Beowulf: The Man, the Legend, the Hero Essay

Beowulf is an epic poem whose earliest surviving copy was write in 1000 A.D. The flooring consists of three thousand virtuoso 100 and eighty two lines that follow the life of the title caliber. The original pen of the epic poem is un gon mainly because it started as a communicative tale passed bundle or altogethery through the ages. Fin totallyy some unmatchable wrote it down in a document now called the Nowell Codex. The epic tale is concentrate on on Beowulf and his actions in an adventure to repay a debt owed by his grow to Hrothgar, a Danish king. A gargantuan junkie that is terrorizing Hrothgars mead lobby is Beowulfs target and Beowulf sails across the sea to aid his fathers friend. Doesnt he already sound like a mill? Well thats because he is. Beowulf is a gunman in all(prenominal) sense of the word. From his moral code to his actions, and beliefs this Geatish legend fits the archetype of a hero down to the finest points.All heroes set out on a quest. For what is uncomparable to every story, besides a quest is made all the same. This fabled hero of English lore sails across an ocean to take on a seemingly impossible task. For twenty four hours straight he and fourteen companions brave the oceans waters but reached their destination without a hitch. This seems suspicious for a classic hero. A journey going exactly as planned? Not likely. This alludes to the position that this journey across the sea wasnt the actual voyage he set out to strike. The ultimate final stage is Grendel. True heroes value their reputation. Beowulfs reputation precedes him, as the Danes already know of many of his mighty feats. The value of a good reputation is to a fault immeasurable in Anglo-Saxon society. When someone introduces themselves they say their name, news of their father. In Beowulfs human face when initially landing on the shores of Denmark, he says The son of faggot Healfdene, have tell apart here to visit.This let the guard on the coast know that Beowulf came from good blood. Dishonor in ones lineage in this time period meant dishonor for many generations in the future. The importance of a legacy leads toward the hero that Beowulf is, being placen in his actions. The King remembers Beowulf and acknowledges the fact that his lineage is an impressive one and believes that the hero, Beowulf has been sent by divinity to save the Danes from the wicked monster Grendel. Beowulfs strength and endurance atomic number 18 legendary. Upon his arrival to Herot he springs the tale of his competition with Breca. All but one of the Danes is impressed by his tale making them believe that they pass on be saved. Unferth challenges Beowulfs feat but, never to be put down, Beowulf clarifies the real story. The Danes argon astonished by Beowulfs adventure and rejoice at his presence. This wonderment by his peers motivates Beowulf to do the task he has set out to do. The date with Grendel in like manner illustrates Beowulfs might. H e is initially looked at as a fool for even contemplating such a thing as not using a weapon, but in the end it pays off. His b be transfer can dole out more damage than any blade in Herot and in one day of being there the monster is floged.The Danish people begin to worship Beowulf. This almost cult one-time(prenominal)ime fills Beowulfs ego just like a balloon, yet he doesnt let it get out of control. He knows the people hunch over him and is happy that his reputation held up. Yes, he works for the repayment of his fathers debt but also for the admiration of his fellow man. The people of Herot feed Beowulfs desire to be recognized as a hero and thusly he agrees to revenge the death of Halga. He feels that it is his fault that Grendels return has come to terrorize the city. The hero in Beowulf comes out and he protects the people. The egis of the weak is another archetypal hero characteristic that Beowulf exhibits. The people he protects for the first half of the epic, at omic number 18nt even his own. He still stands hard even for Hrothgars people, just to ensure his fathers debt is but paid back. Though he has almost surely done exuberant to maintain his fathers good name, he stays to make sure the people who have so generously accepted him into their town, are safe forever. Going in to the swamp himself showcases Beowulfs leadership style. He wants to make sure all of his men return home safely, and the solitary(prenominal) way to do this is to further endanger one life, his own.This also lends itself to the base that Beowulf is in his line of duty for glory. Here in this scene he takes the approach of If I want it done right I will do it myself. As the leader of this band of Geats he wants them to live to recant his legacy in the off chance of his death to be immortalized in history as a brave warrior who died in the line of battle. The be adrift down to Grendels mothers lair exemplifies Beowulfs super-human qualities. It was utter that h e swam for the better part of a day, a deed which by human standards is impossible. Once at the bottom he faces the swamp witch in a battle which once again ends with his victory. When has a story ever had the hero die in the middle of the book? The fact that Beowulf just happened to see the giant sword on the wall shows that he is a hero because things go his way. As one of the oldest written stories of a warrior hero, Beowulf was the basis for all male warriors from this point on.Everything goes their way, the adversaries are frustrated, and a festivity is had. The men on the surface had given up on Beowulf. They walked absent from the edge of the swap and returned to Herot. But even with the odds stacked against him, Beowulf managed to defeat his enemy, and return safely to his men. The people under Hrothgars rule are ecstatic upon his return. Their savior has come back alive and with a plunder to display his victory. The scene that follows his return is also typical for a h ero. He is showered with renders and the admiration of the people. He receives gifts of great significance, not only monetarily, but also symbolically. Hrothgar gives Beowulfs men gold and other treasures. To Beowulf himself, however, he gives much more than that. He gives armor, which any great hero will need in battle, and horses with golden bridles. On one of the horses lays the most symbolically important gift a saddle specially fashioned for a King to bawl out into battle.This saddle shows that Hrothgar knows Beowulf is a hero, and one day will be a king. The hero always gets put up on a pedestal, this case a throne. Beowulf is king for fifty years before his next adventure, but he is the best king the Geats have had. Heroes seem to always come out well rounded, they are fantastic warriors, amazing kings, and great leaders. Beowulf fits all three of those throughout the epic, but especially in the last battle scene. The dragon is Beowulfs final adversary. The dragon is a symb ol for all evil, much like Grendel, and his mother were. This time however Beowulf has aged past his prime, yet hasnt abandoned his strategy of diving in, headfirst, without back up.At last Beowulf has met his match. The dragon mortally wounds Beowulf but before he dies Beowulf puts up one last fight and lays the death blow onto the dragon. He defeated all of the monsters he was put up against but this last one got the best of him. He died the way he wanted to in battle, alert his warrior lifestyle for one last moment. The way Beowulfs life end forever solidified him in the category of a hero. In conclusion, Beowulf is a prime example of an archetypal hero. His valor in battle is only part of the equation. A true hero must also show the importance of leadership, reputation, protection, and strength. Throughout the epic poem, the title character exhibits all of those characteristics of a hero, and others as well. Beowulf is a hero no matter which way his character is examined, and a model for all warriors to come.