Beowulf Hero's Journey Analysis

In Beowulf, Beowulf, the main character, is regarded as a hero. He is known throughout the Land of the Danes and the Land of the Geats as fearless and courageous when he comes to their aid to help slay Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and a Dragon. Beowulf’s heroism is exemplified in two phases: the first is youthful heroism and the second is mature heroism, once he is crowned King. Throughout his life, Beowulf helped not only his own people, but also those in other lands. People look up to him for his great strength and the ability to never back down from a challenge, even when he knows fate might bring him to his death. Throughout the poem, Beowulf follows many steps of the "Hero 's Journey," a format used by authors for centuries, that allows the …show more content…
Within the Hero’s Journey there are twelve steps that take the protagonist on an epic journey where he proves to be the hero within the plot line. The first stage is the ordinary world, where the hero is introduced and is unaware of a situation, causing stress that the audience can identify with. The second stage of the “Hero’s journey” is the call to adventure. Within this stage, the protagonist becomes self aware and must face the beginnings of change. While on a ship Beowulf hears the cries of those in the Land of the Danes and stops to help. Upon arrival those who see him are glad to hear he is going to battle Grendel. Grendel has been tormenting the town every night for the past 12 years. Here, Beowulf shows that he is courageous and humble by helping those in need that he does not know. Refusal of the call is the third stage and within this, the main character tries to turn away from the journey he must make. Eventually he ends up meeting a mentor that will help him achieve the courage to take on his adventure, making this the fourth stage, meeting the mentor. In Beowulf, Beowulf is the most willing man to take on the mythical creature. He believes with the strength he has of 30 men in each arm, he can slay Grendel easily and does not back down to the …show more content…
For defeating Grendel and his mother, the king, Hrothgar, showered Beowulf with treasure: three horses, and a suit of armour. Beowulf departs as an iconic man back onto his ship to go back home to the Land of the Geats. On the road back to bring the reward home there is usually suspenseful foreshadowed hints that signal new danger of the mission, the character thought to have already completed. The resurrection is the next stage that holds the climax where the hero is severely tested one more time and has to prevail. By the hero’s action, the polarities that caused conflict in the beginning are now finally resolved. When Beowulf returns back to his land he becomes king. After ruling for 50 years, he finds out he has one last trial, he must slay a dragon. During this battle Beowulf is the only man proving noble enough to try and fight off this dragon. He knows he might die, but goes off to kill it anyway. The odds are not in Beowulf’s favor, but before Beowulf is killed Wiglaf, a young kinsman, comes to his aid. Beowulf’s sword cannot pierce the skin of the dragon and while trying to do so he is bit. Beowulf’s last option is to use a small dagger. He pierces the dragon in the through killing it, but soon after Beowulf dies due to a dragon bite that leaves venom coursing through his veins. This leaves the last step of the hero’s journey, return with the elixir. Within this final stage the