Beowulf As An Epic Hero Essay

The Anglo-Saxons brought with them their own religious beliefs, but when Saint Augustine arrived in 597 he converted most of the country into Christianity.The Anglo-Saxon time period lasted about 600 years, from 410 to whopping 1066, and during that time frame the Britain’s political landscape went through many changes. Beowulf was a man who would do anything for his beloved Geatland. He was not like any ordinary man Beowulf was stronger than the average man would be he was at least 10 times stronger. Beowulf never did back down from a fight from anyone he always went to battle never second guessing for a minute. He served Geatland as best he could Beowulf shows how he is loyal, brave, and also strong. Beowulf will take the time to help others in their time of need, but he always makes sure that his people in Geatland are always safe before anything else. This leads me to my thesis statement, Beowulf proves to be an epic hero through his tremendous bravery, strength, and loyalty.

Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his great physical strength. “Overview: Beowulf” states that Beowulf and his men must guard Herot the they get there, then that is when Beowulf

decides to fight Grendel with his bare hands (2). This is when he rips Grendel's arm off then hangs it in the mead hall for everyone to see. Beowulf lifts the giants’ sword above his head and kills Grendel’s mother with a single blow. He is not finished with the task he came to complete which was to kill all the monsters that lived deep in the lake. Once Beowulf defeats the shewolf he goes to look for her son Grendel to decapitate him with the giant sword. Margaret E. Goldsmith says, “The contrast which is made between him and Heremond is in part a contrast between the hero whose mind controls his mighty strength and the strong man who misuses his great gift because he can not govern his passions” (4). Beowulf used his great physical strength to for the good and not for the bad he never tried to hurt any of his people or the others in Denmark.
Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his honorable bravery. Beowulf swims, by himself under the lake in search of the underwater cave where the shewolf lives along with other monsters. He shows that he’s not afraid of anything and that he would do anything to save people from getting killed any longer. Seamus Heaney says that basically Beowulf and his army of men had the loyalty and bravery to go to Denmark to defeat the monsters that keep killing their men (5). He stands up to the monsters, showing that he is not afraid to fight even though they are bigger than Beowulf is. Beowulf faced the dragon by himself knowing he may not see another day. He makes it know that he would fight and die for his country no matter what the circumstances are.
Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his tremendous loyalty.

William Cooke says, “It was to go to his successor--who if he has his way, would probably be Wiglaf, on whom he bestows his collar and his armour” (1). Beowulf serves Geatland well, and he builds fame and glory by going to fight other battles in unknown territories. He shows that when you have troubles and when it reached him that he would come to where they were to help solve their problems. Beowulf cares for Geatland so much that he leaves Wiglaf as the king of Geatland, so he does not leave Geatland without a king. His great physical strength shows that Beowulf is not like any other man in Geatland or any other country he was the strongest of them all and he saved other countries from their problems which make Beowulf an epic hero without a

doubt.
Beowulf showed that he was a fighter and not a runner he stood up for other places than Geatland he always fought for what was right never doubting himself. He is always ready for battle Beowulf was on top of every little thing that happened in Geatland and Denmark. Beowulf shows his strength when he fights Grendel and pulls his arm off. He also shows his bravery when he swims deep into the lake to the underwater cave to fight the shewolf. Beowulf shows loyalty when he told Hrothgar if he died to send the treasures and his armour to Geatland. These are the ways he shows his tremendous loyalty, great physical strength, and bravery.