Beowulf 2 Essay, Research Paper

An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about

the adventurers of a hero. The hero is usually a figure of high social status

and one who is often of great historical or legendary importance. In the epic

poem ^?Beowulf^?, 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 courageous and helpful person.

Beowulf is a good example of a courageous and strong hero. He shows all of

the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses.

Beowulf is a very brave and courageous person. His actions toward the

monster Grendel that was terrorizing the Danes show that he is willing to help

others. In an epic it is usually found that the hero often determines the

fate of a nation or group of people. Beowulf has definitely helped the Danes

and his own people the Geats in their triumph over evil by killing Grendel his

mom and the dragon. He has helped mankind a great deal and because of that he

is made king of the Geats. Beowulf^?s brave deeds and accomplishments have

contributed to the Danes and the Geats survival.

Another characteristic of and epic poem is that the hero performs outrageous

and sometimes superhuman deeds. Beowulf is a prime example of this type of

hero. He volunteers himself to fight Grendel and when Grendel^?s mom seeks

revenge he goes to the lake and takes on the challenge. He shows the great

qualities of strength and power when, after fifty years, he takes on the

dragon who has become a threat to the Geats. He always battles his enemies

with pride. When Beowulf and wiglaf fight the dragon and everyone else

becomes cowardly and runs off to the forest and hides. Through this it is

shown that they possess courageous traits and are genuinely ready and willing

to help.

Often in an epic poem, the plot is complicated by supernatural beings and

events. Good examples of this are when Beowulf fights Grendel. Grendel is a

monster and there is no such thing as a monster. The same goes for the

dragon. Throughout history there has never been a dragon that gets mad that a

thief has taken part of his treasure. Also when Beowulf is dying he asks

Wiglof to show him the treasures before he dies. Everyone knows that you can

not hold off your death just so you can see treasure. These examples show the

complications that are found throughout the plot of an epic poem.

An epic poem usually presents the situations of good and evil and life and

death. The epic poem ^?Beowulf^? possesses both of these things. The good is

shown through the actions of Beowulf and Wiglaf when they defeat the evil, who

are shown by Grendel, his mom, and the dragon. Good and evil always leads to

life and death. The good live and the evil die most of the time. In

^?Beowulf^? the good defeated the evil. Beowulf was known by the Geats and the

Danes as a very generous, kind, and strong person, who would give anything for

the Survival of the people. These characteristics are what help to classify

Beowulf as a true epic hero.