Many Old English poems glorified a real or imaginary hero, and tried to teach the values of bravery. Beowulf was written during the Anglo-Saxon period of English literature. The Anglo-Saxon period was a time of fierce battles in which human

strength was measured by the ability to control the reaction to fate through evil and courage. Beowulf was written in Old English as an epic poem. This era described a real or imaginary hero and tried to teach the

As heroic as Beowulf is, he is still human. He still has doubts in his abilities, abilities to fight, but more so, doubts in his ability to forever live. Beowulf knows that he is human, and in the end, after all his glory, he dies. “The judgment of God would guide the destiny of every man-creature as it always does.” (LL. 2858-2859 pp 91) is what everything always comes down to in the end. Beowulf knows this, and he knows that he may not forever exist. As any person does, Beowulf also knows fear. He fears more than the reader actually sees. In every heroic quote said, fear is the hidden motive. Beowulf must make everyone know how great he is by telling people; but before everyone else, he reminds himself for he knows that the next day could be his last. Beowulf looks for fights against anything and everything because he wants to know that he can conquer even the biggest things in life, because he is not sure whether or not he can. He is afraid that he may not be able to. If Beowulf does indeed conquer his next conflict then he is temporarily built with self-esteem derived from accomplishment; only to be taken away by the next battle he fears, for he may not be able to conquer the next. Death comes for everybody and Beowulf is no exception, thus proving his mortality. All of Beowulf’s heroic deeds and battles make him the hero he desires to be. Perhaps what makes Beowulf live today, forever a legend of the past, is the fact that he did die, making him a mortal being; living and dying with the people, for the people, and as a person.

Beowulf is the prime example of an epic hero. He is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero, not only of the Anglo-Saxon time. His bravery and strength surpass all mortal men; loyalty, morals and virtues, and the ability to think of him last make him cherished by all. Beowulf came openly and wholeheartedly to help the Danes, which was an unusual occurrence in a time of war and widespread fear. He set a noble example for all human beings relaying the necessity of brotherhood and friendship. Beowulf is most definitely an epic hero of epic proportions, and a hero of the ages.

values of bravery. Beowulf was passed on from person to person. The author exaggerates on the character of Beowulf; the story is a fantasy. It is hard to believe that the character of Beowulf would be able to kill a monster like Grendel with his bare hands. Beowulf possesses many superhuman abilities, such as the amazing power to hold his breath under water for an unl

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