The Epic Poem “Beowulf” by Burton Raffel, reveals a true warrior's bravery. When that bravery is put to the test and challenged, the warrior uncovers their authentic self. The sacrifices also show how brave the characters can be in difficult situations. Beowulf shows us that being brave enough to take risks in life is important. It gives you the opportunity to open up to your talents, interests, abilities, and dreams, allow you to grow and discover things about yourself.
Beowulf proves his bravery by showing no fear when was faced with danger, and it is this that leads him to the much-deserved fame. That honor was valued by so many men of his time. In the final battle Beowulf is given the decision either to fight evil and protect his people for maybe the last time, or not battle with the dragon and let him kill his kingdom. Even
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though Beowulf knows that in this final battle, and he won’t make it out alive. He chooses to risk his life for his people. He chooses to accept his fate and “strode, confidently, toward the tower” (line 690) where the dragon lay. Bravery being a motif describing an epic hero makes Beowulf one, when he accepts his fate. Beowulf also demonstrates bravery when he decides not to bring any weapons to defeat the dragon and stands “boldly while swords and shields clashed” (line 693). As the dragon approached Beowulf, he stood face to face with his worthy and formidable opponent. He did not back down. He was ready to defend himself against the dragon, he was fearless and demonstrated his great strength, “The Geats great prince stood firm, unmoving prepared behind his high shield, waiting in his shining armour”(line 716). As Beowulf is fighting for his life and he is beginning to succumb to the dragons wrath, all but one of his warriors disappeared. “None of his comrades came to him, helped him, his brave and loyal Followers; they ran for their lives” (line 746), except for his loyal and faithful friend, Wiglaf. When Beowulf needed his men the most during the battle with the dragon the “only one of them remained stood there miserable remembering as a good man must”(line 749-750) was Wiglaf. This reveals Wiglaf’s loyalty and bravery to Beowulf. Wiglaf remembered the times when they were young men, imagining the days when they would fight in battle, “I remember how we sat in the mead-hall drinking and boasting of how brave we’d be when Beowulf Needed us”(line 763-765). The Anglo Saxon way of life was based on these four values, generosity, paying debts, expectation of bravery and obligation of duty. Wiglaf and the soldiers all showed these Anglo Saxon traits, while supporting Beowulf. In addition to the final battle with the dragon, Beowulf also kills other monsters including Grendel, which shows bravery.
Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with his bare hands. He could have easily obtained some kind of weapon to fight with, but Beowulf being an epic hero and always thinking ahead knew that using the “sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin” (line 482). Instead, Beowulf was the first warrior ever to have enough sheer bravery to go up against such a monster with neither help nor weapon or shield to aid him. Beowulf being the mere mortal, choose to battle Grendel “the almighty god”(492). Grendel was known as the creator and the father god of the people, but as the battle continued these mortals realized that his “strength was deserting him”(line 493), and slowly but surely he was getting weaker. His power was gone. As the battle comes to an end and bravery has been demonstrated he and his men confirmed their relief of Grendel's terror when he prominently displayed his victory, “for the proof, hanging high from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the Arm, claw and shoulder and all.” (Line
515)
Next, Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with his bare hands. He could have easily obtained some kind of weapon to fight with. Beowulf was the first warrior ever to have enough sheer bravery to go up against such a monster with neither help nor weapon or shield to aid him. he was a warrior that believed somewhat in fate and in God. Believing that God made the decisions and was in control, Beowulf trusted that his life was in good hands. Defeating Grendel with his bare hands, Beowulf not only proved his bravery but also his loyalty.
In Beowulf, the essence left behind by a true hero is extremely important. In epics such as this one, leaders tend to have the determination and boldness of a hero. On the other hand, the main character, Beowulf, does not display these certain traits. In this heroic poem, respect and trust come naturally. Honor and integrity are present throughout the poem.
When Grendel takes out one of Beowulf’s men, that is when they attack. In his oath Beowulf promised to take Grendel on bare handed, and he intended to do just that. While he was fighting with the monster, his men tried striking at Grendel with their blades.However it was futile for their blades could not harm Grandel. With these circumstances laid in place it was up to Beowulf to use his brute strength to defeat Grendel. After the two engaged in battle Beowulf was soon to triumph.”He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulders snapped, muscle and bone split and broke.The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, but wounded as he was could flee to his den, his miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh, only to die, to wait for the end of all his days.”(337-345) Even with the lack of weapons, Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel and carry on his legacy.
Throughout the poem we acknowledge the idealisation of Beowulf both as a warrior and a king. The main features which contribute to Beowulf’s greatness are courage, martial skills, honour, responsibility, generosity and pursuit of fame.
Beowulf is a hero that shows honor respect and courage. In lines 710-1007 is where the battle with Grendel happened. Thinking of the destruction that he will get, Grendel bursts into Heorot. Grendel tears the door from its hinges with his hands and quickly becomes a Geatish warrior while Beowulf carefully looks around. When Grendel reaches out to pick Beowulf up, he is surprised to find his arm gripped with a strength than he never knew could even happen. Confused and frightened Grendel doesn’t want to run back to the safety of the swamplands. He tries to escape, but Beowulf wrestles him down to the ground. The crash around the hall, making noise on the walls and smashing the mead-benches. Grendel begins to panic in pain and fear; the sound
Beowulf by far endures more than the average person as the poem progresses. He is faced with daunting challenges of defeating three monsters that would kill any other man. Beowulf exemplifies bravery by never backing down no matter what the threat was. He was loyal by honoring his promises of keeping those around him safe and alive. And finally, his unwavering confidence helped him push through the toughest confrontations. These traits and the fights with the three different monsters are what genuinely make Beowulf a hero.
Not only did Beowulf defeat Grendel, but he did it without any weapons. Gods power was instilled in Beowulf, to defeat evil with his bare hands. Beowulf showed a great amount of faith in God no matter what problems or evil he faced, and God rewarded him with victory, great legacy, and
Beowulf 's courage originates from his certainty that he can overcome creatures utilizing distinctive techniques. Hailey W. Odessa states Goodness, unwaveringness, civility, equity, and courage all portrays the attributes a perfect saint would have. At that point she says in the lyric Beowulf, there is one character that conveys all and a greater amount of these expressed attributes, and that character is without a doubt the hero known as Beowulf. We as a whole need to comprehend life is an exceptional voyage. Beowulf 's life changed when he got more seasoned. The main question is the thing that makes somebody a saint? Components of being a legend are appeared all through Anglo-Saxon fundamental qualities. A standout amongst the most prestigious
After Beowulf serves as King of the Geats for fifty years, he goes to battle one last time to fight a horrible Dragon that is terrifying his people. While others cower, Beowulf shows signs of bravery that define him as a hero. An example of Beowulf showing bravery is when he goes to slay the Dragon even though all his men abandon him. He realizes that the Dragon is more powerful than he is, but he will still not back down.
Beowulf also shows courage in all of his battles. His intelligence is far above any others. He used the sword made by the giants to kill Grendel’s mother. In lines 210-222, it describes how he was quick and saw the sword “hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic…and struck with all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through…”
In this poem, Beowulf exhibits the trait of bravery by defeating the monster, Grendel. This monster was a very powerful monster that plagued the town of Herot. “He slipped through the door… Snatched up thirty men, smashed them/ Unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies/ The blood dripping behind him, back/ To his liar, delighted with his night’s slaughter. (11)”
Beowulf is a good example of a courageous and strong hero. He shows all of
... enormous risk that all the instincts of self-preservation resist”(Hanning 60). Beowulf is always ready to take the risks for the fame.Beowulf “fight Grendel alone and without weapons to maximize his chance for glory; if he fails he is fully aware that it will mean death”(Hanning 61). This clearly shows his bravery and how hard he goes to gain glory, and he values them all more than his life. His bravery keeps him to fight for glory, and this quality clearly makes him an epic hero.
Beowulf displayed great courage and honor throughout his journeys and battles; he was an epic hero. An epic hero is a person who is viewed as larger than life and possesses values of a certain society. From the time of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel to his brawl against the dragon, he has showed everyone what being an honorable hero looks like. His heroism is revealed through both youth as a young warrior and wisdom as a reliable king. He never backed down and didn’t give up when situations were tough. Beowulf had obligations to fulfill and went about every aspect of his life with courage and strength. He cared for his people and was willing to take on anyone that threatened them or his kingdom. He sincerely was the hero of his time.
Battles are portrayed as signs of heroism. Beowulf, further supports this. He proves that he is a hero through courage and victory. He defeats enemy tribes, monsters galore, Grendel and his mother and in the end the dragon. His success in warfare and glory in battle obtains him respect and allows him to become a good leader.