Is Beowulf A Hero?
"Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero's armour." Beowulf is the definition of a hero. Beowulf showed these heroic characteristics with his loyalty, bravery and strength. Beowulf was also willing to die for his people. A hero is someone that cares more about others than themselves.
Beowulf’s loyalty was shown a lot throughout the story. He was loyal to king Hrothgar when he asked him to help fight off the monster that was destroying the town. He knew that he had to kill the monster (Grendel) to prove his loyalty. When being a hero loyalty is highly honorable. The people that you are protecting should know that you can be trusted. Beowulf
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“The captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth”. Beowulf shows his superhuman strength when he kills Grendel’s mother and when he fights Grendel. Most heroes have to be strong, so they can save people in need or fight off the bad guys. What made Beowulf stronger was not his physical strength but his mental strength. He knew that he could’ve killed Grendel but he didn’t and he didn’t fight him with any weapons because Grendel didn’t use weapons. Beowulf did not need weapons to make him strong. Even though he killed Grendel’s mother that does not make him evil, Beowulf killed Grendels mother for the right reasons because she was evil.
Karen Suarez:
Good thesis...remember that a thesis goes at the end of the first paragraph
Karen Suarez: no quote in this paragraph that serves as text evidence of BW's
Many people disagree on who might qualify to be a hero. While a few people could qualify to be called a hero, many people have done some heroic things at some point in their life; Beowulf and Cuchallain demonstrated heroism through their actions. A hero in the medieval times is considered to be someone that is a noble character that fights for his honor or the honor of his kingdom or community and also someone that is willing to risk his or her life for the greater good. Beowulf was a brave man that volunteered to fight a monster that was terrorizing the people of Herot. He heard about the monster, and decided to travel all the way to Herot to assist the king in defeating the monster. “ I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel’’
Epic battles, terrifying monsters, extraordinary strength, and great leadership; these characteristics and encounters are what make up the epic hero that is Beowulf. The heroism exemplified by Beowulf is defined by many different qualities. Beowulf is truly a hero because he is willing to put himself at great risk for the greater good.
and one of his main qualities is his strength. He uses his superhuman power to defeat any monster that stands in his way. Beowulf?s strength is shown, ?Then he saw a blade that boded well, a sword in her armory, an ancient heirloom form the days of the giants, an ideal weapon, one that any warrior would envy, but so huge and heavy of itself only Beowulf could wield it in a battle? (l.1557-1562). Beowulf used his mighty arms to lift the sword that hung on the wall and stabbed it deep into the neck of Grendel?s mother. Being able to use a sword that no ordinary man was able to carry shows the great mass of strength behind Beowulf. This type of strength caused Beowulf to stand out from all other men and proves his heroism.
Being a hero can be defined many different ways. Several qualities like courage, respect, and strength can define heroism. A hero is noted for his or her actions for being brave, powerful, and acting with honor. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf shows all of these characteristics by defending the Danish king, Hrothgar, and his people. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect others. Beowulf embodies the qualities of bravery, being powerful, and demonstrating his honor; therefore, he can be considered a true hero.
Beowulf displays another trait which considers him a hero and that trait is loyalty. In ancient poems loyalty was one of the most important traits a hero could have. Beowulf was the key model of a hero so he
As Beowulf lies at rest, the question must be asked. Was he a true hero? Wanting only to help the towns people and keep them safe? Or just a mighty man wanting to be king, loathed in fame and riches? That is something that may always stay
A hero is one who is not only strong, but one who uses his strength to uphold others. A hero is humble, philanthropic, magnanimous and selfless, a humanitarian at best. In the unprecedented epic Beowulf, the tale’s namesake exemplifies every characteristic befitting an Anglo-Saxon hero. He is honest, loyal, and courageous. He portrays these characteristics in the battle against Grendel, the affray with Grendel’s mother, and the fight against the dragon that inevitably ended his life.
Beowulf is considered a hero in many ways because he goes through many problems and overcomes many of them. Beowulf puts his life on the line countless times to protect the lives of others and doesn’t really get a reward for it. He is what many believe any kind of warrior or great leader should strive to be. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he stood and faced all his odds head on, puts his life on the line to protect his people, and he displays selfless service for his people. Even though he boasts often he can back it up.
He demonstrates his strength most frequently throughout the story. He is said to fight with the strength of thirty men and defeats a monster who also has the strength of thirty men in hand-to-hand combat by ripping his arm completely off. Beowulf also shows great strength in the battle with Grendel’s mother. In this battle, he holds his breath for hours and then kills the monster by lifting and swinging a sword made for giants which no ordinary man could lift. When he comes back from that fight, he carries Grendel’s head and the giant sword hilt from the depths of the lake to its surface, where it takes eight of his men to carry that very same head.
In his defense of the needy and his willingness to sacrifice his life to benefit others, Beowulf has definitely earned the right to be called a hero. Beowulf is not only a hero, but also an example to all warriors of what they should strive to be. This hero risks his death for glory and for the greater good of society; he possesses the virtues, traits, and beliefs that were respected in the Anglo-Saxon culture, and has super human strength. He saved people, fought bravely, was loyal, courageous, and rewarded those who fought bravely. Being a hero is not a title that is given, but rather earned.
Why is beowulf a hero? He is a hero because he protects people from monsters and dragons. He will fight without weapons or with weapons. Some of the monsters he can’t fight with weapons. Beowulf is the strongest among men. Beowulf can kill monster with his bare hands.
A good hero can be hard to find considering that there are many characteristics in being a hero. Someone willing to save others lives with no questions asked even if no reward is given. In the story Beowulf he is the stories main hero. He honors great strength and skill not only in battle but in himself.
He used the mystical sword and became more cautious but still did the deed for the people of the Danes. This shows true honor and responsibility. Beowulf took responsibility for upsetting Grendel’s mother and handled it even though he did not have too. Once Grendel’s mother was defeated, there was another celebration in Herot. “Beowulf, my friend, your fame has gone far and wide, you are known everywhere…
Beowulf is a hero in that he represents the values of courage, strength, respect, loyalty, and honor. Beowulf is willing to do whatever and whenever to protect Hrothgar and all his people.
What a Hero What makes a person a hero? What does he have to-do to become a hero? Today a hero is someone who is admired for his courage and determination. This courage helps a person become a hero and stay one. Beowulf is one of those people with the courage to become a hero.