Beowulf Epic Hero Essay

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The story of Beowulf is a tale of compelling forces in a Scandinavian culture that ultimately determined an ideal hero. Throughout literary works in history there have been examples of good and bad epic heroes. Faulkner stated, “The Homeric hero despises death, he recognizes this as a boundary that creates heroic possibilities” (Falkner, 29) Not this alone makes an epic hero that will soon be revealed. Beowulf will be compared and contrasted against good as well as bad examples of epic heroes through analytical debate of what makes an epic poem /story, what makes a good epic hero vs. a bad epic hero,what codes bind them to be good emaples of an epic hero, and how all of this can be forwarded to toady’s hero. This paper will explain how Beowulf compares and contrasts to different epic poems/heroes in literacy pieces such as: the Aeneid, the Odyssey, and in modern pop culture with historical perspectives. Blood Vengeance-Scandanvaian culture- Beowulf Tucker…show more content…
Beowulf son of the Ecgetheow (which is of royal line) ventures across lands to render aide to King Hrothgar; “…stoutness of heart, /bravery not banishment, must have brought you to Hrothgar.”(Beowulf, 338-339.)Beowulf meant serious business and could not rest knowing that his fellow gets had been under siege from the villainous Grendel for twelve years. “For twelve winters, seasons of woe,/the lord of Shielding’s has suffered…”(line 147-146) He showed undoubting bravery “I shall fulfill that purpose, /prove myself with a proud deed/or meet my death here in the mead hall.”(Beowulf, 635-638)Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and even a previous account of Beowulf bravery exhibited Beowulf’s super human strength.He possessed “the strength of 30 men in each hand,”(line 380-381)Beowulf displayed time and time again that his strength and courage was fool proof,“My sword had killed nine sea-monsters… :( Beowulf, 574-575) Beowulf was no stranger to

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