“Beowulf provides a startlingly vivid glimpse into the early medieval past. The language in this manuscript (which edges were burned by fire) had a vocabulary that most people would call old-fashioned. This poem recollects a time in which monsters stalked men by night, dragons guarded hoards of precious gems and heirloom swords, and heroes carried out great deeds of warfare that would later be commemorated by song and feasting” (885). Throughout this poem Beowulf fights and is known as a hero. Some people may question was he a true hero, and was he fighting for his own sake or for the sake of other people. I would like to argue that Beowulf is a true hero and also that the argument of him fighting for himself or the sake of others can go both
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This epic poem tours through both his young and old age as a hero. The readers of this epic gets to see how Beowulf grows and becomes better. In his younger days, Beowulf was great. He was distinguished by his accomplishments of strength and courage. He also represents loyalty, courtesy and pride. His defeats against everyone that he fought verifies how brave he is and initiates him to be fully a hero. He matures throughout the poem little by little. He has to mature in order for him to be even better than he was before. His younger days are what prepared him to become a better hero as he aged. The end of the story with him having to fight with the dragon is when the mature side …show more content…
As I sat in the boat with my band of men,
I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend 's clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” (904.632-638)
This quotes again shows that Beowulf was there to fight for the sake of others. It also shows that he was fighting for the sake of himself as well, when he mentioned “prove myself”. He had a point to prove to himself, that he could win. In this fight this quote says, in other words, this is all or nothing. The way this epic ended with the death of Beowulf was surprising, it was not expected. For Beowulf to go in and protect that land to the point of his own death is indeed a sign of being a true hero. His growth throughout this story was epic so not only did the fighting help others, it helped him become stronger and better than he was before. Beowulf is indeed an extraordinary hero and not only did he fight for the sake of others he fought for his own sake as
This epic poem tours through both his young and old age as a hero. The readers of this epic gets to see how Beowulf grows and becomes better. In his younger days, Beowulf was great. He was distinguished by his accomplishments of strength and courage. He also represents loyalty, courtesy and pride. His defeats against everyone that he fought verifies how brave he is and initiates him to be fully a hero. He matures throughout the poem little by little. He has to mature in order for him to be even better than he was before. His younger days are what prepared him to become a better hero as he aged. The end of the story with him having to fight with the dragon is when the mature side …show more content…
As I sat in the boat with my band of men,
I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend 's clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” (904.632-638)
This quotes again shows that Beowulf was there to fight for the sake of others. It also shows that he was fighting for the sake of himself as well, when he mentioned “prove myself”. He had a point to prove to himself, that he could win. In this fight this quote says, in other words, this is all or nothing. The way this epic ended with the death of Beowulf was surprising, it was not expected. For Beowulf to go in and protect that land to the point of his own death is indeed a sign of being a true hero. His growth throughout this story was epic so not only did the fighting help others, it helped him become stronger and better than he was before. Beowulf is indeed an extraordinary hero and not only did he fight for the sake of others he fought for his own sake as