Epic Of Beowulf Essay: The Assumed Hero

Kalie Pleasant

Miss Sibbach

English IV

10 December, 2014

The Assumed Hero Although the definition of a hero varies from person to person, many would generally describe it as a dauntless person who performs acts to benefit someone other than themselves. Although a hero’s notoriety comes from their actions, the motives behind the actions accompany the opinion on whether they prevail as a successful hero; this exemplifies where Beowulf fell short. Throughout the story, Beowulf expresses the reasons why he goes into battle and they rarely seem to relate to those in which a true hero would provide. The story portrays Beowulf as a larger than life kind of character through exaggerated super hero like characteristics. From the beginning, Beowulf

Instead of seeing his true scheme to achieve immortality and greatness, they view him as a self-sacrificing, honorable, and chivalrous warrior. “And so Beowulf’s followers rode, mourning their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise” (Beowulf 64). Even after Beowulf’s demise, the villager’s loyalty to their king shows even more and their statement about him living so open to his people demonstrates the exact opposite of how he actually felt. The reader can detect from the villagers feelings and expressions that they never analyzed why Beowulf actually died. Beowulf died due to his self-pride because even after he became old, he still refused to have assistance when going into battle. He would rather die than have someone help him in battle and possibly show him up and cause him to lose any of the stature he has worked his whole life to build. Deceit became one of Beowulf’s most powerful tools, and he mastered it. Even from the beginning, he had Hrothgar fooled by his bravery which becomes recognized as an insult to injury. “And such was his affection that he could not help being overcome: his fondness of the man was so deep-founded, it warmed his heart and wound the heartstrings tight in his breast” (Themes). The fact that Beowulf has the same type of personality as Hrothgar shows irony in the story because Hrothgar never recognizes it. Before he became king, the legend of Hrothgar portrays him as the strongest warrior at that time, until Beowulf came along and took that title for himself. This could explain why Hrothgar became so fond of Beowulf from the beginning, he may perceive him like a father would his