Hero of the Year The novel Beowulf clearly depicts Beowulf as a noble hero, and a well known one at that. He could be depicted as the perfect symbol of Anglo-Saxon values. The monsters he’s encountered and battles he’s stormed into are well known especially after he defeats the terrifying shadow monger, Grendel. Ruler of the Geats for 50 years, no one dared to challenge him or his clan. As depicted in the excerpt from Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, the qualities found in Beowulf that were most admired by his society include courage, personal valor, and his boastfulness.
Courage is an important trait for a hero to have, and it’s something the Anglo-Saxons valued as well. Beowulf partook in many dangerous endeavors which proved he …show more content…
Humbleness is not a trait Beowulf possesses, but boastfulness definitely is. “I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats(their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them)”(Heaney 423-424). He was speaking the simple truth until he spoke the part in the parenthesis. This is how he gets himself “pumped up” for a battle. It’s like he’s reassuring himself and others that he is totally confident that he could accomplish anything at this point. Unferth, in his boiling jealousy, speaks out against Beowulf. Questioning whether this hero is as good as he says he is. Beowulf puts Unferth back in his place and corrects him. He tells Unferth that he’s drunk and has the story all wrong. That, yes, Breca beat him at swimming, but only because he was too busy single handedly slaying 9 sea monsters. And after telling the story of his heroic act, he calls Unferth out again. “Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison”(Heaney 582-584). Not only is Beowulf a great and epic man, but he is the best as far as he knows. He boasts before facing Grendel, saying that he has a fixed purpose and wished to fulfill the danes’ desires or die trying. He boasts again before journeying to face the dragon. “Men at arms, remain here on the barrow… nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth”(Heaney 2529-2535). Even in his old, old age, Beowulf wants to go into battle alone to prove his warrior
Courage is an important trait for a hero to have, and it’s something the Anglo-Saxons valued as well. Beowulf partook in many dangerous endeavors which proved he …show more content…
Humbleness is not a trait Beowulf possesses, but boastfulness definitely is. “I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats(their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them)”(Heaney 423-424). He was speaking the simple truth until he spoke the part in the parenthesis. This is how he gets himself “pumped up” for a battle. It’s like he’s reassuring himself and others that he is totally confident that he could accomplish anything at this point. Unferth, in his boiling jealousy, speaks out against Beowulf. Questioning whether this hero is as good as he says he is. Beowulf puts Unferth back in his place and corrects him. He tells Unferth that he’s drunk and has the story all wrong. That, yes, Breca beat him at swimming, but only because he was too busy single handedly slaying 9 sea monsters. And after telling the story of his heroic act, he calls Unferth out again. “Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison”(Heaney 582-584). Not only is Beowulf a great and epic man, but he is the best as far as he knows. He boasts before facing Grendel, saying that he has a fixed purpose and wished to fulfill the danes’ desires or die trying. He boasts again before journeying to face the dragon. “Men at arms, remain here on the barrow… nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth”(Heaney 2529-2535). Even in his old, old age, Beowulf wants to go into battle alone to prove his warrior