Beowulf as a Good Leader Essay

What does it take to be a good leader for your men? In the book Beowulf by anonymous, Beowulf shows what it takes to be a good leader. Beowulf is a good leader because he is courageous, brave and has no fear at all.

Beowulf is considered a good leader because he is courageous. When Beowulf says Better it is for each one of us that we should avenge his friend, then greatly mourn it (anonymous line 1384-1385) it shows Beowulfs courage. This shows that he rather fight and avenge his friends death than mourn and do nothing about it. This quote was put in to show the characteristics of Beowulf. Beowulf shows his courage when he says A warrior will sooner die than live a life of shame(lines 2890-2891). He is willing to do whatever to live a courageous life than to do nothing and die shameless. This quote shows that a warrior who is courageous wont die in shame. You can clearly see Beowulfs great courage when he says often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked (lines 572-573). A mans life is saved by his courage. This shows that Beowulf had been saved by his great courage. This shows that Beowulf had been spared many times by his courageous actions. Beowulfs courageousness shows the type of character he had.

Beowulf is never in a situation which he is scared because he is brave. Beowulf begins to show us his bravery when he says Fate saves the living when they drive away death by themselves (lines 573-574). Beowulf is very brave because his courage has saved him many times from dying. The quote shows that whatever is trying to kill him is actually scared of him. Beowulf is not intimidated but he is brave when he says Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be. This friend is a bold and famous fight, but his claws and teeth beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him with my hands emptyunless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid. Let god in his wisdom extend his hand where he wills, reward whom he chooses!(Line 677-687). He shows us his bravery because he is not scared or intimidated by Grendels features and attributes. The quote was put in to show us that he is as brave and if not braver than anyone he meets or encounters. When Beowulf goes into the cave of the mother of Grendel he shows us his bravery. This shows that he does not care what he has to encounter to do what he has to do. This is showing us he does not back down from anything and that he is the bravest of them all. All of this is showing how he is not scared of anything at all.

Beowulf is not scared of anything or anyone that comes into his way. When the book says Beowulf got ready, donned his war gear, indifferent to death(line 1441-1442) the book shows us he is immune to fear. Beowulf is ready to whatever comes into his way and he does not even care that death could be a possibility. This shows us that he does not even think about death as a possibility because he does not think he will die. When the book says His vanity swelled him so vile and rank that he could hear no voices but his own. He deserved to suffer and die. But Beowulf was a prince well-loved, followed in friendship, not fear it shows he fears nothing. He is supposed to die and suffer as the book says but since he has no fear he does not die. This quote shows that he does not fear death even though he deserves to die. When Beowulf goes to kill Grendels mother he has no fear when he goes to kill her. He does not fear her because he is sure of himself that he will kill her. This quote shows that there is no doubt in his mind that he will still be alive and she will be dead. All of this shows the strong characteristics of a leader that Beowulf has.

Beowulf is considered a good man and he is very proud of everything he does. Beowulf has good characteristics of a leader like, bravery, courageousness and he fears nothing. I think that Beowulf is a good leader because he has a lot of the characteristics that a good leader should have to lead his men and his people.