Beowulf- A True Epic Hero

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Beowulf- A True Epic Hero


Beowulf is the most well- renowned work of Old English. The epic tells the story
of a hero named Beowulf. Beowulf’s character potrayed many Anglo-Saxon ideals.
Beowulf was loyal, strong, fearless, and bold. Anglo-Saxon heroes proved themselves by
doing good deeds, exemplifying bravery, and showing honor. Beowulf was considered the
strongest warrior around, he would fight any creature to protect his King, and country
from danger. Beowulf was very boastful. He never resisted in singing his own praises. In
lines 43-47 of the excerpt from Beowulf it states,
What man, Anywhere under Heaven’s high arch, has fought
In such darkens, endured more misery or been harder
Pressed? Yet I survived the sea, smashed
The monsters’ hot jaws, swam home from my journey.
These lines clearly allow us to see that Beowulf has a great sense of pride. Beowulf is
afraid of nothing. His fearlessness is what made him such a great hero. Although many
people may have thought that pride would be his downfall, I interpreted it as his
motivation. No one else would have volunteered their lives such as Beowulf did. Without
hesitation, Beowulf would come to the rescue.
Although Beowulf had many great qualities that made him extremely admirable, he
lacked humility. Even is his youngest days, he boasted. Beowulf had a swimming match
with one of his best friends, Brecca. Neither of them knew the dangers of swimming out to
sea with dangerous sea creatures, and terrible monster’s lurking in the waters. In lines
9-11 of the excerpt, Beowulf states,


He could never leave me behind. swim faster
Across the waves than I could, and I
Had chosen to remain close to his side.
Even though Brecca and Beowulf were like brothers to each other, Beowulf never
hesitated to state that he was the better of the two. In Beowulf’s eyes, there was no
greater man than he. Beowulf never gave up. He always believed that his f...