Beowulf: An Epic Hero
Surrounding the reign of King Alfred the Great, the King of the Anglo-Saxons for defending the southern kingdoms of England from the Vikings, dawned a new hero of epic proportions, Beowulf. Beowulf is the main protagonist in the epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf is the hero of the Geats who comes to the aid of Hrogar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills both Grendel and Grendel's vengeful mother. Further in the poem, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, and finds he is being terrorized by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him. Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally wounded. For the man he was, Beowulf is known as an epic hero.
An epic hero is an important figure from a legend, usually favored by or even partially descended from a supernatural being who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers, often called in some religions as a God. Ecgtheow is Beowulfs father. Ecgtheow is deceased in the beginning of the poem, but he lives on through the noble reputation that he made for himself during his life and in his dutiful sons remembrances.
The hero participates in a or quest, faces adversaries that try to defeat him in his journey, gathers allies along his journey, and returns home significantly transformed by his journey. Beowulf begins with Beowulf hearing the story of King Hrogar and his people. In it he, his wife and his warriors spend their time singing and celebrating, until Grendel, an outcast from society who is angered by the singing, attacks the hall and kills and devours many of Hrogar's warriors while they sleep. Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland, with his king's permission leaves his homeland to help Hrogar. Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. After they fall asleep, Grendel enters the hall and attacks. Beowulf bears no weapon as this would be an unfair advantage over the unarmed beast. Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body at the shoulder and Grendel runs to his home in the marshes to die. The next night, Grendel's mother appears and attacks the hall. Beowulf track Grendel's mother to her lair under a lake. Grendel's mother and Beowulf engage in fierce combat. Beowulf beheads her. Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes king of his own people.
An epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies certain morals that are valued by the society from which the epic originates. They usually embody cultural and religious beliefs of the people.
He has done his worst but the wound will end him. He is hasped and hooped and hirpling with pain, limping and looped in it. Like a man outlawed for wickedness, he must await the mighty judgment of God in majesty. (ll. 974-78)
These lines are spoken by Beowulf after he defeats Grendel. Grendel is laid to rest in the most noblest of fashion. He makes sure to let the people know that, yes he has done a great deed for the people, but he is not the judge of wrong and right, their God is.
Epic heroes, also, have no superpowers, but are smart, brave, and have fears but overcome them to protect their friends, families, and countries. An epic hero can also be a warrior of some sort who performs extraordinary tasks that most find difficult. The epic hero is also typically joined by sidekicks, who will initially be rejected from the group for their own safety, thus embodying selflessness, a commonly valued trait in society, into the epic hero. One day, late in Beowulf's life, a slave steals a golden cup from the lair of an unnamed dragon. When the dragon sees that the cup has been stolen, it leaves its cave in a rage, burning everything in sight. Beowulf and his warriors come to fight the dragon, but when Beowulf is wounded by the dragon, his warriors run away in fear. Only one of the warriors, a brave young man named Wiglaf, stays to help Beowulf.
Your deeds are famous, so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you. (ll. 2666-68)
Wiglaf says this to Beowulf before he joins him to fight the dragon. The two slay the dragon, but Beowulf dies from his wounds.
They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame. (ll. 3180-82)
Beowulf is an epic hero. His ability to think of himself last, his loyalty, and bravery makes him reveared by all. Beowulf came openly and wholeheartedly to help the Danes which was an unusual occurrence in a time of war and wide-spread fear. He set a noble example for all human beings relaying the necessity of brotherhood and friendship. Beowulf is most definitely an epic hero of epic proportions.
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