Heroism In Beowulf Essay

In a world that is constantly evolving, the traits and actions of a hero adapt over time. What constitutes as heroism in one culture could be cowardice in another. In terms of literature, Beowulf has stood the test of time and has consistently been regarded as the epitome of heroes. While the character for whom the epic is named after performs a few daring deeds, what sets Beowulf apart from others is the exploration of his heroism in two distinct phases. The beginning of the tale starts with Beowulf in his youth; he is strong, brave, quick to volunteer to do what needs to be done. The second portion shows him at the end of his life after ruling justly over his kingdom. Throughout the course of the narrative, the protagonist is faced with …show more content…
Having the character unnamed for a little over one hundred lines gives weight to the idea that he is well established before this tale begins. He is known across lands and the audience should already know him too. This is reinforced in the first mention of Beowulf, where he is described as “in might, the strongest of mankind… noble and of stature beyond man’s measure” (18). Here the narrator is pulling on the name Beowulf has made for himself. Not only is he incredibly strong, but he’s the strongest. He’s not just noble, but immeasurably so. This paints him as the best of the best not only for his accomplishments but the way he carries himself and interacts with others. This is seen when he and his troop come upon the king’s herald, and they are allowed to proceed because the herald is impressed with their appearance and assumes they are of noble …show more content…
Beowulf stays true to his word and takes on the monster, bravely (and almost recklessly) casting aside man made objects to give Grendel a ‘fair’ fight. Beowulf also acts with honor and virtue. This characteristic is seen many times but is most notable when he fights Grendel in hand-to-hand combat; he argues that is would give him an unfair advantage against the beast and make the victory cheap and unworthy. The warrior’s code that he abides to is what makes him extend the same respect he would to any other foe to Grendel.
While Beowulf has already completed the hero’s journey before the start of the story, defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother reinforces his bravery and heroism even farther. Up until this point of time, Beowulf does not change much because he already has many of the qualities needed for the first kind of hero; however, he is pure in heart and is ready to ascend into the second phase in his