Epic Traits Of Beowulf

Epic traits of Beowulf

In the story of Beowulf there are many traits and qualities that make this an epic. An epic a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation. The three traits this poem an epic are good vs. evil. The hero is courageous and has honor. The setting is vast and often includes more than one nation.

The first quality that makes this an epic poem is that there are three major fights. This display the trait of good vs. evil. He fights Grendel, Grendel mother, and a dragon. The second fight was Grendel mother she was an evil monster "She'd brooded

on her loss, misery had brewed/ In her heart, that female horror, Grendel's/ Mother, living in the murky cold lake/ Assigned her since Cain had killed his only/ Brother, slain his father's son/ With an angry sword" (Beowulf 63). Grendel mother was the evil one and Beowulf was the good he finally killed her after some struggles. He also killed Grendel a monster that would eat people at the king’s palace. "Hanging high/ From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was/ the monster's/ Arm, claw, and shoulder and all” (Beowulf 49). This is another example that show the good vs. evil trait. He kills both and returns to the king. These are some of the good vs. evil traits that make Beowulf an epic.
In the story of Beowulf, the hero or Beowulf had a lot of challenges in the fights and this made him a very courageous man. After he won in all the battles he became a man of honor. This quote shows how courage’s him and his men were to fight these monsters. “How many times have my men, . . . / sworn to stay after dark/ And stem that horror with a sweep of their swords. / And then, in the morning, this mead-hall glittering/ With new light would be drenched with blood, the benches/ Stained red, the floors, all wet from that fiend's/ Savage assault-and my soldiers would be fewer/ Still death taking more and more" (Beowulf 38). The quote is telling how his men were dying. There was blood everywhere and his men and Beowulf could of just left because they didn’t want to die. Instead he stood there and took the fight on full blast. This really show how courageous he is and what an epic hero he is. The traits here show how this is an epic poem.
The final trait is how the setting is very vast. It goes from two nations. It moves from heaven to hell. When he went to fight Grendel mother at a bottom of the lake. “Mother, living in the murky cold lake” (Beowulf 63). Then there are other places like the geats then the palace where the king lives. These are just some of the places or change in settings. These show some more traits of how this story is an epic.
The story Beowulf there are a lot trait that make this an epic poem. I only gave three examples but there are a lot more. The change in setting is an example in most all epics. Most epics are told orally too. There is some sort of hero. The hero is brave, loyal, and courageous. Then the fights are good vs. evil. This is how Beowulf is an epic story.