...Beowulf A good hero is a person who has a great talent and uses that talent at the right time, making them a hero. Both the heroes in Beowulf and in 13th Warrior have a skill that they use at the right moment, which separates them from other individuals, making them a hero. Beowulf himself is a man full as brute strength and pure power in order to defeat his foes. Ahmed Ibn Fadlan lacks the strength aspect, unlike Beowulf but has great intellect, which helps him to succeed and become a hero. Beowulf does not think of any enemy as threatening and believe that his strength will not be matched. Ahmed is not strong and has no strength to rely on like Beowulf. What Ahmed does have is intellect, which he uses to replace his absence of strength. The better hero is Beowulf out of the two. It seems that Ahmed would be a better sidekick to Beowulf in he cannot physically do a lot. Ahmed would be able to think of plans and strategies and Beowulf would be able to implement them and make them work. Just as Wiglaf helped Beowulf neither one could defeat the dragon without the other. This would be the case if Ahmed and Beowulf were with each other; they would both be needed in order to accomplish something. Beowulf has strength and knows of it, which is a great benefit to him. He gets confidence knowing that he is extremely strong and gains courage from this. He is not afraid of anything including Grendel who everyone in the story fears. Grendel comes to the land of the Spear-Danes and...
Words: 1025 - Pages: 5
...distorted. As the most valued, strongest, ablest warrior around Beowulf is looked up upon. He is a Geatish warrior who fights not only the monster Grendel, but also Grendel’s mom and a fire breathing dragon. Achilles was an important hero in The Iliad. As a regnant warrior, he leads soldiers from his hometown to seek revenge towards Agamemnon. Beowulf and Achilles were both superior warriors in similar and different ways. Beowulf and Achilles are two well-known heroes who fought agelong and hard. Beowulf...
Words: 575 - Pages: 3
...Beowulf dates back to the 8th and early 11th century, being the oldest surviving epic poem in Angelo-Saxton literature. The existence of this poem has made a big impression for quite some time now. In the poem Beowulf showed qualities of heroism, pride, strength and boastfulness, when fighting the monsters and running his great kingdom of the Danes. Did Beowulf have the characteristics and qualities of a true epic hero? Beowulfs character traits did in fact represent what a true epic hero really is. One Beowulf’s qualities he did best were brag, he would brag to people about great accomplishments he made on his scary and dangerous journeys. People of his time thought that bragging was a trait that showed his true heroism. Beowulf would boast to Unferth about his great swimming competition with Breca, where they swam out to see and stayed there for five nights. He would brag about the nine, one-eyed, sea monsters that he slayed. When Beowulf killed Grendal and his mother he would boast to king Hygelac and the people of the Danes about how he did it and how challenging it was. When Beowulf was king he would brag about how no other kingdom or man would ever try and kill him or fight him. It was normal in Anglo- Saxton time for great hero’s to brag about their accomplishments, it showed a great amount of pride and success. Beowulf showed no sign of fear even when he was about to do something that was extremely dangerous. Beowulf was always the bravest man since he thought that...
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
...The Many Battles of Beowulf An epic is a poem written in the form of a poem that usually contains most, if not all, of the heroic requirements to be considered an epic. Beowulf encloses many of the traits, but most prevalent are: the hero has supernatural abilities, characters deliver long speeches, and the actions of the hero determine the fate of a nation or group. The Danes struggle with Grendel’s terrorizing on Herot nightly for twelve winters. The Danes were so petrified of Grendel that they abandoned the great hall for the time that Grendel reigned terror on them. Beowulf hears about the complications the Danes are having and sets out on a voyage across the sea to profit from the fame and fortune for his people. Beowulf slaughters Grendel and Grendel’s mother before returning to his homeland; Geatland, where he resides until he is crowned the king. Fifty years later, a dragon plagues the Geats when a cup is stolen from his lair and given to Beowulf. He kills the dragon at the expense of his own life. These all assist to deem this poem as one of epic tendencies and lead on to the conclusion of Beowulf being the greatest epic ever written. The superhero qualities present themselves in many ways. One of the broadest honorary elements is when Beowulf shows off greater endurance than any other human as he “Swam along / The sea paths” (lines 514-515) against Brecca while “Crea / tures / [sic] Who sleep deep in sea stirred / into life.” The most challenging part...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...thinking of a hero include: superhuman abilities, courage, and selflessness. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf displays all of these heroic traits. While some could argue that Beowulf is not a hero due to his desire for glory, his heroic qualities outweigh this one fault. Overall, Beowulf’s effectiveness as a hero can be seen through his courage and selflessness to take on extraordinary monsters and his superhuman ability to take on these creatures. The story begins by introducing a community and a monstrous creature that plagues the citizens. The creature, Grendel, is exceptionally power as he is able to kill thirty warriors with little effort: “He slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies” (4). This would surely scare most men but not Beowulf. Beowulf welcomes the challenge and prepares to fight him as soon as he hears about the creature: “In his far-off home Beowulf, … heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out” (6). Beowulf’s readiness to fight Grendel exemplifies his courage and selflessness. The fact that Beowulf lives in a far-off land further...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...Epic Poem of Beowulf show the brutality and shear power of the great warrior Beowulf. The battles are individually significant but are also equally connected in many ways. The arrival of Beowulf from his home tribe of the Geats in the tribe of the Danes is due to a cry for help from the king of the Danes, Hrothgar. This great king has done everything in his power to defeat the beast named Grendel who ravages there mead hall at night. The second battle is between Beowulf and Grendel’s bloodthirsty mother who is out for revenge. The epic poem of Beowulf ends with the final battle between Beowulf and the Dragon who lives in the remains of a forgotten tribe. These battles will show the attributes of courage, sacrifice, leadership and honor displayed through Beowulf’s actions. The first battle takes place between a beast named Grendel and Beowulf in a quick but gruesome battle in the mead hall. The mead hall is the central meeting places of tribes during this time period. The mead hall that this battle takes place in, the mead hall of the tribe of the Danes, is the greatest mead hall of the time. Named Heorot, it was grander and more magnificent than any other. It is a sacred place to the tribe of the Danes, a place of celebration and sanctuary. Grendel made it a place of death and with the strength of killing 30 men, Grendel is a force of destruction. The king of the Danes, the Great King Hrothgar, has tried to defeat the beast but his forces were unsuccessful. Beowulf hears of Grendel...
Words: 1725 - Pages: 7
...Monster Beowulf perfectly illustrates the characteristics of what it means to be considered a perfect hero. The poem clearly shows his heroism in two completely different eras, Beowulf as a young man and then again when he is much older. This is shown through battles of three monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the dragon; each is progressively more difficult than the last. But as the poem digresses it is easy to see that the biggest monster that Beowulf fights is himself. As a young man, Beowulf is an extremely successful warrior, shown by his ginormous wins of both bravery and strength. He also exemplifies the characteristics of loyalty, respect and most importantly pride. When the poem begins, Beowulf shows little maturity as he has always had his inhuman powers. The great king Hrothgar quickly becomes a father like figure to Beowulf and begins to give wisdom about how to be a great king. This foreshadows the second half of the poem, his impressive past as a undefeated warrior has in some ways prepared Beowulf to take claim of the throne. Years later the Geat King Hygelac dies, this is important because Beowulf doesn’t simply take the throne in which he has rightfully earned instead he chooses to support Hygelac’s son as he is whom should be the king. This act of respect only further proves his characteristics as a hero. Beowulf progresses throughout the poem from a very unrealistic portrayal of a hero to an extremely realistic man. For his first battle Beowulf defeats...
Words: 1551 - Pages: 7
...In Beowulf, as in many stories the titular character can be portrayed as a hero. However, Beowulf like most stories due to the argument that can be made for him not being a hero. In the poem there are many examples of Beowulf being a “hero”. The examples are seperated by the two stages of his life, youth and adulthood. There maturity of Beowulf as a leader also coencides with his maturity as a leader. As Beowulf grows and becomes a better leader he also becomes a hero. Beowulf can be defined by his strength in his youth. These acts contribute to the lore of him becoming a hero. His swimming match against Breca is a perfect example of him establishing himself as a hero. All heros make mistakes and Beowulf did not listen to the advice of the elders and ended up losing the swimming match. He is also the perfect model for the way a warrior should live as he follow the Germanic Code perfictly. He redeems himself from his swimming loss by defeating Grendel and his mom. He also helps the Danes and this exemlifies an outstanding leader because he goes out of his way to help other countries when they are in need. The expirences in his early life help him to become a good ruler when he does acend to the throne. Beowulf’s adulthood (in the story) focuses more on his encounters with leaders and his warrior as opposed to his youth...
Words: 571 - Pages: 3
...hero was found in the literary piece “Beowulf”. An epic hero is defined as a larger - than - life figure, who pits his courage, skill, and virtue against opposing, often evil forces. Beowulf is clearly the epic hero in “Beowulf” because he displays bravery and strength, as well as demonstrates that he is a smart Anglo-Saxon leader. The first trait that Beowulf showcases that makes him an epic hero is bravery. Driven by honor, Beowulf confronts Hrothgar with a proposition to fight the monster...
Words: 741 - Pages: 3
...It was always frowned upon by my classmates to be different. They did not see the world as I did, and I did not see it from their perspective. They abhorred my experiences because I stood out, and in first grade the worst thing that could happen to one would be to stand out. I ignored there loathing and continued reading my books. I was enthralled by these dedicated individuals called heroes. Despite being in a different era I found Beowulf captivating and while watching The Hobbit:An Unexpected Journey, I was able to devise common traits all heroes share such as :courage , selflessness, and perseverance. In Beowulf it was refreshing to see a hero who has been dubbed “the strongest man alive” come to terms with the fact that he is not, and...
Words: 963 - Pages: 4
...Beowulf quiz master Pg. 36 - 71 Teacher document coordinated with Beowulf student document. Student document may be altered to fit teacher needs. 1. One reason that the Danes have such a difficult time fighting Grendel is that |a. |the Danes’ warriors are too old | |b. |Grendel hunts only when it is full dark | |c. |Grendel does not fight according to men’s rules | |d. |the warriors do not have enough gold for swords | ANS: C STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.2.PO1 | AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.2.PO2 2. Which universal theme do lines 79–85 of this epic suggest? |a. |Mankind’s enemy will always continue his crimes by killing. | |b. |Evil is bloodthirsty, and it constantly tries to conquer kings. | |c. |The existence of evil and good occur simultaneously. | |d. |Evil is part of the darkness, but goodness exists in the light. | ANS: C 3. Why do the swords of Beowulf’s men fail to harm Grendel? |a. |The men...
Words: 4455 - Pages: 18
...themselves for others in order to teach a lesson. The major theme is the triumph of goodness over evil. Beowulf and King Arthur, the epic heroes of grand tales, stand out for all that is good, brave and proper, while the villains stand for evil. However during the course of the stories the two heroes die tragically in a triumphant battle over vice and evil the course of the tale. The characters only perish after the evil is vanquished and destroyed. Sir Thomas Mallory brings forth a courageous character King Arthur, utilizing weaponry and leadership, to enlighten the kingdom of the unique characteristics of a true hero While Beowulf depicts the Anglo-Saxon era to tell a story of one who fights to better society. It is a known fact that heroes over time and overseas all heroes have something in common; which is true in the case of King Arthur and Beowulf. It is obvious that they are similar in the fact that they are both heroes, but what makes them an idol of their time and in their culture are poles apart. There are many things that are different about Beowulf and King Arthur, but the ones that stand out the most are what kind of hero they are and what actions they did to make them heroic. Both heroes possess qualities that others do not have, but it is what they do with those abilities that prompts someone to write a story about them and idolize them in time. King Arthur and Beowulf are both heroes whose stories originated in the England area. They were written at different times...
Words: 1760 - Pages: 8
...as a number of notable differences. Beowulf is a pillar in old English literature. He can be compared to the hero Achilles from the Iliad based on warrior strength and compared to Aeneas he went on a journey. Although many years separated these heroes and their journeys, there proved to be a comparison between them all that shows how the earlier hero inspired the later. The glories of a hero is something that is shown when comparing Beowolf an Achilles. Beowulf’s society held fame and glory at a high standard. He knew he would receive praise from the kingdom he went to help, but this shows how he also cares about others. Achilles does not like the Greeks. He went to war for the fame and glory, more than the cause. Achilles was a little more vain than Beowulf, but both of them enjoyed the glories of fighting. Beowulf and Achilles both have enemies that they face off against. Beowulf has numerous epic battles with creatures. The story revolves around his epic battle with Grendel. He then goes on to fight with Grendel’s mother. The ending is rounded off with at battle of him and a dragon. Achilles has to fight with Hector and the Trojan army. It seems as if this is how Achilles saw himself on the battle ground with an army facing him. He faced many foes, but all of them lead up to his battle with Hector. Hector was one of the big fights that he faced. Beowulf and Achilles dispatched these foes with ease. This is a demonstration of how strong Epic heroes are supposed to be...
Words: 727 - Pages: 3
...do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right” (Ford quotes). This quote expresses how one should always keep a positive mindset because the outcome of a situation depends solely upon on ones mindset. It can also help people establish a certain type of attitude one should keep when going through obstacles in life. Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf, and modern day hero, Nelson Mandela can be characterized as archetypal heroes from the characteristics that define them. Ancient hero Beowulf along with present day hero Nelson Mandela similarly have comparable quests during their time. Both heros during their quests experience great struggle and obstacles which they had to overcome in order to achieve their goals. Beowulf’s quest dealt with him having to defeat the monster, “Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild Marshes, and made his home in a hell” (Raffel 44). The Anglo-Saxon hero may not have used weapons on his quest but he did use his Geats to his full advantage. In his epic quest to slay the monster, Beowulf realizes he cannot be successful alone and that he will need the aide of his loyal Geats. When faced with adversity he always had his men at his side. By succeeding in defeating the monster, Beowulf would have freed people of their nightmare. They showed their gratitude by holding ,“...a banquet in [his] honor, [and toasting to his] victories..."(Raffel 49). Like Beowulf, Nelson Mandela had a difficult quest to fulfill as well, “Mandela's main agenda consisted of...
Words: 1769 - Pages: 8
...| The main character in the epic poem “Beowulf”, whose legendary and heroic actions are central to the Anglo-Saxon culture, is Beowulf. Beowulf is a hero who embodies the ideal characteristics in the Anglo-Saxon culture; these characteristics all come together to make up an epic tale. He possesses the virtues, traits and beliefs that were respected in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf displays these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances throughout the tale. Beowulf was "the strongest of the Geats" and also "greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world". Beowulf is shown to be the strongest among the strong. Physical strength was very much envied by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf could slay the greatest monster of all, Grendel. Beowulf killed Grendel; Grendel had never come to such a match among a stronger person "That shepherd of sins soon found that never before had he felt in any man other in all the earth a mightier hand-grip”(565-570). This shows the physical strength that Beowulf embodied. Beowulf was fearless of all opponents and fought to defend his fame and glory. Beowulf did not need to tell anyone that he was fearless; he showed them how fearless he was. Beowulf needed no sword or shield to protect him from Grendel when he killed Grendel with his own hands " And I give you pledge, She shall not in safety escape to cover, To earthy cavern, or forest fastness, Or gulf of ocean, go where she may. This day with patience endure...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
