Beowulf as Larger Than Life Essay

In the early fifth and sixth centuries, early Anglo-Saxons developed legends of great heroes who risked everything to deliver others from evil and terrifying forces. Anglo-Saxon heroes portrayed strength, loyalty, and courage to a degree that seemed to render them super-human. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon hero who shows all of these traits. He is much like Odysseus in Homers, The Odyssey. They both overcome tremendous obstacles in order to complete their duties.

Epic Poems depict a single character to be larger than life in all ways. In Beowulf, Beowulf shows super-human strength throughout the entire poem. He boats of his greatness and vows to take on a vicious beast barehanded. He is able to rip its head off with the slightest of ease. His powerful grip on the beasts arm rips it from its body. Odysseus shows the same trait but in a slightly different way. He shows more mental strength than physical strength. Odysseus is able to trick the Cyclops into becoming drunk which makes for a much easier escape. He also disguised himself as an old man as to not draw attention from his wifes suitors.

In the time of Beowulf, loyalty to king and country was a virtue that was impassable. Beowulf travels from far away in order to protect Hrothgars men from the terrifying Grendel. For instance, the lines 165-166 demonstrate the element of loyalty when Beowulf says, That I, alone and with the help of my men may purge all evil from this hall. This portrays loyalty because not only does Beowulf use his hands to defeat Grendel, but he keeps his word to the king. Beowulfs men also show great loyalty to their king by standing by the lake and waiting for him to arise although they believe him to be dead. In The Odyssey, Loyalty is shown by that of Odysseuss men. They continue to follow him at all costs. For example, when the Cyclops is devouring their comrades they continue to wait and abide by Odysseuss plan. Also his son stayed loyal to him when the suitors abused him in his own home, Odysseuss son kept his identity a secret just as his father had asked.

Beowulf shows much courage and bravery throughout the poem. He gladly accepts the task to kill the Grendel and brags of his accomplishment beforehand as well as afterwards. He then shows his bravery yet again when Grendels mother becomes a threat. He vows to kill her as well. Even when Beowulf grows very old his bravery shines through. He decides to slay the dragon in order to possess its treasure. Because of his outstanding accomplishments, his bravery is unsurpassable and larger than life. Odysseus also shows bravery throughout The Odyssey. He gladly takes on the open seas in order to get away from Calypsos isle. He also gladly takes on his wifes suitors although it is clearly an uneven fight.

Beowulf is depicted as an epic hero through is tremendous accomplishments due to his super-human traits of strength, loyalty, and courage. He is a perfect example of a Anglo-Saxon hero. All of his traits make him out to be of super-human descent and therefore he is larger than life. The same is thought of Odysseus in Homers The Odyssey. They both portray unbelievable amounts of bravery and strength as well as loyalty to their loved ones.