Epic Hero: Beowulf

What makes a character from any form of literature an epic hero? The world of literature says it is high status of the character, the brave deed they commit, any long journeys they make, the formal speeches they give and saving a nation or people. Now who are these heroes? Achilles, Odysseus, Hercules, and King Arthur are among the list of epic heroes in literature. But one of the greatest epic hero is Beowulf. Beowulf is the protangonist of the ancient poem Beowulf. The story starts with the monster Grendel attacking the Danes. Beowulf, a Geat, enters the story to slay Grendel and later Grendel's vengeful mother. The poem end with the tragic death of Beowulf after he slay a dragon. Beowulf is an epic hero because he possesses all the characteristics of one, however the most evident of these characteristics are his amazing speeches, the gallant deeds he does, and willingness and ability to save nations and the people of those nations.

Beowulf's uncanny ability to make such atonishing speaches enable him to be called an epic hero. His speeches are capable of enticing others to agree with him. Beowulf travels to the country of the Danes in hope that the Danish king, Hrothgar, will allow him (Beowulf) to aid in the killing of Grendel. As soon as he is recieved by the king Beowulf begins, " 'Hail, Hrothgar! Higlac is... death was my... death's cold grip,' " (Raffel 79-113). Hrothgar agrees to house Beowulf and his fourteen men in the mead hall in hopes that Beowulf is able to kill the monster that has plagued them for over a decade. Another skill of Beowulf's speeches is glorify himself. As Beowulf set out to fight the dragon, he makes another speech, " ' I'd use no sword... stand till fate... to a bitter death,' " (Raffel 272-291). Here Beowulf states he shall fight the beast with out any weapon except himself and that he is willing to continue till the creature is dead or he dies. It is easy to see how this would impress others. Again Beowulf exalts himself in a speech, " ' I'd leave my armor... I can die, here... last of all prizes,' " (Raffel 361-383). He says this speech as slowly bleeds to death from a wound the enraged dragon dealt. And once again he claims to kill or be killed. The final adeptness of his parley is making his death regrettable. With his last breath Beowulf articulates, " ' For this, this gold... my time is gone... will know it,' " (Raffel 425-439). It is difficult not to feel remorse and a longing for Beowulf's rapidly depleting life after this speech. He conveys his want to have the gold distrubuted and his love for the people he has cared for for fifty years. Through his speeches he says much but it is said that actions speak louder than words.

As with every hero Beowulf is one due to his valiant actions. Readers often condsider brave deeds to be those of slaughtering monstrosities. When Beowulf fisrt arrives to the land of the Danes he gloats of his prowess, " ' They have seen... me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies blood,' " (Raffel 89-91). This paints a vivid picture of Beowulf easily annihalating his foes without a second thought. He continues with his boast about his extermination of foul beings, " 'I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from earth,' " (Raffel 91-93). To take on and extinguish giants is a great feat for a mere human and therefore can be seen as heroic. Beowulf does not end there though. He carries on to declare, " ' I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one,' " (Raffel 93-96). As stated before reader detemines whether a character is a hero by his kills. Beowulf is further pushed into heroism with the battle with Grendel. Beowulf tears off the arm of the fiend and, " the battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, but wounded as he fled to his den, his miserable hole at the bottom of