Beowulf Epic Hero Essay

Beowulf easily fits the profile of an epic hero. From all his strength and courage, he has sought immorality through these characteristics. A mighty warrior who was known for his many heroic deeds in Geitland from singlehandedly slaying beasts with his bare hands. Edgetho, his father had a good relationship with Hrothgar which he recalls when Beowulf meets him in Denmark when he arrives to take the head of Grendel. Beowulf bravely sails from Geitland to Denmark to kill Grendel in the name of glory.

It was a night full of an eerie darkness, the beast stirring in his lair dreading the singing and marry making the men were having in that mead hall. the “his memory leaped across the seas, was told and sung in all the men’s ears: how Grendel’s rage began” (pg.43). Grendel in the darkness went up to Herot, and killed 30 men; smashed them and carried them off to his

lair, delighted with his night’s slaughter. Beowulf, in his far off home heard how Grendel filled nights with horror, he commanded a boat quickly and proclaimed “I will sail across these seas to Hrothgar now when help is needed” He stands and faces his adversaries with unbroken courage and bravery ; which is expressed to the king and the villagers when he proclaims “I drove five great giants into chains, swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one, I will kill your monster”.(pg.48) Beowulf lying eagerly awake waits for Grendel, when he arrives Grendel kills two of Beowulf’s men grasps Beowulf and is met with a strong hearted opponent. Beowulf and Grendel fight along the boards and benches rattling them; Grendel feels his power deserting him as Beowulf pinned him and tore his arm off at the shoulder. Grendel flees from the mead hall back to his lair.

Next as Grendel was running back to his mother’s lair he was bleeding out there and dies in front of his mother. Grendel’s mother asked who had done this he replied in a last gasp of breath Beowulf… Grendel’s mother filled with rage goes up to herot and slays many of Beowulf’s thanes in the mead hall in a means to avenge her son’s death. Next shortly after this occurred Beowulf goes to her lair and begins to battle Grendel’s mother, he swings hrunting at her bright golden neck it does no damage to the horrid monster. They begin to wrestle and Beowulf finds a giant great sword on the wall and uses it to remove the head of the old hag demon. When returning to Hrothgar after destroying the evil she demon that threatened the land of Denmark Beowulf becomes king for fifty years to come.

After many years of kingship Beowulf’s kingdom is being ravaged by a giant menacing dragon which Beowulf must fight alone because his men have left him in a time of need.

Beowulf yet again showing his bravery, courage and strength, even as his strength is leaving him due to old age, he fights the dragon alone. As Beowulf strikes the dragon hrunting shatters and the dragon spew fire upon Beowulf. Beowulf deflects the searing hot flames with his mighty shield which withstood much force in battle and never failed him, was melted by the dragon’s flames. One man, Wiglaf his closest friend and thane encourages the men that they should stand against the beast with Beowulf and fight alongside him because of how kind and good he was to his thanes. In the end the beast is killed by Beowulf and Wiglaf, however at a high cost. Beowulf is severely wounded and gives his gold medallion to Wiglaf, this symbolizes that Beowulf is making him king. Beowulf’s dying words are for the men to build a tower and call it Beowulf’s tower for any ship or man that sees it will remember the great and almighty Beowulf to the end of

days.