Epic of Beowulf Essay - Hero of Epic Proportions :: Epic of Beowulf Essay

Beowulf - Hero of Epic Proportions Beowulf is the strongest of the Geats -- greater / and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world (ll.110-111). Even though he is famous for his massive strength, Beowulf has other attributes that are noticeable other than his strength. These attributes, arrogance, merryry, and a strong love for his people are what make Beowulf become such a powerful, epic hero. Beowulf is arrogant. He constantly brags close his supreme strength. The strongest man alive lets people know that he is the most powerful person around by saying, no strength is a match for mine (l.267). Beowulf does not think that he could ever be destroyed by anything. He obviously neer questiones how his fighting ability would be when he was around seventy. Since Beowulf is convinced that God is watching over him, his ego makes him act as if he is invincible, because of the idea that he has a guardian angel. But, as Beowulf gets older, wiser, and fights in more battles he should re alize that there was a possibility that he can die. Beowulf also boasts about his umpteen battles, and is proud of himself for winning all of them. One of these triumphs is the battle in the water when he meets up with nine sea monsters which he killeds, and fights with a monster that is shot its jaws into Beowulfs flesh. Beowulf proclaims that I fought that beasts last battle, / left it floating in the sea (ll.290-291). This epic tale reads that while Beowulf is in battle with Grendels mother, all he cares was about the fame he would get for defeating her. Unferth thinks that Beowulf was arrogant, by saying, Youre Beowulf, are you the same / Boastful fool who fought a swimming / Match with Brecca (ll.239-241). Yes, Beowulf is a boastful fool that loves the attention that his strength gives him. A strong man and an arrogant one, Beowulf is also brave. Even after all of the horror stories that he hears about Grendel, he still fights the cursed beast without any hesitation. When h e battles with Grendel, he does it without the things that everyone else would use--weapons. This shows that Beowulf is not scared of anything in the world. He also must be brave to fight a sea monster after swimming in the ocean for days. He went straight into battle exhausted, from the strenuous journey across the ocean.