Beowulf: The Qualities Of An Epic Hero

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After the fall of the Roman Empire, also known as the beginning of the Dark Ages, people throughout western Europe looked for someone who could lead and safeguard them from foreign invaders and the chaos brimming within society; however, no one with the characteristics of a strong and astute leader emerged from the pandemonium. With those ideals of how someone of great power and ability, stories were created about mighty heroes who go on perilous quests to prove themselves. When trying to understand these stories, which are known as epic poems, the superlative ideals of a culture are utilized to exhibit the qualities a person should have, as a result, these individuals, who are usually male, are known as epic heroes. With the Anglo-Saxon epic…show more content…
In the beginning of the story, when Beowulf and the Geats are attacked by Grendel in the Heorot, during this attack, Beowulf challenges Grendel first. displaying that he is willing to take the attention of a murderous enemy to safeguard his men. Furthermore, the frightened Geats start to attack the malicious monster in order to protect their leader, thus displaying that the men accept Beowulf as the leader of the group of skilled warriors. After the battle with Grendel’s mother, the King of the Danes, Hrothgar, describes the indomitable warrior as “even-tempered, prudent and resolute”(1705 - 07), which meant that Beowulf was wise and determined man who can lead his people in the future. Using these context clues, Beowulf becomes the King of the Geats after the deaths of Hygelac and Heardred; however, Queen Hygd offered the throne to Beowulf after Hygelac’s death in battle, hence why that the legendary warrior is considered to have the quality of a superb leader, thus supporting that he is an epic hero. Furthermore, an epic hero has more than one excellent quality, for example, the quality of being supernaturally strong and

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