Beowulf, written in the medieval time period by an unknown author, is an epic tale of heroes and dragons, victory and defeat, loyalty and honor, and life and death. At the center of such an intense storyline there must be a protagonist that elevates, in the heart of the reader, to the epitome of a hero. As the story develops, Beowulf develops into that hero for the reader. Beowulf chooses to set out on a journey in which he will ask for the right to defend the land of his father’s friend against a great demon named Grendel who lives in the swamp lands. For years Grendel has tormented the citizens of the land . Upon his arrival, there was a great feast and celebration in his honor at which he had to defend his name. Beowulf has many struggles and setbacks throughout his mission but, at the end of his venture to the land of the Dane’s, he is victorious. This, however, does not end his call for honor and he must continue his heroicness once he has returned home. Through it all, Beowulf exemplifies therecognizable heroic traits of bravery, determination, and sacrifice.
The character of Beowulf sets the stage early for his heroic mentality in terms of bravery. He explains that it is through nerve and courageous behavior that one can set his own fate. As he is a man of great influence, Beowulf knew that he must lead by example and took this very seriously despite the risks involved. His bravery and courageousness continue to shock the reader when he prepares to go up against the demon, Grendel. Facing the fact that he will be unaccompanied on his mission, he notes that others might take an entire army with them in order to face such a powerful dragon but he is not afraid and decides to go it alone in his quest and battle. Beowulf exemplified the true concept of bravery and legacy as he passed on the idea of courage in the final scene when, knowing that he would inevitably perish, he faced the dragon head on in the face on the lone warrior who stood by his side.
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"Characteristics of Beowulf".
Determination is another characteristic of a true hero that the reader sees in Beowulf. The concept of determination is defined as never giving up due to circumstances. Giving up was often an option for Beowulf as he was born into a family of high importance and, though his authority was based on deeds, his honor was not in question. Throughout the epic he showed that he was determined as he continued his quest to go after Grendel despite the wishes of his men. At the end of the poem, Beowulf truly showed his determined heroic side when he was nearing death but yet he “marched ahead…always there at the front of the line; and [he]shall fight like that for as long as I live, as long as this sword shall last” (Beowulf, 2497-2500). This showed that, no matter what, Beowulf was determined to not only take on a mission, but to see to it that he completed that mission even with his own life if necessary.
Sacrifice is a more difficult aspect of Beowulf’s heroic nature as the conditions around a sacrifice determine its nature. It falls upon the one who is to be heroic to determine what is best in the given condition in regards to sacrifice and what his best for their people. At the beginning, he is charged with potentially sacrificing his own life in the name of peace and he faces that challenge head on. The greatest sacrifice in Beowulf, however, comes when he must face the fact that the potential loss of life was in fact a reality. Giving his follower a chance to take the heroic reigns from his hands as his own life was drawing to an end, Beowulf put himself in danger and “when a chance came, he [the dragon] caught the hero in a rush of flame and clamped sharp fangs into his neck. Beowulf’s body ran wet with his life-blood: it came welling out. (2690-2693). Though one could question if sacrificing his own life was best for his people who were now without a leader, it would seem that passing on the legacy of heroism was the key to keeping the social structure in tact.
Heroism is defined differently by different individuals in different eras. During the medieval time period in which Beowulf was written, a true hero was thought to think of their ancestors, their land and peers, and the legacy that they would leave for future generations. Immortality was achieved through the heroic stories that others would tell about them after they were gone. This made it imperative to do as many heroic acts as possible in order to essentially live forever. his bravery, Beowulf was able to take on challenges that a lesser man would steer away from. His determination allowed him to follow through with whatever battles he chose to fight. The sense of sacrifice that was instilled in him helped him to take on these challenges to the bitter end without fear for his own well being. By being content with the idea that each battle could be his last, Beowulf fought as a true hero that was willing to sacrifice it all in the name of his land and his people.
