Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, England was constantly being invaded by other nations. This constant attacking from different places created a warrior society. The character Beowulf lived in an extremely combative lifestyle. He battled many evil creatures throughout his lifetime. These battles made Beowulf an epic hero when he defeats the supernatural in different locations: some involving help and others without.
Beowulf fought many battles in various locations. The initial battle required him to travel to Daneland where he encountered the foul beast named Grendel in the great mead hall, Heorot. Grendel approaches from the swamplands toward that gold shining hall “to kill and eat the mighty hero (291).” The following battle is with …show more content…
In the battle with Grendel a man sacrificed his life for surprise effect. When his men tried to use their swords they didn’t work, “ancestral/ Swords raised and ready, determined/To protect their prince if they could. Their courage/ Was great but all but wasted.”(369-372) In the battle with Grendel’s angered mother, Beowulf had been given Unferth’s magic sword, Hrunting. On the wall of her cave Beowulf had found a magic sword that had been forged by giants, and was ultimately the sword that killed her. In the final, and most intense battle with the dragon most of Beowulf’s followers ran away from the dragon in an act of cowardice. Although, “only one of them/Remained,stood their miserable,”(711-712) stayed and helped Beowulf defeat the dragon. His name was Wiglaf. Our hero is still an extraordinary man, even with the need for help because he had faced monsters much more powerful than …show more content…
In the first battle, Beowulf faced a giant that had charmed all weapons so that no-one could harm him. On lines 375-378 it says “the sharpest and hardest iron/ Could not scratch as his skin, for that sin-stained demon/Had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells/ That blunted every mortal man’s blade.” Grendel’s mother lived in a lake full “of sea beasts who beat at/ His mail shirt.” (483-484) The cave Grendel’s mother lived in was described as if it was the gateway to hell. The final supernatural element was the dragon, who in itself is a supernatural being. The dragon breathed fire and had fangs full of poison. Though Beowulf was just a man the gods were in his favor because of his courage and heroism when he faced the supernatural
Beowulf fought many battles in various locations. The initial battle required him to travel to Daneland where he encountered the foul beast named Grendel in the great mead hall, Heorot. Grendel approaches from the swamplands toward that gold shining hall “to kill and eat the mighty hero (291).” The following battle is with …show more content…
In the battle with Grendel a man sacrificed his life for surprise effect. When his men tried to use their swords they didn’t work, “ancestral/ Swords raised and ready, determined/To protect their prince if they could. Their courage/ Was great but all but wasted.”(369-372) In the battle with Grendel’s angered mother, Beowulf had been given Unferth’s magic sword, Hrunting. On the wall of her cave Beowulf had found a magic sword that had been forged by giants, and was ultimately the sword that killed her. In the final, and most intense battle with the dragon most of Beowulf’s followers ran away from the dragon in an act of cowardice. Although, “only one of them/Remained,stood their miserable,”(711-712) stayed and helped Beowulf defeat the dragon. His name was Wiglaf. Our hero is still an extraordinary man, even with the need for help because he had faced monsters much more powerful than …show more content…
In the first battle, Beowulf faced a giant that had charmed all weapons so that no-one could harm him. On lines 375-378 it says “the sharpest and hardest iron/ Could not scratch as his skin, for that sin-stained demon/Had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells/ That blunted every mortal man’s blade.” Grendel’s mother lived in a lake full “of sea beasts who beat at/ His mail shirt.” (483-484) The cave Grendel’s mother lived in was described as if it was the gateway to hell. The final supernatural element was the dragon, who in itself is a supernatural being. The dragon breathed fire and had fangs full of poison. Though Beowulf was just a man the gods were in his favor because of his courage and heroism when he faced the supernatural