The Legacy Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero

Often, heroes are remembered throughout history. Beowulf has been remembered for centuries, and his story has been told again and again, time after time. This alone, is another example of the legacy this epic hero has left. During the time period that this epic story was created, Anglo-Saxon’s would tell many stories where fate would be determined by the heroic nature of one individual, and their ability to battle monsters that they would face, or other obstacles that would occur throughout their lives.

When Grendel attacks the King’s mead hall, many fear the need to step up and save him. Grendel “snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies, the blood dripping behind him, back to his lair, delighted with his night’s slaughter.” When a tragedy like this is to occur in one’s town, typically an epic hero is to step up, destroy the beast, and save the day. Though, many of the people in Herot might of felt as though they aren’t strong enough to defeat …show more content…
Beowulf discovered that his sword wasn’t powerful enough to kill this mighty beast, and had to resort to a different plan in order to avoid being defeated. When noticing a different sword, one much more powerful, and filled with magic, he was able to use it to his advantage, in order to kill Grendel’s mother. Though just as before with Grendel, this task was not easy. The weaponry played a role in the difficulties Beowulf faced during this mission, but Beowulf was extremely determined to win back the “trophy” he received when he defeated Grendel. Also, Beowulf was determined to once again provide the feeling of protection to Herot, and let them know that they were safe so that they could once again live without fear of what tomorrow would bring. This defeat would be a proud moment for any hero, and Beowulf, along with the people of Herot, were extremely proud with the results of this