Quest In Beowulf

This is an excerpt from Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney (lines 244-251), in which a Danish guard identifies Beowulf as a hero merely by looking at him. In this sempiternal tale, our protagonist encounters many a foe, from the unholy descents of Cain to a mighty dragon. The primordial Anglo-Saxon icon Beowulf epitomizes numerous qualities attributed to the quintessential “epic hero.” Beowulf embarks on all manner of variegated quests, making use of his superior abilities and invariably risking his life in the pursuance of glory.

Like many epic heroes, Beowulf undertakes countless missions throughout his story. For instance, upon receiving news of Grendel and his gruesome deeds, Beowulf forthwith sets off to meet with Hrothgar, King of the Danes, and to offer help (lines 109-124). After his battle with Grendel in Herot, Beowulf had to seek out

the brute’s mother. He ventures to her territory to recover his trophy, in addition to avenging the death of Aeschere, Hrothgar’s closest friend, the life of whom she had taken. Years later, upon hearing word of a dragon that had begun besieging his people, Beowulf concedes to the challenge of fighting it (lines 1-6).
As is the case with most epic heroes, the tales of Beowulf’s conquests are filled with wild renditions of how his exceptional strength and courage have aided him in combat.

While fighting Grendel, Beowulf not only matches the demon’s fortitude, but overcomes it, forcing Grendel back and ripping his arm off (lines 271-284). There was a moment during the battle with Grendel’s mother in which things looked hopeless for Beowulf, but he summoned his gallant strength and was able to throw her to the ground, then grabbed a sword that was forged by giants and finally killed her (lines 513-523). Upon arriving at the tower in which the dragon resides, Beowulf stoutheartedly challenges it. During the ensuing fight, his shield began to melt and his sword broke (lines 62-67) but he still fought, despite knowing that it was a losing battle. The dragon virulently wounded Beowulf but even in spite of this, the old King fought with all of the vigor he had left. His loyal follower Wiglaf stepped in, and together they were able to slay the beast. Each of these moments in Beowulf’s life were only possible due to his remarkable

capabilities.
In many epic legends, the hero will do anything for glory, and Beowulf is nonpareil in this. The story of Beowulf begins with news of Grendel reaching Beowulf in the land of the Geats. As soon as he hears of the monstrous deeds Grendel has committed, Beowulf rushed to Denmark to hold council with Hrothgar, during which he practically begged to be permitted to kill Grendel (lines 109-116, 159-166). Before he had even had time to finish celebrating his victory, he was running after the fiend’s mother to retrieve his “trophy” that she had taken. He fearlessly plunged into the monster-infested lake, at the depths of which he found the place where she dwelled (lines idfk). Knowing he was growing old, Beowulf decides that he will seek glory once more (lines 1-6) by battling the dragon that was terrorizing