Beowulf: A Tragic Hero

Improved Essays
This figure wasn’t the ordinary human as he appeared to be. This was a brave and outstanding hero, a conqueror. Beowulf was going to do what they believed impossible. Beowulf had entered the putrid beast's lair. As he approached the shadowing dwelling, he noticed a heavy sword hanging from the wall. He carefully observed it before braking the binding chains on it’s hilt. He ripped it from the wall, his aggressive power showing on his twisted face. Quickly, he swung it over his shoulder and prepared for the oncoming attack. He prepared to swing.
Beowulf was a not betrayed by fear, he had already attacked the son and was ready to face the mother with all he had. He was no mere man, he was near God-like. There was not one man that didn’t love

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    He does this task while showing absolutely no fear of anything. The definition of hero that Beowulf depicts is quite different than the definition most people think of for heroes today. When comparing and contrasting the heroic values of Beowulf with those of today’s society, one must consider the following things, who becomes a hero, how they become a…

    • 1068 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What are the makings of a hero? Are they the physical qualities or the outstanding achievements? Or is it the mental battles of the hero that count? Three heroes from ancient english literature will be assessed for the noble qualities of a hero. Brave Beowulf was an honorable hero of the Geats.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    People throughout life all grow up looking up to a hero. Who was yours? In the Hero’s Journey it explains the life of a hero. It starts with they find their calling then they go through many challenges and in the end meet there match that leaves them remembered as a great hero. In Beowulf the story he hears about a place called Herot which has been under attack for twelve years by a great monster (Grendel) and so he decides that he is going to take on the mighty beast.…

    • 1316 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The epic poem Beowulf tells a story of a hero coming from a different land to lift the shroud of evil off Herot. Hero’s in an epic poem must exemplify traits of bravery, strength, courage, and the want to achieve immortality through heroic actions and deeds. In the poem Beowulf the main character Beowulf exemplifies all of these traits. Bravery, all epic heroes possess this trait especially Beowulf. The beginning of the story, Grendel travels into Herot and kills thirty people.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf: A True Hero

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Beowulf, I found myself idolizing over the strong and fearless hero. He was what I would call “the perfect hero”, because not only did he get the job done, but he did it so with honor and modesty. In some cases it reminded me of the movie Hercules, where Hercules tried to show off as much as possible and show that he was better than everyone else to gain fame. While Beowulf used his famous strength to help those in need not to just gain fame, but because he knew he was undoubtedly the only one who could help.…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Everyone face a difficult or dangerous situation in which you need to show courage in order to be able to deal with it. In the exert, there is a kingdom celebrating all their triumphs with the king, Hrothgar, in his hall, Heorot. There is this monster, Grendel, that never had the chance to be a nice person or experience happiness because he descended from Cain. Grendel killed 30 men in the hall while they were sleeping after celebrating.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Evolution Of Beowulf Essay

    • 1084 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Evolution of Beowulf Throughout the story of Beowulf the great hero accomplishes three great feats against three terrible monsters. On the surface of each battle readers can see that Beowulf portrays wlenco, however, if we look a little deeper into each conflict we can see positive character development within Beowulf himself. In this poem Beowulf clashes with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon that ravages his community; within each battle Beowulf has a subtle change in character that eventually leads him to become a great king. Before the author reaches Beowulf’s first conflict he writes Beowulf off as arrogant and bold.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf’s society, the Anglo-Saxons, idolized many qualities, specifically those of a strong warrior, courageous fighter, and hero willing to die for his glory and people. Principally, the persona that the Anglo-Saxons most idolized was that of a warrior. Beowulf is an admired warrior well-known to all who surround him. When Beowulf first meets King Hrothgar, he announces, “My people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength” (line 415).…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The epic hero named Beowulf is a warrior, who can do what no man can as he defeats life and death challenges. In his youth, Beowulf was considered a great warrior due to his strength and courage. For example, his fable swimming match with Breca to get to grendel 's mom was showing how strong he was and the Germanic heroic code of Loyalty, courtesy and pride. His battle with Grendel and Grendel’s mother validates his bravery as he faces three tremendous battles that help shape him into the epic hero he is known as today. Beowulf young and courageous battles Grendel with ease, will never have any fearful vain and will never back down from any fight.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Beowulf: A Hero?

    • 1124 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Beowulf: A hero? "Be of good hope; be valiant; watch for the foe" said by the King of the Danes in the illustrated version of Beowulf by Gareth hinds depicts the qualities of a hero. The graphic novel follows the protagonist known as Beowulf for the latter part of his life. Numerous fights between Beowulf and monsters and beasts occur within the novel. One cannot dispute of the many heroic acts Beowulf had performed.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    What Makes an Epic Hero? The story Beowulf is England’s earliest masterpiece originated from the Anglo-Saxon poem. Beowulf is considered as the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. Through Beowulf we can understand what the Anglo-Saxons valued.…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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.…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    These two great literary pieces, “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” revolve around the idea of heroes being brave, courageous and honorable. Both are very similar with slight differences, such as the way the hero is depicted throughout the story, the various elements of the stories, magic, and more. These stories influence readers at the time like what it means to be a hero and also there are Christian influences. In “Beowulf”, the main character Beowulf is legendary and venerable.…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This part of the book represent that Beowulf was a very capable man/warrior because he showed the whole…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf Tragic Hero

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The concept of a "tragic hero" is nothing new; it has been in use from as early as 335 BCE, when it was introduced into Greek theatre as a character element in tragic plays. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, first documented such a character in his book Poetics, defining a tragic hero as "a [great] man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake" (Else 38). Thus, it should not be a surprise that Beowulf, protagonist of Beowulf by William Shakespeare, is lead to his eventual doom: it's already been done before. Above all, Beowulf does indeed match the classical definition of a "tragic hero" on all facets: by beginning as a hero, making poor judgements, and ending with ruin.…

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays