Beowulf The Ultimate Hero Essay, Research Paper
A hero is one who places himself or herself at risk for another by performing great deeds of courage. Often in our society today, athletes are looked up to as heros. Brett Favre is an excellent example of a modern day hero. He is looked up to by many for his strength, leadership, and success. While on the football field, he is willing to risk his “life” by running the ball in when there is no one else to go to. Favre also gives all of the glory to God. Whenever he has conquered another team, or made the winning play, all praise is given to God. In the poem Beowulf, translated by Constance B. Hieatt, Beowulf is an epic hero. An epic is a “lengthy narrative poem which genealogizes and embellishes the origin of a tribe or nation”. (Edward A. Bloom) Not only is Beowulf a hero because of his physical strength, but like Favre, gives the glory to God. Beowulf is the ultimate hero who put his life on the line for an entire kingdom.
Beowulf’s heroism can be seen when he takes 14 of the bravest in his land to go help Hrothgar. Hrothgar was Beowulf’s father’s close friend who had been plagued by attacks for twelve years that threatened an entire kingdom. Beowulf did not have to offer Hrothgar’s kingdom help, but does so because he wants to uses his God given strength to the best of his ability. As soon as Beowulf heard of the troubles in this land he set sail immediately. Beowulf continues to show his thankfulness by thanking God for giving them safe travel across the sea. Beowulf is lead to Hrothgar and offers him is “services.”
“-Now sit down to the feast, and, in due time, listen to lays of warriors’ victories,
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as your heart may prompt you. (15)
Beowulf is asked by the warriors to tell of his past defeats while eating in Hrothgar’s palace. Beowulf is already a hero to the people of this land for he is about to rid them of their enemy. The warriors are anxious to here what he has done and what he plans to do to Grendel. Here Beowulf “puts on his running shoes” and runs through his battle plan mentally just as any great athlete would do before a big meet. As the Banquet continues, Hrothgar thanks Beowulf, and promises him great treasure if he succeeds in defeating Grendel.
As an ultimate hero, Beowulf decides, to be far, he will not use weapons in his battle against Grendel since Grendel reputedly does not use them.
“I do not consider myself a lesser fighter than Grendel does himself; therefore I will not kill him with a sword, and deprive him of life in that way….No: this night we two will abstain from swords…” (19-20)
That night, even after hearing of all of Beowulf’s heroic defeats, the warriors still feel that no man on earth will be able to stand up to the evil Grendel carries. Beowulf will either defeat Grendel or die in the process. “Let me live in greatness…and courage,” he says, “or here in this hall welcome…my death.” Beowulf awaits the arrival of Grendel then goes on to defeat him and sends him back to the “fen” to die.
Hrothgar’s speech to Beowulf is more than an expression of thanks. For he states:
“Let me take you to my heart” and “make you my son too…” When a heroic deed is done such as Beowulf has done, it is common practice for them to accept you into their family. Once again, the influence of Christianity shows in Hrothgar’s speech to Beowulf. It was the “Almighty” who sent Beowulf and it was “with the Lord’s help” that Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar
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wants to make it known throughout the world that Beowulf is the strongest man alive and is a
proven hero. It is the characteristics of agelessness and dedication that sets him apart from the other warriors, and makes him a truly heroic individual.
Beowulf may have defeated Grendel, but his fighting days are not yet over. For Grendel’s Mother is about to seek revenge.
Another one of Beowulf’s heroic deeds of kindness is seen when he goes after Grendel’s mother even though that was not a part of the original “deal.” Hrothgar is beside himself. “Anguish has descended on the Danes.” (36) The king begs Beowulf to help him once again. Hrothgar is extremely upset by the death of his friend Aeschere. His speech to Beowulf shows how hurt he is.
“…the grey-haired warrior, was sad at heart when he knew that his chief thane lay lifeless, that his dearest retainer was dead”. (36)
Beowulf’s heroic reputation is more evident than ever when he consoles Hrothgar on the death of his friend. He offers his “services” once again by offering to kill Grendel’s mother. Hrothgar, Grendel, and a few warriors set out and follow the monster’s tracks until they reach the lake where the monsters live.
“…they encountered Aeschere’s head on the waterside cliff.” (38)
There, floating on the water, they see the remains of their friend, Aeschere. Beowulf prepares to go in and look for Grendel’s mother. He tells Hrothgar that if he dies in the lake, he is to take care of his men and send his treasures to King Higlac, his “hometown” king. Here Beowulf once again shows the traits that makes him a true hero. That is, the consideration of others, generosity, and although seemingly impossible, his own mortality.
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Unlike past battles, there is no mention of God’s help. Beowulf, in this battle, is relying on
his own courage. When Grendel’s mother appears to have they key to Beowulf’s death, God interrupts the battle. It seems as if He was watching all along, as He does, waiting for the right moment to show whose side He is on.
Following the feasts of celebration of the death of Grendel’s mother, Beowulf and his troops set sail for their homeland. Beowulf is greeted with feasts and great displays of gratitude once he arrives back home to the Geats. Beowulf presents Higlac with the treasures he earned while fighting for Hrothgar. After Higlac dies and his son Herdred is killed in battle, Beowulf is given the throne and would rule over the Geats for the next fifty years. As Beowulf’s rule nears an end, he will have to fight heroically for his country one more time.
Once more Beowulf will prove his heroicalness when he fights a dragon even though he knows there is little chance that he will be victorious. As Grendel threatened the people of Hrothgar’s kingdom, so does the dragon show his anger while Beowulf is king. Like Grendel, the dragon only strikes at night, burning down all the houses so that nothing is spared, not even Beowulf’s hall or throne. Because of his character, When Beowulf finds out that his house has been destroyed, his first thought is that he did something to anger God, and he feels guilty. As Beowulf prepares to fight the dragon, he looks back at his youth and his battles against Grendel and Grendel’s mother.
“He who caused the trouble to begin with, a downcast captive, was the thirteenth man in the troop: he had to show hem the place humbly.” (63)
The thief who stole the dragon’s cup leads Beowulf and his men to the dragon’s cave. As Beowulf run’s the battle through his mind, he once again looks back on his heroic life. He realizes that he’s
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not as strong as he was when he fought Grendel and the risk of dying is inevitable. Though
Beowulf’s old age has taken away his physical strength, his heroic courage still allows him to think like a hero. The “pre-game” speech that Beowulf gives before this battle is different from previous ones. Now that he is an old man Beowulf’s’s confidence in himself has decreased.
As a hero it is Beowulf’s job to accomplish the impossible, and as an old man he still wants one last moment of glory.
“…as an aged king, I shall still seek battle and do glorious deeds, if the wicked ravager will come out of the earth hall to meet me.” (65-66)
It is Beowulf who starts the battle, by waking the dragon with his battle cry. during the first few seconds of the battle, the dragon’s flames melted Beowulf’s shield. Here Beowulf realizes that his fate is here. That does not keep him though, from striking the dragon dead with his sword. Beowulf manages to hit the dragon but not fatally. This blow to the dragon upset him dearly and responds by covering Beowulf in a great ball of fire. Seeing the fire of the dragon the warriors run away, thinking only of saving there own lives. To them, saving themselves has become more important than giving Beowulf the dignity that he deserves. These actions are examples of what separates a hero from a great warrior. Like an athlete, Beowulf has the tenacity to stick with to the end, even if he is the only one. Beowulf is able to finish off the dragon but in the process looses his own life. The response of the warriors shows how quickly the values of the world are changing. Without the tenacity to keep with it, even though the though times, they will bring upon themselves there own destruction.
The definition of a hero is one who places himself or herself at risk for another by
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performing a great deed and Beowulf had inevitably earned this title. Beowulf’s heroism is evident by:*Taking 14 of the bravest men to go and help a man who was his fathers close friend.
*To be fair, he would not use weapons in his battle against Grendel.
*Goes after Grendel’s mother even though that was not part of the deal.
*He fights a dragon even though his death would be inevitable.
Beowulf can be called the ultimate hero because he put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. Even though Beowulf had hoped that his people would benefit from all of the treasures he had stored up, we are taught, the material things that one earns during one’s life can not stop what is God’s will. For everything in life must come to an end and that time is always uncertain, even for a hero.