Beowulf: An Epic Hero's Journey

427 Words1 Page

Epic hero essay (Beowulf)

Beowulf was clearly an epic hero by performing courageous acts and going on long journeys to complete his quest.
First, Beowulf was a hero who traveled around the world helping the people in Herot. One day a monster appeared his name was Grendel and every night in Herot he terrorized the Danes killing anybody in sight. When Beowulf found out, he asked the king to kill Grendel so he can put an end to the terrorizing to the Danes. Next, Beowulf arrives and battles him with his hands and kills the monster, cuts his body parts off and keeps them as a prize to show the king. After Beowulf defeated Grendel, the monsters mother found out she went looking for revenge.
In addition, Beowulf got captured by Grendel’s mother and battles him in her chamber. Beowulf wins the fight and sees Grendel there as well so he cuts his head off and returned back to Herot. Later on, Beowulf became king and ruled for a great 50 years without any problems. Of course it could not stay that way forever one day a group of thieves were looking for gold and they wondered into a cave were a dragon was protecting its treasure. After the thieves disturbed the dragon, it started to attack Beowulf’s kingdom and at that time Beowulf was old and getting weaker slowly but that was not going to stop him from …show more content…

Wiglaf stayed with Beowulf while in battle Beowulf was mortally wounded and was close to death when they defeated the dragon. Later on, Beowulf died but before he died he gave Wiglaf the power to be king since he was a true friend and stayed with him in a tough battle and was a true warrior. Then, when Wiglaf returned to the village and told everyone, they were all upset and down and mourned over the loss of their leader but instead of crying and being down over their loss they built a monument in Beowulf’s honor and all of his

Show More
Related

  • Beowulf The Hero

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Hrothgar's Motivation In Beowulf

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story begins with Grendel taking the lives of countless innocent men. It seems to all that there is no one who can face this great monster who lives down in the swamp. The king, Hrothgar, becomes concerned for the health of his country and seeks out help from someone of great strength. In hearing this, Beowulf sees it as an opportunity to increase his popularity and fame. Upon arrival, he is anxious to come face to face with the great beast. In addition, he declares that he will fight Grendel without any weapons to prove who is truly the strongest. After his victory, Beowulf gets his fame and becomes king of another land for fifty years.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Epic Of Gilgamesh And Beowulf

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf was a true hero, in the eyes of many, through said traits. He fought a number of battles and was triumphant in all, except his last battle. Beowulf possessed the skills and power necessary to kill Grendel, the monster who had been terrorizing the Danes for over a decade, with his bare hands. While fighting, Beowulf detached Grendel’s arm from his shoulder, which was later hung up as a trophy. Beowulf eventually put an end to Grendel’s life, and naturally, Grendel’s mother had pursued Beowulf. Although Grendel’s mother was an even deadlier monster than her son, Beowulf once again proved his abilities by slaying her, as well. He slashed her neck with a sword that carried unbearable weight. Afterwards, he carried her head with only his own arms, while it took the a...

    Read More

  • Beowulf: A Courageous and Strong Hero

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf is a good example of a courageous and strong hero. He shows all of

    Read More

  • Archetypes In Beowulf Analysis

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    Herot is being terrorized by Grendel as he sneaks around at night and kills the innocent people of Herot during the night. Beowulf and his men hear of the attacks from Grendel so they decide to go to Herot to try to help defeat the monster and says, “You know that your country is cursed with some strange, vicious creature that hunts only at night and that no one has seen. It’s said, watchman, that he has slaughtered your people, brought terror to the darkness” (Lines 185-190). Beowulf is telling them that he knows of the monster and promises to defeat it. After Beowulf tears off the arm of Grendel, his mother goes to Herot during the night. “That night however, Grendel’s mother kidnaps and kills Hrothgar’s closest friend and carries off the claw that Beowulf tore from her child” (subplot of The Monster’s Lair). Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother and eventually becomes king of Herot. A dragon then menaces the kingdom and Beowulf, who is about 70 years old, has to fight the

    Read More

  • Why is Beowulf considered a hero?

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many epics have been written and forgotten. Yet, the epic of Beowulf has stayed as one of the premiere examples of a heroic epic. This brings an inevitable question to mind. Why is Beowulf considered a hero?

    Read More

  • Epic Hero: Beowulf

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Beowulf Heroism Essay

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Towards the end of Beowulf’s epic hero cycle and life as king, he had to take on one last monster, the Dragon. He commuted back to Geatland with his men. As he begins to fight the Dragon, his sword failed him, and Beowulf was left with no weapons. Then ten of the eleven men he brought fled in fear and Beowulf was left with only Wiglaf. They took on the Dragon together and successfully killed him only after being badly wounded in the neck. Beowulf then collapsed and passed on. This finished his cycle as hero and as

    Read More

  • Beowulf as an Epic Hero

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    What are the qualities of an epic hero? An Epic hero is a hero on a

    Read More

  • Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Symbolism

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf’s generosity leads him to the shores of Heorot after hearing the news of Grendel’s gruesome murders. Beowulf being the kind warrior that he is offers his help to king Hrothgar. Beowulf explains that “...news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted, empty and useless once the evening light hides itself infer heaven’s dome. So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength…” (pg. 29). Beowulf’s battle with Grendel not only symbolizing his strengths, courage, and bravery but also the youth of a warrior. Beowulf proved that he was young and strong enough to face Grendel with out any weapons. ...

    Read More

  • Beowulf The Epic Hero

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind.

    Read More

  • Is Beowulf An Epic Hero

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    An epic hero according to Anglo-Saxon literature is a hero who is larger-than-life; someone with self-confidence, great strength, and the qualities of loyalty, bravery, and honor. Beowulf can be considered an epic hero for multiple reasons throughout “Beowulf.” Beowulf is a character constructed on all of the Anglo-Saxon epic hero qualifications. For starters, Beowulf is seen as a noble character, that is willing to provide security for the people by risking his own life. As a character, Beowulf conducts superhuman strength, and can complete impossible tasks. These are only some among many other reasons and characteristics Beowulf can be classified as an epic hero.

    Read More

  • Beowulf: The Four Stages Of An Epic Hero

    431 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the poem, Beowulf says, “Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance” (472). Another way that Beowulf showed his loyalty in the poem, was when he and the men he was with went to go defeat the monster. This was to help pay back his father. The final act of loyalty is when one of his men (Wiglaf) shows that he is committed and loyal to his King Beowulf fifty year after his battle. Wiglaf say, “I shall stand by you” (2668). By Wiglaf going along with this Journey with Beowulf, it shows that he is brave and loyal

    Read More

  • Supernatural In Beowulf Research Paper

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Beowulf” is the story of the hero who defeats three successive monsters. Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fierce dragon are the three monsters who looked to defeat the hero standing on the land of the danes. The supernatural in Beowulf drives the action because of mythical creatures, superhuman abilities, and necessary courage.

    Read More

  • Beowulf as an epic

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.

    Read More

More about Beowulf: An Epic Hero's Journey

Open Document