Essay/Term paper: Beowulf 2

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Papers

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 ^ÓBeowulf^Ô, 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^Òs 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^Òs 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 ^ÓBeowulf^Ô 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
^ÓBeowulf^Ô 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.