Beowulf Is A Hero Essay

Who is your favorite superhero? Growing up almost every kid had some kind of person or figure they looked up to. Why do we look up to someone? Is it their rare abilities like being invisible or flying? Or the fact that they always do what is right? Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, the character Beowulf is referred to as an epic hero. In Beowulf, Beowulf faces many challenges. He travels to Dames to help destroy a monster threatening the city. There, he has to defeat Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. Going into each of these battles, Beowulf is initially the “underdog”. Although when he fought Grendel, he abandoned his sword and won by ripping Grendel's arm off. This incident alone gives Beowulf an edge on the average man. In today's world, being above the average man is usually considered a celebrity. Humans are often motivated by these “celebrities”; but, what motivates our hero's? Through his speeches, Beowulf was motivated by three things; one, being remembered, secondly by feeling like it was his duty and wanted to be respected, and lastly by wanting to be

Defeating the monsters and saving the people of Dames would make Beowulf an instant face of fame. Everyone in the city would know and praise his name. In one of his last speeches, Beowulf says, “Sorrow no, brave one! Better for man to avenge a friend than much to mourn. All men must die; let him who may win glory ere death.” In The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great, Steven Pressfield said, “Fame imperishment and glory will never die- that is what we march for!” Beowulf realized at an early age that if he could do something dramatic, his name would never be forgotten, and his legacy would live on forever. He also wanted to experience fame. It seems like Beowulf saw himself returning to Dames to be praised for his good deed. Everyone likes to take credit for a job done well, and Beowulf was no