How Does Beowulf Show Courage

In Beowulf, courage and strength are the most desirable characteristics to possess; however, other traits are considered just as important in modern society. Throughout the epic, Beowulf’s courage is mentioned many times. His value as a person and as a soldier is determined by this characteristic. Similarly, he displays courage and strength when he kills Grendel and Grendel’s mother, and people look up to Beowulf because of his bravery. He is portrayed as a savior figure in the story, because he takes on challenges that others shy away from. However, little else is actually known about the character Beowulf. He is always described in terms of his physical abilities, because these traits were some of the most valuable to the Anglo-Saxons. Additionally,

Traits like intelligence and kindness are also important. While Beowulf was only valued for his abilities as a warrior, other talents are considered valuable in today's world. As society becomes more complex, jobs other than soldiers are necessary for the world to function. The violence that Beowulf displays would be considered barbaric by modern standards, as many countries prefer to solve conflicts diplomatically. However, courage is still valued in many occupations. Soldiers, firefighters, and astronauts are all examples of jobs that are considered courageous. Like Beowulf, this makes them heroes to the public. On the other hand, these professions require more than just courage; it is no longer the most defining characteristic of any one person. Cultural influences on gender roles can also account for the difference between the Anglo-Saxon view on courage compared with those seen today. In the western world, men do not need to be ruthless warriors in order to be respected. Similarly, Beowulf largely excludes women from its plot, and ignores the fact that women are capable of courageous acts as well. In this epic poem, courage is considered an extremely masculine trait. Although Beowulf is an example of the ideal warrior, his courage is rather one dimensional when compared to the desirable characteristics of modern