Beowulf is an action-packed Anglo-Saxon folk epic which focuses on a central character named Beowulf. In the past, this folk epic was recited as entertainment and passed down orally through numerous generations (just like other folk epics). As time passed and as the epic was retold by more people, it grew in length and included even more adventures and battles. In fact, two completely new parts were added on to Beowulf after Beowulf defeated Grendel. Just as a tragedy requires a tragic hero, an epic requires an epic hero. In Beowulf, the character of Beowulf is the epic hero because he embarks upon a grand quest with a group of fourteen men, he battles gruesome evil forces, he is a larger-than-life figure of noble birth, and he demonstrates
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In the epic, Beowulf also chooses a group of men to accompany him and aid him in his quest; he chose “the mightiest men he could find, the bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen in all” (lines 120-122). In folk epics, it is common for the epic hero to assemble a band of followers to aid him in his quest. As for Beowulf’s quest, Beowulf requests that Hrothgar grant him “this one favor you should not refuse me--that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall” (lines 259-261). To clarify, Beowulf’s quest as an epic hero involves aiding a neighboring kingdom by defeating a bloodthirsty monster named Grendel who has been terrorizing Hrothgar’s kingdom for the past twelve years. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf then pursues two more quests; they involve traveling to the underwater lair of Grendel’s mother to kill her and, many years later, defeating a dragon that terrorizes the kingdom of the Geats. Epic heroes are also often of noble birth, and Beowulf is a young warrior of high standing whose father was a famous soldier known and remembered by many; furthermore, Beowulf’s uncle was Higlac, king of the
In the epic, Beowulf also chooses a group of men to accompany him and aid him in his quest; he chose “the mightiest men he could find, the bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen in all” (lines 120-122). In folk epics, it is common for the epic hero to assemble a band of followers to aid him in his quest. As for Beowulf’s quest, Beowulf requests that Hrothgar grant him “this one favor you should not refuse me--that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall” (lines 259-261). To clarify, Beowulf’s quest as an epic hero involves aiding a neighboring kingdom by defeating a bloodthirsty monster named Grendel who has been terrorizing Hrothgar’s kingdom for the past twelve years. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf then pursues two more quests; they involve traveling to the underwater lair of Grendel’s mother to kill her and, many years later, defeating a dragon that terrorizes the kingdom of the Geats. Epic heroes are also often of noble birth, and Beowulf is a young warrior of high standing whose father was a famous soldier known and remembered by many; furthermore, Beowulf’s uncle was Higlac, king of the