Character Analysis Essay On Beowulf

In Anglo-Saxon culture heroes were determined by their bravery, strength, and glory. In the epic Beowulf, Beowulf is the epitome of an Anglo-Saxon hero because he displays all of these traits. Beowulf exhibits his bravery in the way he fearlessly goes into each of his three battles. He then displays his strength as he defeats each of the monsters. Finally, Beowulf is glorified by his comrades because of his heroic actions. Beowulf is an epic hero because he embodies his people’s ideals of bravery, strength, and glory through his battles.

Beowulf displays his heroic traits of bravery, strength, and glory as he fights the monster Grendel and earns the respect of the Danes. Before going into battle Beowulf decides that he needs no weapons and his “hands / alone shall fight for [him]” (Raffel 172-3). This shows Beowulf’s trait of bravery, instead of hiding behind a shield Beowulf is willing to fight with only his hands against a monster who in twelve years has not been harmed by any other man. Beowulf shows his strength as he causes “[Grendel’s] shoulder [to] / snap, muscle and bone [to] split” (497-8). The fact that Beowulf is strong enough to rip off Grendel’s arm shows that his strength is extraordinary, no ordinary man can rip off the arm of a monster who can

himself hold thirty men. No other man is brave enough or strong enough to fight Grendel, and that is why Beowulf’s actions are so heroic. As the men return to Herot they “retell Beowulf’s bravery” (537-8) and say that there is no warrior worthier to rule over men. In doing so these men are spreading Beowulf’s glory, the fact that they spread his glory shows that they seem him as a hero. In Beowulf’s first battle with Grendel he bravely fights the monster, easily defeats Grendel because of his strength, and earn the respect of the Danes who retell Beowulf’s glory.
In Beowulf’s second battle with Grendel’s more powerful mother Beowulf again exhibits bravery, strength, and glory and reaffirms his title of a hero. To avenge Hrothgar’s closest friend Beowulf “leaps into the lake, [and does] not wait for anyone’s / answer” (571-2). Beowulf fearlessly goes into the unknown and willingly confronts any obstacle that faces him. He also is the only man willing to fight Grendel’s mother, which shows that his bravery is unique. Beowulf exhibits his strength when he lifts a giant sword that is “so massive that no ordinary man could lift” (636). Not only does Beowulf pick up the sword, but also lifts it over his head and deals a fatal blow to Grendel’s mother. Here it is reestablished that Beowulf’s strength is not ordinary and this extraordinary strength helps him be a heroic figure to the Danes and Geats. Much of Beowulf’s glory comes from his ability to be victorious even when “weapons [are] useless” (609). When Hrunting and his helmet prove ineffective against Grendel’s Mother he relies in the strength in his fingers. If Beowulf does not face these difficulties than his accomplishments may seem less impressive and would therefore diminish his glory. By bravely pursuing Grendel’s Mother, killing her with his strength, and fighting through adversity for glory, Beowulf again shows the Danes that he is a true hero. He continually personifies the traits of an Anglo-Saxon hero showing that his heroism against Grendel is not a fluke, but something that he recurrently does as shown by his battle with Grendel’s Mother.
Beowulf exhibits bravery, strength, and glory for the final time against the dragon, and shows that he is willing to die to protect his image as a hero. Even at Beowulf’s old age he willingly protects his people and “mean[s] to stand, not run from his shooting / flames, stand till fate decides” (675-6). Beowulf continues his bravery even when he is losing to the dragon’s flames and accepts that he may have to die protect his land. Beowulf’s bravery is not just a façade, but truly who he is, and that is why he is glorified as a hero. Beowulf’s strength is portrayed through his battle cry that is “so loud and clear that it reached through the hoary rock” (702-4). Even though Beowulf does not use his physically use his strength, the strength in his voice causes the dragon to hide behind its flames and to cautiously approach. Even a dragon, who does not know of the strength of Beowulf, senses it through his voice. Beowulf’s final wish is that Wiglaf help him in retaining his glory by building a tower to “remember [his] name, and call it Beowulf’s tower”(814). He does this so his deeds and battles may not be forgotten and so that sailors remember that he dies bravely and nobly. Even though Beowulf is not as strong as he once was his unrelenting bravery and hunger for glory still remains.
Beowulf lives and dies as an epic hero and consistently represents the traits of an Anglo-Saxon hero.

The author makes sure to include Beowulf’s traits of bravery, strength, and glory in every situation so that it is reinforced that he truly has these traits. The author would not do this if these attributes were not important to the culture of the time. Beowulf’s characteristics of bravery and strength are still important today, but his trait of glory may be switched with that of humility so that readers could better relate to him. The goal of the author is to create a character that personifies who the reader wants to be, and Beowulf personifies the hero that a person during that time would want to

be.