How Is Beowulf An Epic Hero

The desired qualities of epic heroes includes bravery and strength, but the most common quality that these heroes yearn for is glory. The anonymous epic poem Beowulf is about the battles of a Geatish warrior named Beowulf. Beowulf defeats multiple grotesque monsters, some of which afflict pain on humans and kill them. In his final battle with a dragon, Beowulf dies, but he ends up earning considerable of glory and honor. People see Beowulf as savior from vicious beasts. The epic poem Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel depicts that Beowulf’s personality and actions embody the classical traits of an epic hero instead of a traditional hero because he is a braggadocio and exhibits superhuman strength and courage.

Throughout the story, Beowulf

is a braggadocio in many ways. One way he acts boastful is when he publicly displays the body part of a monster that he defeats in battle. Once Beowulf defeats Grendel, everyone can see hanging high “[f]rom the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s / Arm, claw and shoulder and all” (835-36). For Beowulf, Grendel’s arm is a trophy symbolizing his victory. Now, whenever, anyone sees the arm they will remember how great Beowulf is because he kills Grendel. By making the arm a trophy, Beowulf can easily boast because he has a physical representation of his achievement and it leaves a legacy of how only he can kill the toughest monsters. Another way Beowulf acts like a braggadocio is by telling stories of his past adventures. For instance, Unferth asks Beowulf why he could not win a swimming match in the past and Beowulf comments, “‘But the truth/ Is simple: no man swims in the sea / As I can, no strength is a match for mine’” (532-34). After clearly stating this, Beowulf goes on telling about how he slays multiple monster, which makes him late. He does not like it when people think that he is not the best. When Unferth asks him why he lost, he responds by first telling that he is the best and later justifying it by talking about the monsters he kills. Beowulf is also guilty of having excessive pride in himself when he starts making a long list of all his great deeds. When he first comes to meet Hrothgar, he makes a giant list of his strength and bravery. He tells Hrothgar: “‘I swam / In the blackness of the night, hunting monsters / Out of the ocean, and killing them” (419-421). Beowulf proves that he takes on some of the most challenging tasks and completes them. While bragging about his feats, he establishes the fact that only he is fit for killing Grendel. Beowulf finds any chance that he can use to tell everyone that he is the best warrior in the whole world.
Besides being boastful, another characteristic of an epic hero that Beowulf displays is extraordinary strength.

Thought the story, Beowulf proves that he is extremely strong and he even leaves this impression on the Danish people. When Beowulf meets Hrothgar for the first time, Hrothgar describes Beowulf’s hands as those “‘that moved with thirty men’s strength’” (380). Beowulf is just one person, but has the strength of many men, which makes him perfect for fighting Grendel who is also exceptionally strong. In fact, when Grendel comes to attacks Herot, he “[s]natched up thirty men” (122). Beowulf has the same strength as a powerful monster. Later on in the poem, when Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel realizes that his “strength was deserting him, his claws bound fast, Higlac’s brave follower tearing at / His hands” (812-14). As the mighty Grendel starts to lose power, Beowulf easily rips Grendel’s arm off of his body, just with his bare hands. In doing so, Beowulf proves that he has superhuman strength. Beowulf also demonstrates excessive strength when he goes to kill Grendel’s mother. He faces many problems while fighting Grendel’s mother, but he sees a potentially useful sword “so massive that no man could lift / Its carved and decorated length” (1560-61). No ordinary person can lift this sword, however Beowulf draws it from the scabbard, exhibiting tremendous strength and utilizes it to kill the mother. At different times in the poem, Beowulf has more strength than the

monsters, which is just one quality that makes him different from a traditional hero.
Additionally, Beowulf’s immense courage makes him fit for representing the ideal epic hero.

Beowulf is brave and he does not avoid doing anything that might be dangerous or risky. Beowulf is even willing to give up his life, when he performs some of the courageous deeds. For example, when Beowulf plans to fight Grendel, he tells Hrothgar: “‘the monster’s scorn of men / Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. / Nor will I’” (433-35). Beowulf has the audacity to fight Grendel, who frightens everyone with no weapons. He wants to kill Grendel with just his bare hands, even though it is a very challenging task and he could possibly die. Another time Beowulf demonstrates his bravery is when he goes to fight Grendel’s mother alone. When the Geats and the Danes arrive at the lake where Grendel’s mother lives, they see that the bloodstained water is full of “serpents swimming in the boiling / Lake, and sea beasts lying on the rocks” (1426-27). After seeing this lake, nobody is brave enough to dive in and fight the mother, except for Beowulf. Beowulf, who decides to help the Danes one more time, dons his armor and jumps into the hellish lake. Even at the end of the poem, Beowulf continues displaying courage, when he fights a savage fire breathing dragon. At this point in the poem, Beowulf’s youthful days are gone and he is an old man. Even though Beowulf is old, he declares, “‘I will fight again’” (2513). After stating this, Beowulf goes alone with a shield and a sword to

protect him and fights the dragon. Beowulf expresses extreme courage when he fights the dragon alone, regardless of his old age. During all three battles in the story, Beowulf reveals more courage each time.
Burton Raffel’s translated version of the epic poem Beowulf illustrates that Beowulf’s nature makes him the greatest epic hero in literature since he is a braggart, and he displays extreme physical strength and bravery. Beowulf’s boastful attitude makes him lust for fame and glory. At the same time, his strength and courage allow him to fight dangerous monsters. Ultimately, Beowulf’s desire for glory helps people because he kills monsters and beasts, which ends the misery of the people. In the modern world, it is hard to find leaders that use their desire for fame to benefit the people. The lust for fame and honor is evident in many current American politicians, but this desire only causes corruption and creates problems for the people. In the end, Beowulf’s actions make him a brilliant leader and an ideal epic hero.