He is an excellent example of Anglo-Saxon hero because he posses the strength, courage and loyalty like a true Anglo-Saxon warrior. He shows the all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses and still noted as a natural being and not a supernatural being. An epic poem, Beowulf presents the situation of good and evil and life and death. The poem shows Beowulf's
Not only were there people that had faith in Beowulf, Beowulf had faith in himself and God. He was confident in the task that lay ahead of him, “That I, alone with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.” Beowulf knew if he stayed self-assured and positive he could defeat the beast; however, his confidence and faith in himself came from a faith in a higher being. Because religion was such a big part of Anglo Saxon culture, Beowulf the mighty warrior, put his fate in the hands of God. Right before one of his big battles Beowulf exclaimed, “God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grin” (Beowulf, 40). He ultimately knew that whatever was to happen was up to God.
Grace Smith College English 1301 Period 2 October 3, 2012 Definition of a Hero According to Merriam Webster’s School Dictionary the word hero means a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability, an illustrious warrior who people admire for achievements and their qualities. A hero is one that shows great courage also known as a chief male figure in a literary work or in an event or period. Webster’s New World Thesaurus lists some synonyms as brave, man, model, popular figure, warrior, saint, or a god. Webster’s New World Thesaurus also gives antonyms such as a coward, weak, and a slacker. The definition of a hero is a bold statement and demonstrated in both poems “Sir Gawain and
Beowulf shows his fellow supporters that he is capable of being a strong and powerful leader. Beowulf is a strong and responsible leader. He is a great leader because he maintains his loyalty to Hrothgar and his kingdom, which in return pays off as he is then crowned king. Another instance is when he brings his men with him from the land of the Geats, which shows he has had experience and is more than capable to manage and direct others in the direction. Lastly, when he and his men ambush the dragon Beowulf fights until his dying breath.
Beowulf is in search of fame; he gains it truthfully by battling with menaces to society and does not lie or manipulate to achieve this fame. Beowulf uses what is rightfully his, his bravery. Beowulf’s bravery differs from that of King Arthur’s for multiple reasons. King Arthur is a king; he must be brave for respect of the people, where as Beowulf’s bravery carries the story. King Arthur’s best value as a hero is his very natural and humble leadership ability.
Beowulf embodies the ideals of conduct that are highly admired in the Anglo-Saxon culture. His characteristics, traits and ideology are viewed as worthy of imitation by the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf is physically strong, fearless, religious, and is fiercely loyal to his king. In the Anglo-Saxon culture great strength was something that people envied. The warrior Beowulf is “the strongest of the Geats … stronger than anyone anywhere in this world…” Beowulf’s strength is obvious to Grendel during their battle.
Like all the epic heroes, this hero of ours “possesses superior physical strength and supremely ethical standards”. Besides this, he also embodies Anglo-Saxon culture’s supreme ideals. Going further in depth to justify this thought, we can take into account the very four important characteristics that make up an epic hero- they are always glorified, is on a quest, possesses ethical values, very courageous, and is immensely
As a Knight of the medieval time period you had to live by the Chivalric Code. This code was a code of conduct and stated that knights or nobles must be brave warriors, virtuous Christians, and must fight selflessly for justice. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain attempts to live up to the Chivalric Code but falls short at moments not only for fear of losing his life but also because of his individuality. In the beginning of the legend Gawain is nothing more than the nephew of King Arthur and his life is not greatly valued. A mysterious Green Knight rides into Arthur’s hall and challenges anyone who is willing to a simple contest.
Beowulf: Hero or a Zero? When people declare Beowulf a hero, does the question of what makes a hero ever come to mind? Then someone might ask what type of people can heroes be? Beowulf is a hero because he fights for the sake of other people, and lives his life to protect others, which shows his courage and allows him to receive the glory that is brought upon him. Beowulf is definitely brave for fighting and living his life to protect others.
Beowulf Literary Analysis Research Paper What is your definition of a hero? In the epic Beowulf, the main hero is a great hero named Beowulf. In the epic, Beowulf is seen performing heroic acts and demonstrating great character. Beowulf is courageous and his loyal to the people is unmatched. He puts his life on the line to protect his kingdom and that’s the most important trait of a hero, self -sacrifice.