, that he possessed the characteristics an ideal hero should
have.