Epic battles, terrifying monsters, extraordinary strength, and great leadership; these characteristics and encounters are what make up the epic hero that is Beowulf. The heroism exemplified by Beowulf is defined by many different qualities. Beowulf is truly a hero because he is willing to put himself at great risk for the greater good. Beowulf's defeats of Grendel and Grendel's mother establish him as a hero because he did it to save his people, rather than for his own glory. Beowulf is brought from his homeland to Heorot as an aegis for Hrothgar's people. This illustrates the point that he was willing to put himself at risk because he fought the monster with his bare hands and put himself in peril just for the sake of saving others. "I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heave war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend. Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgment by God." (Heaney lines 436-441). Grendel had obfuscated Heorot for twelve years and had killed many with his mighty strength. Beowulf knows that by going into a melee with the evil monster Grendel, he is endangering his own life. He also knows, however, that if he dies during the battle it will have been for a just cause because he was saving his people. Beowulf not only fights Grendel but also Grendel's mother. Grendel's mother comes back to Heorot to get revenge on the people who killed her son. Beowulf courageously runs to the rescue when his people are in need. This is another instance in which Beowulf knows that he is putting himself in danger for the sake of others. " I ask you to recall what we said earlier: that you, son of Halfdane and gold-friend to retainers, ... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited Heaney, Seamus, trans. "Beowulf." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2001. 23-94. Leyerle, John. "The Conflicting Demands of Heroic Strength and Kingly Wisdom." Readings on Beowulf. San Diego: David L. Bender, 1998. 56-62. Niles, John D. "The Fatal Contradiction In Beowulf." Readings on Beowulf. San Diego: David L. Bender, 1998. 89-97. Oglivy, J.D.A., and Donald C. Baker. "Beowulf's Heroic Death." Readings on Beowulf. San Diego: David L. Bender, 1998. 69-73. Sigona, James, and Gina Feldman. BEOWULF: The Last Moments. 11 Sept. 2005 . Swanton, Michael. "The Heroic Standards of Beowulf's World." Readings on Beowulf. San Diego: David L. Bender, 1998. 74-81.
Bloom, Harold. “Introduction.” In Modern Critical Interpretations: Beowulf, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.
Clark, Gorge. “The Hero and the Theme.” In A Beowulf Handbook, edited by Robert Bjork and John D. Niles. Lincoln, Nebraska: Uiversity of Nebraska Press, 1997.
Clark, Gorge. “The Hero and the Theme.” In A Beowulf Handbook, edited by Robert Bjork and John D. Niles. Lincoln, Nebraska: Uiversity of Nebraska Press, 1997.
Francis, Erik Max. Beowulf. From The Harvard Classics. Volume 49. P.F. Collier & Son, 1910. Etext version by Robin Katsuya-Corbet. Online. Internet. November 26, 1998. Available HTTP: http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/beowulf/
Schucking, Levin L. "The Ideal of Kingship in Beowulf." In An Anthology of Beowulf Criticism, edited by Lewis E. Nicholson. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1963.
"Beowulf." U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Mythology. Vol. 1. Detroit: UXL, 2009. 177-182. Gale World History In Context. Web. 27 Sep. 2011.
Tolkien, J.R.R.. “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.” In TheBeowulf Poet, edited byDonald K. fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin, trans. Beowulf The Fight at Finnsburh, edited by Heather O’Donoghue. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Nicholson, Lewis E. "The Literal Meaning and Symbolic Structure of Beowulf." Classica et Mediaevalia, 15 (1964): 151-201.
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that Beowulf is a hero. The Dragon section displays many of Beowulf’s heoric characteristics. Beowulf establishes himself as a hero by fighting the dragon, exemplifing strength and courage when fighting the dragon, and sacrificing himself so that others can live.
Wright, David. “The Digressions in Beowulf.” In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.
Abrams, M.H., ed. Beowulf: The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2001.
Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery. These characteristics keep him set apart from all other character. He would take any risk to defeat his enemy and to gain glory. Even when he dies, he defeated his opponent and gained more glory to his name. In Beowulf, there are series of battles centered around the heroic figure Beowulf, who is an epic hero.
“Beowulf.” Trans. Suzanne Akbari. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. B. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 112-82. Print.
Unknown. "Beowulf."The Norton Anthology of English Literture. 8th Eddition. Volume 1.Eds. Stephen Greenblatt, Etal. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006