Beowulf Dynamic Hero

Beowulf Dynamic Hero Essay

Are you a hero? Can you find the light within yourself and defeat the dark? Well, little do you know that not all heros are flawless or have unreal powers, take Beowulf for an example, he used the power of his heart. Beowulf A New Telling,the classic fantasy story is recreated by Robert Nye. Throughout the story Beowulf sails the sea to the land of the Danes and fights the monstrous Grendel and She. Beowulf shows that heros are not just made of strength because no one is flawless. Evidently, his bravery and dauntlessness transitions into a wise and strategic king and fights the Firedrake with cunnings. Ultimately, Beowulf exemplifies a dynamic hero because he is dauntless as a young warrior and then changes to

wise as an older king.
To begin with, Beowulf demonstrates bravery, while battling the grotesque Grendel and horrific She, who are ghastly to the people of the Danes.

For instance, Beowulf displays a daring hero while he tells Hrothgar he has no plan against the demon Grendel, ‘What is your plan?’ ‘The best plan...No plan.’ ‘You are the bravest man I have ever met...If anyone can kill grendel it is you,’(Nye 33). In this quote, the mighty hero Beowulf, represents the qualities of a hero, bravery, because he comes up with a plan while he is fighting grendel. He doesn’t need to plan out a cunning because he uses the strength and light of his hands. In addition, Beowulf announces to his men bravely, ‘Wait ...for me for two days and two nights… and do not risk your lives in coming to look for me,’ (Nye 64-65). In this passage, Beowulf, recklessly jumps in the fen. He tells his men only to wait for him for two days and two nights. Beowulf is a brave hero because he puts himself before his men and risks his life for everyone. To sum it all up, Beowulf’s heroism is represented while he was a young warrior with his reckless

actions.

Furthermore, Beowulf transitions to a wise and strategic hero while he is an older king and relies on cunnings instead of fighting his own battles.

For example, Beowulf tells Wiglaf, relating to the Sigmund and Fiela story, ‘They used their wit, you see, if you can’t beat strength alone, then a little cunning is called for,’ (Nye 96). In this passage, Beowulf knows he has to be strategic against the firedrake, like Sigmund and Fitella were. He is to weak to go against the firedrake bare handed so, he therefore can’t recall the same amount of strength and bravery as he was, when he was younger. Beowulf demonstrates a hero because he is planning out what he needs to do instead of going into battle without a plant to refer to. In addition, Beowulf notified Wiglaf he wouldn’t dare to plan out a cunning when he was younger, ‘A pretty trick… Listen, Wiglaf. hen I was young I’d never have done a thing like that... I’d have thought it was dishonorable, or something. Well, the dragon lies dead, the treasure is for the good of our people. Who was right? Old Beowulf, or young Beowulf?’ (Nye 101) In this section of the story, Beowulf says that when he was younger he wouldn’t plan anything out, he would just fight. In addition, he started to compare himself between his younger version and older version, because he knew his qualities had changed. All and all, heroism is portrayed because he defeated the firedrake using his brain not his

arms.
To sum it all up, Beowulf is fearless as a young warrior and educated and experienced as an older king, representing a dynamic hero. While, a young warrior Beowulf shows bravery throughout his battles, like against Grendel and She. However he has changed to using cunnings against the firedrake, as an older king. Throughout the hero's journey, Beowulf proves the theme of good versus evil. He has always found the good, while destroying the evil, Grendel, She, and the Firedrake.