Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf, the Hero The epic poem Beowulf, which was told from generation to generation honoring modern Anglo-Saxon beliefs, describes a heroic man who saves a village in their time of need. By definition a hero is a man of exceptional quality. Exceptional quality doesn’t even begin to describe the man that is Beowulf. Beowulf has many heroic characteristics from his super human strength to victoriously slaying monsters and other ferocious beasts. He has excellent leadership skills and commonly boasts of his achievements. Beowulf emerges as the true Anglo Saxon hero; who risks his life for the lives and well being of others. Others perceive Beowulf as a hero through his physical strength and stories of his glorious feats. Through all of the battles Beowulf fought he lost only two, and his last defeat would be the death of him. The first battle Beowulf lost was his competition with Breca. Unferth was an unbeliever of the strength and determination of Beowulf. Unferth taunted Beowulf one night only to be, in return, taunted back. "Are you the Beowulf that strove with Breca†¦risking your lives on the lonely deep†¦of ocean swimming with out-streched arms†¦with plowing shoulders parted the waves†¦seven nights you toiled in the tossing sea†¦his strength was the greater, his swimming the stronger!" (389-400). As Beowulf explained in his feud with Unferth, "We gripped in our hands naked swords, as we swam the waves, guarding us from the whales’ assault†¦freezing squalls, and the falling night†¦down to the bottom a savage sea beast fiercely dragged me†¦and so I was granted to slay with the sword edge nine of the nicors" (413-443). Basically Beowulf is trying to explain that the only reason he lost to Breca was because he had been swimming for seven days straight and he stopped along the way to kill nine sea creatures to make it easier for other travelers of the sea to get by. This was one of the first heroic acts Beowulf preformed. Through the eyes of an Anglo Saxon, Beowulf saved them from having to deal with the sea creatures, because the sea plays a major role in the life of the Anglo Saxon’s. Beowulf came to rescue the Anglo Saxon’s from a ferocious monster who was terrorizing their town. Beowulf’s uncle is king of the Geats and so he is sent as an emissary to help rid the Danes of this monster, Grendel.