In the poem Beowulf, the character Beowulf represents the embodiment of heroism. The poem examines heroism from the perspective of both a warrior and a politician. There are a number of characteristics of a hero that Beowulf epitomizes. These include courage, sacrifice, determination, perseverance, dedication, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, and wisdom. A warrior sees heroism defined as being admired and respected for their brave actions and qualities. A politician, in contrast, is a person who is experienced in the art or science of government. To a politician, heroism means honesty and responsibility. An effective politician is reliable and trustworthy. He or she makes decisions and accepts responsibility for his or her actions and words.
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Beowulf does not take this praise and respect lightly or for granted. He wants to live up to the peoples ' expectations of him, which is what a hero would do. Beowulf embodies the trait of courage. There are many examples of Beowulf’s courageous acts in the text, but in general, he never thinks twice about going into a battle if it means he is protecting his people. Specific examples of Beowulf displaying courage are when he goes into battle against Grendel and then against Grendel’s mother. Beowulf also displays fairness and justice. In the fight against Grendel, for example, Beowulf decides to fight unarmed because Grendel does not know how to fight with weapons, therefore he just uses his …show more content…
Beowulf, as a warrior, shows courage and sacrifice during all of the battles that he fights. He protects his people and puts himself in danger for the good of his people. This is particularly true in the battle against Grendel 's mother, which was exceptionally dangerous. This is the true definition of someone being heroic. Beowulf, as an effective politician, shows loyalty, perseverance and dedication throughout the poem. He gains the respect of both his own people and others and is able to unite two formerly antagonistic peoples. Beowulf is reliable and honest with his men which is an important quality to succeed, especially if you are a politician. By embodying the traits of both a warrior and a politician, Beowulf is a more effective and admired
Beowulf does not take this praise and respect lightly or for granted. He wants to live up to the peoples ' expectations of him, which is what a hero would do. Beowulf embodies the trait of courage. There are many examples of Beowulf’s courageous acts in the text, but in general, he never thinks twice about going into a battle if it means he is protecting his people. Specific examples of Beowulf displaying courage are when he goes into battle against Grendel and then against Grendel’s mother. Beowulf also displays fairness and justice. In the fight against Grendel, for example, Beowulf decides to fight unarmed because Grendel does not know how to fight with weapons, therefore he just uses his …show more content…
Beowulf, as a warrior, shows courage and sacrifice during all of the battles that he fights. He protects his people and puts himself in danger for the good of his people. This is particularly true in the battle against Grendel 's mother, which was exceptionally dangerous. This is the true definition of someone being heroic. Beowulf, as an effective politician, shows loyalty, perseverance and dedication throughout the poem. He gains the respect of both his own people and others and is able to unite two formerly antagonistic peoples. Beowulf is reliable and honest with his men which is an important quality to succeed, especially if you are a politician. By embodying the traits of both a warrior and a politician, Beowulf is a more effective and admired