Epic Hero Characteristics

Anyone has the potential be a hero no matter shape, size, gender or age, and they can be perceived in many different ways by different people. Heroes can range from firefighters and federal agents to the homeless and forgotten, but epic heroes follow a more precise and stereotypical characteristic guideline. In a specific example, the epic hero Beowulf portrays the characteristics of having overwhelming strength, enormous courage, and compassion for his followers. Firstly, Strength is one primary characteristic of what is thought to be needed in becoming an epic hero. Beowulf’s exceptional strength follows the stereotype of what an epic hero is assumed to consist of. As a youth, Beowulf acquires exceptional robustness to fight his enemies bare-handed which is shown by Beowulf overwhelming Grendel who is “… manacled tight by [Beowulf] who of all men [is] foremost and strongest in the days of his life” (47; par. 1). Demonstrated in the quote, Beowulf shows that his power is unnaturally dominating. Another example is established in An Anthology of Beowulf Criticism …show more content…
This feature is expressed through Beowulf’s actions when he tells his men that “’… 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. I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat , doom of battle, will bear your lord away’” (84; par. 2). Beowulf bravery is eminent in the quote as he heads into battle alone which is in no way a coward’s path. His courage is once again recognized by Harold Bloom when he says, “[Beowulf's] virtues have nothing to do with salvation, and everything to do with warlike courage” (“Bloom”). Without courage, Beowulf would have never left home in the quest of fighting and killing Grendel which, in turn, would have stopped all of the successes that he achieves later in life including becoming