Joseph Campbell quoted that (How people see their hero as how, metaphorically, they see themselves, determine their goals, and view their passage through life). This idea can be proven through Beowulf, an Old English Poetry. Beowulf is the classic hero that is larger then life that everyone wishes in some way or another, that they were like him. Campbell had a good point; also a person ... with my sword, hack myself free"" lines 286-290. Beowulf is sharing his journey over seas as sea creatures attacked him and his men. Readers are draw word to word as the bravery of Beowulf increases and the...

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... you got a stone cairn over the hole your body was in. In the Norse world, both gods and humans know their inevitable destiny is death. The heroic goal is fame after death... great and glorious deeds that inspire poets and singers are the only measure of immortality that a mortal can achieve. The Norse hero's greatness is measure by the quality of his life and the courage and dignity with which he faces ... he is seeking to add to his fame. Unferth is afraid and jealous of Beowulf fame. Which is clearly shown when he speaks in the feasting-hall with these words "are you the Beowulf who c...

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... a monster known as Grendel, he takes it upon himself to travel across the sea to the land of Shieldings. It is not only for material wealth that Beowulf agrees to slay the fiend. It is loyalty, and the fact that, "There was no one else like him alive. He was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful" (lines 196-198), that he agrees to challenge Grendel ... to protect his own land, he vows that he will protect the Danes because of the loyalty he has to his uncle. Killing Grendel would not only help Beowulf gain material wealth and fame. He will also gain an alliance with Hrothgar...

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... a monster known as Grendel, he takes it upon himself to travel across the sea to the land of Shieldings. It is not only for material wealth that Beowulf agrees to slay the fiend. It is loyalty, and the fact that "There was no one else like him alive . he was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful" (lines 196-198), that he agrees to challenge Grendel ... to protect his own land, he vows that he will protect the Danes because of the loyalty he has to his Uncle. Killing Grendel would not only help Beowulf gain material wealth and fame. He will also gain an alliance with Hrothgar...

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... their men are very different. They both follow different codes, and ultimately, their admirable characteristics lead to their deaths. Beowulf and Arthur both posses many heroic traits. The men exhibit a great deal of bravery. When faced with death, neither man panics. Instead, they remain calm and fearless. Beowulf explains his death wishes before entering battle and requests to have his assets delivered to his people. ""Take ... ). Although both men are great leaders, they command their men differently. One such way is the way in which they lead their people. One such way is the way in ...

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... Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious of beasts but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are superb and he is ... fight a horrible dragon who is frightening all of his people. Beowulf is old and tired but he defeats the dragon in order to protect his people. Even in death he wished so se...

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... that were much more ferocious. For example one of Beowulf's great battles is the fight with Grendel. No one other than Beowulf is brave enough or strong enough volunteer to fight Grendel. With all Beowulf's great achievements, he finally becomes king of his homeland; Geatland. Even in his old age, his code of honor still obligates him to fight against an evil ... fiery dragon. For fifty years he governed his kingdom well. Ironically the dragon has been guarding the hoard of treasure for fifty years as well. The dragon functions then as the opposite of a good king because it guards the t...

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... , "Beowulf", describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious of beasts, but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are superb and he is ... fight a horrible dragon who is frightening all of his people. Beowulf is old and tired but he defeats the dragon in order to protect his people. Even in death he wished ...

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... this dragon, he takes it upon himself execute this hideous monster. Even though Beowulf dies fighting the dragon, he still manages to defeat the beast. Beowulf is an epic hero with the trait of courage. Another special trait that Beowulf has is supernatural powers. Beowulf slays many sea monsters while competing in a swimming match. This seems impossible because heavy armor would weigh any normal ... fighting terrible sea monsters as he traveled. "They have seen my strength for themselves,/ Have watched me rise from the darkness of water,/ Dripping with my enemies" blood. I drove/ Five ...

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... to show his thankfulness by thanking God for giving them safe travel across the sea. Beowulf is lead to Hrothgar and offers him is "services." "-Now sit down to the feast, and, in due time, listen to lays of warriors' victories, as your heart may prompt you. (15) Beowulf is asked by the warriors to tell of his past defeats while eating in Hrothgar's palace. Beowulf ... physical strength, his heroic courage still allows him to think like a hero. The "pre-game" speech that Beowulf gives before this battle is different from previous ones. Now that he is an old man Beowulf's's confidence in...

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... Herot, he is in a small argument with a slightly drunken Unferth. While conversing, a swimming match Beowulf and Brecca, one of Beowulf's old friends, had comes up. In this swimming match, Beowulf and Brecca were competing to find out who could swim further, and for a longer time. "No man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine,"(line 266) is how Beowulf describes his actual ... abilities. This is an example of how not only is Beowulf incredibly strong, but he knows it. In relation to Beowulf's match with Brecca, another quality of Beowulf surfaces. This is his qualit...

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... attacks the men in the mead hall at night and lives in a swamp den. The characters do not realize Grendel is attacking the Danes because Grendel is jealous of the human's happy and joyful life. The narrator says, "It harrowed him to hear the din of the loud banquet everyday in the hall " the characters never say why they thin Grendel attacks. According to the narrator Grendel is bigger than a man and his ... , "there would be no monsters gnawing and gloating over their banquet at the bottom of the sea. " This contest adds credentials to Beowulf's heroic charracter of the story. Beowulf n...

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... overcomes evils. It has many references to Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery, strength, and courage. For example, Beowulf brashly lists his accomplishments before entering each battle: "But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine other monsters crowded around me, continually attacking. I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword," (265-294). However ... references to "that Shepherd of Evil" (432) and "[sacrifices] to the old stone gods" (90). These are both conflicting allusions to the two prominent religions of the time....

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... . King Hrothgar said, "He was the strongest of the Geats greater and stronger than anyone else in the world." He also outsmarts many of his adversaries with his keen wit and great wisdom. He was the "wisest, most knowing, and best of them." One example of this is his encounter with Unferth in the sea where he used his strength and wisdom instead of the sword to win. With Beowulf's superhuman ... strength and vast intelligence, he was a formidable force to be reckoned with. Another pair of virtues ... only defeated a man-eating monster, but also slew his mother and his friend, the Dragon...

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... reflected throughout the epic poem. Many pagan rituals and ceremonies opposed the Christian beliefs of the poet who told the story of Beowulf. Burial ceremonies, for example, consisted of placing the deceased body on a boat, adorning it with treasures and weapons for use in the afterlife. "Then did they, his dear comrades, bear him out to shore of the sea Many treasures and ornaments were ... Prior to Beowulf's death he commands Wiglaf to "go quickly to behold the hoard under the grey stone now that I may see the old riches, the golden treasure so that after winning the great store of j...

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... the Anglo-Saxon epic is the most important work of Old English literature" (Brittany). As people from Denmark and Sweden invaded England they brought several of their stories and legends to England. Beowulf is the oldest English epic that was neither written in England nor written about England. The epic was originally passed from person to person through the oral tradition, and sang by bards and scops. These bards and ... an important concept. In Beowulf, evil can be broadly defined as the beginnings or principals opposing the well-being of mankind; malignancy threatens the social fabric...

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... to battle in hopes (or fate) to destroy a horrible dragon that is frightening all of his people. At this point however, Beowulf is old and tired but still manages to defeat the dragon in order to protect his people. The most heroic of traits within Beowulf is that he is not afraid to die. He always explains his death wishes before going into battle ... victorious from all but his last. Not only can Beowulf battle with the biggest of monsters, but he can also swim for as much as seven nights, and stop to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is even strong enough to...

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... and into his old age. As a young man, Beowulf becomes a legendary hero when he saves the land of the Danes from the creatures, Grendel and his mother. Later, after fifty years pass, Beowulf is an old man and a great king of the Geats. A monstrous dragon soon invades his peaceful kingdom and he defends his people courageously, dying in the process. His body is burned and his ashes are placed in a cave by the sea ... . By placing his ashes in the seaside cave, ... people passing by will always remember the legendary hero and king, Beowulf. In this recognized epic ... ...

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... a hero as a man who possessed qualities like valor, bravery, and loyalty. Through his actions a hero could show his people he was worthy of their adoration and in turn would return to his people with worthwhile rewards. A hero was first in line to fight for his king, his kingdom, and his people. Present day, I think people like to look back on heroes of old and wish there ... were heroes today; but I think if you examine things closely, you would see we have heroes around us every day. Beowulf was made a hero by his people by displaying these very actions. By coming to the aid of Hrothg...

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... (1259) sprung from the misbegotten spirits of Cain. She is "grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge" (1278) due to the murder of her son. After Grendel's mother "avenged her son and wreaked desctruction" (1278), Beowulf must descend into "some other world" (1349) to find her. This other world seems to parallel the lakes of Hell, infested with "writhing sea-dragons [ ] serpents and wild things" (1426 ... -1428) where the "water burns" (1366). While Beowulf is battling the evil creature, he somehow slips and almost falls to his doom. However, through God's protection and "heaven's ...

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... horror"(197) he becomes determined to go and set sail to meet the king to gain glory and fame. "Would sail the sea to Hrothgar, now when help was needed."(200-201) In this quote the words "would" and "now" are essential because they portray the willingness and immediate response from his determination. Beowulf volunteers willingly and quickly, calls for a boat to meet the king as soon as possible in order ... said by Wiglaf: "How often an entire country suffers on one man's accountShow him danger, urge him to leave the dragon in the dark tower it had lain in so long, live there till the ...

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Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses ... he lost a swimming match with his opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean...

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... his life fighting in the seas with Grendel's mother add he swam under water along time. The place is referred to as a 'terrible place you've not seen' (565). Yet Beowulf continued to defeat her and receive the treasures. Beowulf's last test of courage was when he fought a dragon. The dragon was upset because a thief stole a jeweled cup. Beowulf now is an old man still fought till ... his death to kill the dragon. All of these acts of courage leave Beowulf's reputation as on ... actions. When Beowulf was talking to Unferth he explained that fate led him to kill the monster in the sea. T...

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... capabilities. After the bloody battle, Grendel escaped but was fatally wounded and went to the marsh to die. The Danes were delighted. "He who had come to them from across the sea, Bold and strong-minded, had driven affliction off he had ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering." (825-831) The old and young rejoice at Herot retelling the tale of Beowulf's bravery, they considered him the most worthy the warrior to rule ... over men. Of all the heroic qualities of ... in Beowulf, whose feats were known throughout the land. He inspired loyalty in his warriors as well as the citizens th...

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