Beowulf The Epic Hero - 960 Words

What do Achilles, King Arthur, Harry Potter, and Beowulf all have in common? They all demonstrate the qualities of epic heroes. Beowulf represents several characteristics of an epic hero and demonstrates the values of the Anglo-Saxons. He is the main character of his story, he has a main goal, he travels and fights with a group of people, and he accomplishes many valorous deeds; the values of the Anglo-Saxons are also shown through the actions of Beowulf, such as courage, loyalty, and fame. For example, when Beowulf heard a cry for help in a far off land, he answered. He fought larger than life monsters, and won. His exceptional strength proves his epic courage and heroism. One way in which Beowulf represents the†¦show more content†¦448-449). Lastly, in The Last Battle, Beowulf states, â€Å"And this dragon’s treasure, his gold/ And everything hidden in that tower, will be mine/ Or war will sweep me to a bitter death!† (ln. 647-649). This is the last of the main goals Beowulf sets before his death. Another way in which Beowulf represents a characteristic of an epic hero is he travels and fights with a group of people. â€Å"So Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find,/ The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen/ In all,† (ln. 119-122). Beowulf personally chose the warriors he journeys with himself; although Beowulf is generally the one to conquer the monsters, these soldiers are with him through all of his battles. In The Battle With Grendel, all of the men are sleeping in Herot; yet, when Grendel appears, Beowulf is the one to fight and execute him. The story is similar in The Battle With Grendel’s Mother; his men follow him to the edge of the lake, yet he is the one to explore the lake and fight and kill Grendel’s mother. Likewise, in The Last Battle when Beowulf fights the dragon, he begins fighting with all of his men, yet all but one abandon him. Beowulf obtains a strong group of people that he travels with, yet ultimately he solves pro blems himself. In addition to traveling with a group of people, Beowulf accomplishes a multitude of valorous deeds. The first way in which this is demonstrated is through The Battle