Every generation of people that have existed since the dawn of time have been different. Therefore, it is no surprise that they all hold a different definition for the word ‘Hero’. The poem Beowulf indirectly states many things about the concept of any early Anglo-Saxon hero. The poem showed that any Anglo-Saxon hero would have been incredibly large and strong, had numerous accomplishments, and been very brave in the face of danger.
Anyone claiming to be a hero couldn’t expect to be taken seriously in that time unless he was enormous. This is because heroes in that time required much brute strength, for fighting demons, evil people, or anyone else who was it was necessary to fight. Beowulf was described as very tall. He towered over almost any other warrior. The guard on the Danish coast said “I have never laid eyes upon earl on earth more stalwart and sturdy than [Beowulf].”
Beowulf was also reputed to be incredibly strong. Hrothgar, King of the Danes, said that “Seafaring men who have voyaged to Geatland… …say that his hand-grip has thirty men’s strength.” Beowulf demonstrated his incredible strength numerous times. The most prominent display was when he wielded a sword that belonged to a long dead race of giants in order to slay the Troll-Wife. The sword is described as “So heavy no hand but [Beowulf’s] own could hold it,” as evidence to how strong Beowulf was.
Upon arriving at Hrothgar’s court, Beowulf promptly began speaking of his past exploits after greeting the King. He spoke of how he “…slew the nicors that swam the sea,” and “Five foes I bound of the Giant kindred, and crushed their clan.” The Nicors were a form of enormous, evil water demons believed to exist in that time. Beowulf was again attacked by Nicors as he swam to fight the Troll-Wife, and was again victorious.
The Essay on Beowulf The Hero Dragon Strength Courage
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf's battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that ...
Bravery was also an essential quality for an ancient Anglo-Saxon hero. To be stalwart and strong in the face of grave danger was something Beowulf did many times. Facing and defeating Grendel without a weapon was a perfect example of this. Beowulf said that “With hand-grip only I’ll grapple with Grendel,” in a fight to the death. He risked his own life time and again to save those of the Danes by fighting Grendel and the Troll-Wife.
These three qualities were among the foremost that was required of a hero in those days. Beowulf has been shown to be the literary embodiment of these qualities in more than one way by the famous poem. One could say that one of the qualities of this epic poem that makes it great is this aspect of a hero in that time. In a sense, it creates a window to the past, allowing many to see into Anglo-Saxon culture.
