Epic Hero

            What is an ideal hero in epics? An ideal epic hero, a king or a warrior, in Beowulf is similar to that in the Odyssey and many other ancient tales. The whole kingdom will know him. He is always brave and larger-than-life strong. For example, in his battle with the monster Grendel, Beowulf used "bare hands", not some magic sword or an army of football players. The hero is also clever, he outsmarts the enemy with his seemingly mortal capabilities. He likes to brag about himself and his powers a lot, showing his self-esteem and pride. For instance, Beowulf wants the world to know about his majestic defeat of sea monsters only he could accomplish through a picturesque fight. Nevertheless, with all the bragging, the hero must be sincere; everything he tells is the truth (remember, it was larger-than-life). The hero is also much like the legendary Robin Hood or Zorro; he helps out random people just out of the good heart and in the end their enemy, like Grendel, always dies from his hands. However, since the hero is a mortal, he often suffers; it may take him years before he finally achieves success through hard work. In the end, like any bright and dull person, Romeo must die.