Beowulf’s Characteristics of an Epic Hero The Anglo-Saxon culture is immensely about loyalty, bravery, and even being boastful. This culture and society was build on t In Beowulf, (Translated by Seamus Heaney) the main hero is the perfect examhese ideals, and at the time the best warriors were the most admired in all of society.ple of what the Anglo-Saxons idolized in a human being. Beowulf all throughout the epic is brave, boastful, and boastful. This makes him not only the ideal warrior to the Anglo-Saxons, but it also makes him the ideal king. Beowulf shows immensely in the text that he is courageous and brave. During Beowulf’s final boast in the epic he says, “I would rather not use a weapon if I knew another way to grapple the dragon…
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In several parts of the poem there are formal boasts which were a large part in Anglo-Saxon poems. When Beowulf arrives the kill Grendel he boasts about himself and his accomplishments. He says many things in his first formal boast, “I was the strongest swimmer of them all…”Time and time again, foul things attacked me, lurking and stalking, but I lashed out, gave as good as I got with my sword… But as worn as I was, I survived, came through with my life (534, 558-561, 578-579).” Beowulf recalls the swimming race he had with Breca (his friend) to correct what Unferth (a rival hero) was saying about him. Beowulf corrects Unferth recalling his race as an epic journey fighting sea monsters and winning the race in a boastful manner. Beowulf also disgraces Unferth by saying, “Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison… You killed your kith and kin… you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell...if you truly as courageous as you claim to be, Grendel would have never have got away with such unchecked atrocity (581-583, 587, 589, 590-594).” Beowulf completely tears Unferth apart in these statements making him the dominant hero and better man according to the Anglo-Saxon culture. His boastfulness partially makes him the great warrior that he is. He possesses this quality that makes a great hero which makes him admirable in this particular society. He also …show more content…
These characteristics are what these people lived by and died for, and heroes are looked upon to honor these characteristics. Beowulf is a prime example of the epic hero. He is loyal, brave, and even boastful. All of these characteristics were highly honored, and the heroes who honored them received great glory. Beowulf all throughout the epic exhibits these fantastic traits by fighting monsters, boasting about his competitions and fights, and being loyal to the family that rules his homeland. These traits makes Beowulf the perfect example of the ideal epic Anglo-Saxon
In several parts of the poem there are formal boasts which were a large part in Anglo-Saxon poems. When Beowulf arrives the kill Grendel he boasts about himself and his accomplishments. He says many things in his first formal boast, “I was the strongest swimmer of them all…”Time and time again, foul things attacked me, lurking and stalking, but I lashed out, gave as good as I got with my sword… But as worn as I was, I survived, came through with my life (534, 558-561, 578-579).” Beowulf recalls the swimming race he had with Breca (his friend) to correct what Unferth (a rival hero) was saying about him. Beowulf corrects Unferth recalling his race as an epic journey fighting sea monsters and winning the race in a boastful manner. Beowulf also disgraces Unferth by saying, “Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison… You killed your kith and kin… you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell...if you truly as courageous as you claim to be, Grendel would have never have got away with such unchecked atrocity (581-583, 587, 589, 590-594).” Beowulf completely tears Unferth apart in these statements making him the dominant hero and better man according to the Anglo-Saxon culture. His boastfulness partially makes him the great warrior that he is. He possesses this quality that makes a great hero which makes him admirable in this particular society. He also …show more content…
These characteristics are what these people lived by and died for, and heroes are looked upon to honor these characteristics. Beowulf is a prime example of the epic hero. He is loyal, brave, and even boastful. All of these characteristics were highly honored, and the heroes who honored them received great glory. Beowulf all throughout the epic exhibits these fantastic traits by fighting monsters, boasting about his competitions and fights, and being loyal to the family that rules his homeland. These traits makes Beowulf the perfect example of the ideal epic Anglo-Saxon