Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf, the Hero   &9The expansive 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. surpassing quality doesnt even begin to describe the man that is Beowulf. Beowulf has umteen heroic characteristics from his super human long suit to victoriously attaining monsters and former(a) ferocious beasts. He has excellent leadership skills and comm lone(prenominal) boasts of his achievements. Beowulf emerges as the lawful 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 and through all of the battles Beowulf fought he lost only two, and his last defeat would be the death of him. The start battle Beowulf lost was his competition with Breca. Unferth was an unbeliever of the stren gth and determination of Beowulf. Unferth taunted Beowulf one night only to be, in return, taunted back. "Are you the Beowulf that strove with Brecarisking your lives on the lonely deepof ocean swimming with out-streched armswith plowing shoulders move the wavesseven nights you toiled in the tossing oceanhis 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 breachfreezing squalls, and the falling nightdown to the bottom a dun sea beast fiercely dragged meand so I was granted to slay with the sword edge niner 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 old age 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 a cts 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 Saxons.  &9Beowulf came to rescue the Anglo Saxons from a ferocious monster who was terrorizing their town. Beowulfs uncle is king of the Geats and so he is sent as an emissary to supporter rid the Danes of this monster, Grendel.