Beowulf’s Heroic Qualities

Jonathan Lopez

Beowulf’s Strength and courage shows that he’s a true epic hero because of the fact the he was able to defeat many monsters in this story Beowulf including the main monster Grendel and also it shows us how courageous Beowulf is.

What shows that Beowulf is of noble birth and high position is that Beowulf’s author tells us that Higlac is related to Beowulf. “Higlac is my cousin and my king.”(143) Beowulf says in the story and what he was saying is that Higlac is his uncle, but during that time period cousin had a different meaning then what it means now. Also Higlac is king of the Geats, that’s what makes Beowulf of noble birth.

Other things that make an epic hero are Exhibiting character traits that reflect important ideals of society. For example in this story it says “They have seen my strengh for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies blood.”(149-151) and what it says is that his people have seen him kill evil monster such as Grendel and when he defeated him, Hrothgar tell Beowulf “Seek it if you dare! Save us, Once more, and again twisted gold, Heaped-up ancient treasure, will reward you for the battle you win.” Hrothgar was asking of Beowulf to go after another monster that has attacked his people and kill it. That’s another reason why Beowulf is an Epic Hero.

Beowulf Shows super human deeds when he was fighting against Grendel. “Higlac’s follwer’s remembered his final boast and, standing erect, stopped the monsters flight, fastened those claws in his fists till they cracked, clutched Grendel close.”(281-285) Since Grendel was known as a really strong monster nobody could killl him. Beowulf was the only one that was able to go against him. Also Beowulf shows how much strength he had when he was able to to fastened Grendels claws and crack them, something a human can’t really do. Another thing that shows Beowulf had super human deeds was when “He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone’s answer; the heaving water covered him Over. For hours he sank through the waves.”(450-452) It’s amazing how he was able to hold his breath for hours and that’s another thing not anybody can do. That’s what shows Beowulf has super human deeds.

A good example of performing actions that determine the fate of a nation would be when “Beowulf, prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, Ending the grief, the sorrow, the suffering forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people, By a bloodthirsty fiend.”(351-355) Because of the fact that Hrothgar had asked for his help to kill the evil monster. Beowulf was brave enough to listen to him and he actually goes out looking for the monster that has killed many of Horthgar’s people, and that shows that the fate of the nation was on Beowulf’s hands.

This is the reason Beowulf is a true Epic Hero, since he’s killed many monsters and has also risked his life to save the life of others and shows courage and is true to his people by not letting them down. Today in our world we have many hero’s for example, the fireman that are brave enough and willing to sacrifice their life to save other due to a burning house or even going inside the twin towers on the day the got hit, and that’s something that make a hero today. That’s what makes Beowulf an Epic Hero.