Characteristics Of Beowulf - 861 Words

The poem Beowulf is a story that was passed down vocally, through generations, before a monk recorded the story in Old English. The story tells a journey of a young warrior, Beowulf, who is constantly faced with the task of defeating evil in order to pursue harmony throughout the land of Herot. As time progressed, english historians have declared that Beowulf can be considered and epic hero. An epic hero is a person who holds both bravery and nobility based on the actions that are accomplished. He or she is a character who holds specific characteristics above the rest of the society, as if they are the leader or role model that the community values all together. In order to be considered an â€Å"epic hero† one must hold specific requirements:†¦show more content†¦Beowulf’s first struggle was against Grendel, a monster who would not be damaged by the impact of weapons. Despite the weakness, Beowulf was able to overcome the demon with his pure strength. The town speople were saved and the â€Å"old and young rejoiced, turned back from that happy pilgrimage, mounted their hard-hooved horses, high spirited stallions, and rode them slowly towards Herot again, retelling Beowulf’s bravery as they jogged along† (375-379). In short, this explains that Beowulf’s success in battle translates into the success of the town and the safety of its people. In his battle with Grendel’s mother, he discovered she was much stronger than her son was, however, he knew he could not give in. She was described as ferocious and strong, no match could stand before her. The story reads, â€Å"She’d taken Hrothgar’s closest friend, / The man he most loved of all men on earth; / She’d killed a glorious soldier, cut / A noble life short† (414-417). If Beowulf had not been able to defeat the beast, she would have stole away to the city and destroyed everyone and everything; the destruction she would have caused would have been endless. Beowulf has many superhuman traits that separate him from normal humans. He fought both Grendel and his mother with his bare hands and strength. The story reads, â€Å"IfShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of Beowulf936 Words   |  4 Pagesand war. Often times the epics and traditional stories passed down are centered around battles where the hero represents strong leadership characteristics. The story of Beowulf was commonly used as a story to teach upcoming leaders powerful ways to lead. Common traits are shown in the story illustration common themes for leadership. Throughout the epic of Beowulf, an element of Anglo-Saxon culture is represented in the virtues of humility through actions, loyalty in the fighting, and the Code of ComitatusRead MoreCharacteristics Of Beowulf710 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf, the Game: The Traits of Beowulf and his Heroic Demise. I chose to create a board game based on the Old English Poem, Beowulf, because through creating the event cards, I was able to analyze the characteristics of Beowulf which led him towards his valiant death. This was achieved by associating the moving figures (players) with a specific trait that Beowulf embodies throughout the poem; each trait was assigned a color which represents the characteristic connected to it in order to differentiateRead MoreBeowulf Characteristics895 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf could, more than easily, be described as a typical Anglo-Saxon hero. More likely he would be the model of one. The story of his life was a staple in the Anglo-Saxon society. There are three distinct traits that make up the Anglo-Saxon hero. Those three traits would be Larger Than Life Strength, Loyalty to lord/Lord and Bravery. There has only been one hero in Anglo-Saxon history, only one man can meet every requirement one needs to be classified as a hero. Only one man’s stren gth, selflessnessRead MoreCharacteristics Of Beowulf1100 Words   |  5 Pagessociety. In the days of Beowulf and the Vikings, a hero was a man who was strong, courageous, and willing to protect his land and provide for his people. In today’s world, a hero is someone who is known for their selflessness and bravery. Beowulf is described as an epic hero before he even speaks a word in the story. He is described as mightiest man on earth, the noble warrior, and the man whose name was known for courage, the Great leader. These opening quotes about Beowulf alone make it seem likeRead MoreCharacteristics Of Beowulf1577 Words   |  7 Pagesmaintain such qualities, they can either use their talents for personal gains or use the extraordinary features for the well-being of others. A prime example of an epic hero who convey these attributes is a character named Beowulf. While progressing through his journey, Beowulf demonstrates a great sense of devotion to his people and their welf are through his level of loyalty. Additionally, his actions dealing with his superior strength are all taken on a basis to benefit and help his people. LastlyRead MoreWhat Are The Characteristics Of Beowulf1458 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 2017 Beowulf Have you ever thought of being so strong that you have the ability to fight with a dragon and kill it? Beowulf, an epic written in England by an anonymous writer that tells how this powerful and fearless human being that fights monsters and dinosaurs with his bare hands and sometimes with weapons. An Epic is a long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally, that celebrates heroic deeds and legendary events (Wiggins 39). This epic generally describes about how Beowulf was a greatRead MoreThe Characteristics Of The Epic Of Beowulf964 Words   |  4 Pages The story of Beowulf is one of the worlds most important poetic works. The manuscript of the work in its entirety is dated as far back as the year 1000, but the poem itself dates back much farther in oral form (107). Beowulf is an Old English poem displaying characteristics of medieval English culture, particularly on â€Å"its ability to integrate pagan Germanic history within the framework of the Christian Middle Ages† (107 ). The story is set in the sixth century, and at this time it was the beginningRead MoreThe Characteristics Of Heroism In Beowulf857 Words   |  4 PagesHeroism Essay What really defines a hero? Beowulf has been known as one of the greatest heroes in Anglo Saxon history: Strong, brave, and a great leader who will lay his life down for his people. Heroes now, show many of the same qualities, but can come in many different shapes and sizes, some even in the shape of a kitchen sponge. Beowulf’s stories depict epic quests across new and foreign lands. He goes on these quest either to keep his people safe from monster, or earn fame and glory throughoutRead MoreBeowulf : Characteristics Of An Epic Hero978 Words   |  4 PagesAhissa Rice Mrs. Scheel 2Y English 12 20/11/17 Beowulf: Characteristics of an Epic Hero In Anglo-Saxon literature and culture, to be considered a hero was to also be considered a warrior/ soldier. To be a hero, you had to not only be strong but you also had to be smart, and have plenty of courage. These warriors were willing to face any type of trials and tribulations at any odd. These types of heroic warriors would fight to the death to obtain glory and save their people. The Anglo-Saxon hero neededRead MoreThe Characteristics Of My Dad And Beowulf730 Words   |  3 PagesMy Dad and Beowulf How do average people stack up against an epic hero? An epic hero possesses key traits such as courage, bravery, selflessness, humility, patience, and caring. Does someone we look up to also possess many of the same traits? Jamie Smith is a person to compare to an epic hero, in this case the hero being Beowulf. Characteristics of the epic hero Beowulf, include his caring, bravery, and other traits will be compared to Jamie Smith and how he ranks up against Beowulf. First of all