Heroic Qualities In Beowulf

“Beowulf” and epic poem written by an anonymous author is a classic piece of literature. Beowulf is a Geat who helps his the Danes and king Hrothgar when they are attacked by a monster called Grendel; Beowulf kills Grendel and Grendel’s mother and receives many gifts from the Danes. After killing the monsters he returns to his homeland and eventually becomes lord of the Geats after his father’s death, but his life is taken away at an old age after defeating a dragon who was destroying his country. Beowulf during his time when he was alive showcased some heroic characteristics especially when the dragon started attacking his country. Beowulf when he learns of what the dragon had done to his country shows the readers his bravery and his leadership …show more content…
Old in age, weaker in muscle than his youthful days Beowulf sensed that this would be his last battle but still he knew he must face the dragon. Beowulf told his men “This fight is not yours,/ nor is it up to any man except me/ to measure his strength against the monster/ or to prove his worth,” (2532-2535). This excerpt from the poem shows Beowulf telling his men that he will be the one to test the dragon and to kill it if he can. He is showing his men that he is brave and will not falter because of a mighty foe. Beowulf did not falter in his courage when he fought Grendel in the halls of king Hrothgar’s palace, nor did he falter when he fought Grendel’s mother in her swamp home in her lair so why would he fault now. Beowulf wants to prove to his men that he is still the same Beowulf that took on the monsters of old and came out victorious even if he has grown in age. To be able to have courage requires one to have confidence in his abilities and in this case Beowulf is superbly confident in his fighting abilities even if he senses his doom is coming. Another quote from this passage is when he “drew himself up beside his shield./ The fabled warrior in his war-shirt and helmet/ trusted in his own strength entirely/ and went under the crag. No coward path,” (2538-2541). This passage exemplifies that Beowulf is no coward and will not shy away …show more content…
Beowulf after hearing of the dragon attacking his country immediately grew angry at the fact that someone would attack his home and think they could get away with it. Beowulf gathers a group of sissy men and go look to track down the servant who caused the dragon to wake up. After finding him they “press-ganged and compelled this poor creature/ to be their guide. Against his will/ he led them to the earth-vault he alone knew,” (2408-2410). One could imagine that the group of warriors probably did not just question him continuously but probably threatened to torture at the very least for the information that he possessed. Being able to command men to do that to a fellow countryman shows that Beowulf’s group of warriors trust in his leadership ability to get them to the location they know they must go and to be able to slay the beast. Once they get down into the dragon’s lair Beowulf tells his men that he alone will enter and they should hope to see him return out of the lair alive. The men trust in his fighting abilities and his confidence that he always struts around with so they remain and do not go and help him with the exception of Wiglaf who turns out is the only one of the group of warriors that is not cowardly. Beowulf and his leadership characteristic help to show everyone that he is a good king for