Epic Poem, Beowulf-The Geats Epic

The Geats Epic Hero
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” This quote is by Christopher Reeve and describes Beowulf perfectly. Beowulf is one of the oldest pieces of writing in the English language, whose author is yet to be discovered. Beowulf’s various human qualities, symbol of hope for multiple nations, and ability to conquer enemies at any cost proves that Beowulf is a true epic hero.
Beowulf demonstrates numerous human qualities such as his mortality and flaw during his intense battles (Johnson 16). Beowulf demonstrates his mortality several times throughout the poem. For example, during his conversation with Hrothgar, he says “if death does take me, send

the hammered/Mail of my armor to Higlac” indicating death could be a realistic possibility (Beowulf 186-87). His mortality later hinted at again during his battle against Grendel’s Mother when the Danes see blood reaching the surface of the lake. “All the graybeards, whispered together/And said that hope was gone, that the hero/Had lost fame and his life at once, and would never/Return to the living” (550-54). The fact the Danes believed it was Beowulf’s blood on the surface signifies they thought he was dead. However, the strongest confirmation of his mortality is during the battle against the dragon when “Wiglaf then strikes the dragon, and he and Beowulf together finally succeed in killing the beast. Their triumph is short lived, however, because Beowulf’s wound proves to be mortal” (66) which undoubtedly confirms Beowulf’s vulnerability and mortality. Another human quality shown in the poem is his flaw, arrogance. His arrogance is first shown when he tells Hrothgar, “this one favor you shall not refuse me-- that I, alone and with the help of my men may purge all evil from this hall” (164-66). Beowulf insists on fighting without any Danes so that he and the rest of the Geats can take all the credit, glory, and rewards. His arrogance is shown again when he utters his final boast, “’I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in the tower dares to face me’” (607-611). Beowulf still believes that at his old age his abilities are still good enough to take on the dragon to seek fame one last time.
Throughout the poem, Beowulf is seen as a symbol of hope to multiple nations when he takes on the job to eliminate his bigger, stronger opponents (Johnson 17; 19).

When he accepts his first challenge in the poem, Grendel, a big and powerful creature with claws, had been tormenting Herot for “twelve winters” (Beowulf 62). Later, Hrothgar approaches Beowulf to inform him that the “only help, again, lies with [him]” and to “save [them] once more” from Grendel’s revenge-filled Mother (443-44; 446-47). In these moments, Beowulf embraces the role of being the ultimate hope to not just the Danes, but his fellow Geat brethren as well. After fifty years of ruling the Geats, he is once again put in a position of being their only hope when a big, powerful fire breathing “dragon begins terrorizing [them]” (62). Beowulf succeeded in stopping the dragon’s attacks at the cost of his own life. However, his mission was fulfilled. The Geats had been saved and proceeded to finish the final wishes of their fallen king.
Ultimately, his mortality and flaw, symbol of hope, and success against stronger opponents are prominent reasons why Beowulf should be considered an epic hero. Without Beowulf hundreds of men would have continued to die by the hands of Grendel and his mother or brute strength of the

dragon.