Kings whose celestial ordinance certifies their absolute power on earth. Einhard pictured a king who was above everyone else. Such a king would rule with justice, valor and would bring forth years of good fortune and prosperity. Einhard detailed that a king of such holy origin would champion his enemies in war and protect his people from invasion. It is noted from Life of Charlemagne that King Charles possessed such divine authority.
Another heroic trait of Beowulf is loyalty. For instance, the lines 165-166 clearly demonstrate the attribute of loyalty when Beowulf says, “That I, alone and with the help of my men may purge all evil from this hall.” This illustrates loyalty because not only does Beowulf use his hands to defeat Grendel, but he keeps his word strong to the king. This creates a bond of loyalty between them. Furthermore, the aspect of bravery is again revealed on lines 191-192 when Hrothgar says, “Beowulf, you’ve come to us in friendship, and because of the reception your father found at our court.” Loyalty is portrayed here
Even though he was the king he still went to go fight the dragon. Even though he could have just sent his men to kill the dragon he went to do it himself and dies from a bite from the dragon and the regrets not having a son because he devoted his life to others. Beowulf is a hero who as saved countless lives fighting many monsters such as Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and the dragon. He saved many lives and died doing it. The amount of lives he saved made him a great hero.
Those around him respected him because he was fearless. This shows by the way he killed Grendel. He used only his bare hands to slay the beast because he had no fear of being without protection. Beowulf says this in the tale, “My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster” This natural fearlessness was his greatest virtue. He stood for good and fought with honor to defend the glory of his people.
Take what I leave, Wiglaf, lead my people, help them” (lines 802-809). Beowulf embodies the values of a particular society and proves his tremendous power throughout the poem. He is brave, honest, inhumanly strong, and holds other’s lives in higher regards than his own. He is an archetypal hero for showing no fear in facing creatures that seemed to be from hell, to bring peace and safety to others. He believed this life of war and glory to be his calling.
Drake Propson English 11 Mr. Hoffman 9/15/14 Beowulf: an Epic Hero Throughout the story you can see that Beowulf is an epic hero when he fights Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. These fights show how Beowulf is an epic hero. Beowulf is an epic hero because he has superhuman strength, intelligence, and courage, and performs brave deeds, and risks death for the greater good of society. In the fight against Grendel, Beowulf’s superhuman strength allows him to beat and mortally wound Grendel, and his courage shows when he beats Grendel by using only his bare hands. The characteristics of superhuman strength and courage are seen throughout the story of Beowulf and define why he is an epic hero.
I am old now but I will fight again. Seek fame still, if the dragon hiding dares face me” (624-628). Describes this leader’s heart and love for his people, because he is the king he no longer needs the fame and glory he already has this. But he proves to be responsible and goes to take on the dragon without any aid of his people. Beowulf is a hero in every way.
So he sets forth on a journey to avenge them. While on this journey he discovers that his blood father is a God, thus making him out to be a Semi-God, or half man half god. Although his journey isn’t equivalent to Gilgamesh’s epic, the quality and characteristic traits in these characters are much similar. They both are subjected to being harmed and death; and although they both know this fact it doesn’t stop them from continuing on, onto their journeys to get to where they are destined to be. As I picture both characters in my head I can see the courage and bravery in their eyes, defeating each demon that crosses their paths.
He fought and killed a monster, a demon, a dragon, and many more creatures. He was able to do all of this because of the strength that he possesses. “I would rather not/ use a weapon” (171). “This fight is not yours/nor is it up to any man except me/to measure my strength against the dragon/or prove his worth” (171). Beowulf went off to fight this dragon all my his self with just a sword and a shield.
The Bards state: Had been served as he’d serve them; Beowulf, A prince of the geats, had killed Grendel, Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering Forced upon Hrothgar’s helpless people. (351-354) A hero is who someone looks up to and in the poem Beowulf, the reader can see that his soldiers and his village see Beowulf as a triumphant hero who shall never give up and will forever continue to fight for them. Hrothgar has seen Beowulf’s true colors and states “Beowulf, you’ve come to us in friendship, and because/ of the reception your father found at our court” (316-317) A hero has a different effect on everyone and in the the novel “Sir Gawain” the green knights sees Sir Gawain as an undamaged good. He states, “ I consider you polished as while and as perfectly clean/ As if you had never fallen since you were first born” (370-371). He is much like Beowulf in the ways that his men look up to him as their King, someone who could never let them down even when not being watched.