What are the main characteristics of Beowulf?

The main characteristics of an epic hero that Beowulf shows is brave deeds, he is a strong and responsible leader, risks his life for the greater good of his people and his kingdom, has a great amount of courage, his inhuman strength, and his faith and gratitude.

What type of character is Beowulf?

The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf’s boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior around. In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture.

What are five heroic qualities of Beowulf?

Beowulf is synonymous with the concept of the epic hero. In this epic poem, we watch as he demonstrates his courage, strength, loyalty, and wisdom, and we see him have no difficulty letting people know who he is and what he is capable of accomplishing.

What are the 7 characteristics of an epic hero?

There are seven main traits of epic heroes; they are of noble birth or elevated status. They have superhuman capabilities, are a vast traveler, an unmatched warrior, a cultural legend, demonstrate humility, and finally, battle superhuman foes.

What are the main themes of Beowulf?

There are three main themes found in Beowulf. These themes are the importance of establishing identity, tensions between the heroic code and other value systems, and the difference between a good warrior and a good king.

What qualities are most admired by Beowulf’s society?

As depicted in the excerpt from Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, the qualities found in Beowulf that were most admired by his society include courage, personal valor, and his boastfulness. Courage is an important trait for a hero to have, and it’s something the Anglo-Saxons valued as well.

How does Beowulf demonstrate the characteristics of an epic hero?

The epic hero often battles for good, or accomplishes a set of tasks to complete an important goal. … Beowulf exhibits these qualities in the Old English epic poem named after him. His heroic qualities were courage, loyalty, wisdom, boasting, and physical strength.

What does the character Beowulf symbolize?

In his youth, Beowulf is a great warrior, characterized predominantly by his feats of strength and courage, including his fabled swimming match against Breca. He also perfectly embodies the manners and values dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride.

What is the moral lesson of Beowulf?

Especially seen through the characters of Beowulf and Wiglaf, the poem Beowulf illustrates three important morals of its time: bravery, honor, and loyalty. Beowulf, the hero of the poem, exhibits great bravery in everything he does.

What is the basic plot of Beowulf?

The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel’s mother attacks the hall and is then defeated.

Why Beowulf is a hero?

Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery. These characteristics keep him set apart from all other character. He would take any risk to defeat his enemy and to gain glory. Even when he dies, he defeated his opponent and gained more glory to his name.

What makes Beowulf a good king?

The epic poem presents Beowulf as both an ideal king and a hero. He bears all the qualifications of ideal heroes and kings. … As an ideal king, Beowulf always has the welfare of his people at his heart. He is quite generous to his people in that he sacrifices to assist them even after retiring despite his old age.

What is a characteristic of Grendel in Beowulf?

In the original Beowulf epic, Grendel displays nothing but the most primitive human qualities. In Grendel, however, he is an intelligent and temperamental monster, capable of rational thought as well as irrational outbursts of emotion.

Is Beowulf good or evil?

Lesson Summary

Beowulf is certainly an epic of good versus evil. The difference between them is striking, especially in the beginning of the poem. On the side of good, we have the hero Beowulf and his loyal follower Wiglaf, and on the side of evil, we have the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon.

What did Beowulf sacrifice?

He must decide whether he wants to live or eliminate more of his people. Beowulf decides that he needs to do this for his people so he goes out and kills the dragon. Beowulf had died fighting which means that he will go to Valhalla and that is a place where you go if you have died in honor in combat.

What is the conclusion of Beowulf?

Beowulf, the legendary Anglo-Saxon hero who was a courageous warrior, monster hunter, and prince of the Geats, spends his last days fighting his final foe, a very big and nasty dragon who is threatening the Geats. Beowulf loses the fight, but reaffirms his commitment to his people by demonstrating great courage.

How was Beowulf loyal?

Loyalty in Battle

The misery caused by Grendel has caused warriors to leave the hall, but Beowulf is determined to show his loyalty by killing the monster. He convinces his men to stay in the mead hall with him and await the monster. His men remain with him out of a sense of loyalty.

How does Beowulf define his identity?

Beowulf establishes his identity as a Geat warrior and eventually as a king through a combination of deeds, boasts, and gifts to his followers. The most important task of a great warrior in Beowulf is to establish an identity so grand and legendary that his fame lives on after his death, in memorials and in ballads.

Is Beowulf a hero or villain?

The Hero Beowulf

Beowulf is the first hero in English literature. The main character of a poem written in Old English centuries ago, Beowulf is a great warrior who uses his incredible strength to defeat three monsters.

How does Beowulf show wisdom?

There are countless examples of Beowulf proving that he is a wise person. For example, in Beowulf’s fabled fight with Grendel Beowulf waits until Grendel has killed several men before rising to the challenge of fighting Grendel (Beowulf 48).

Who kills the dragon in Beowulf?

Wiglaf
The dragon lands a bite on Beowulf’s neck, and blood begins to flow. Wiglaf rushes to Beowulf’s aid, stabbing the dragon in the belly, and the dragon scorches Wiglaf’s hand. In desperation Beowulf pulls a knife from his belt and stabs it deep into the dragon’s flank. The blow is fatal, and the writhing serpent withers.

How does Beowulf show humility?

Beowulf learns humility when fighting Grendel, when fighting Grendel’s mother, from hearing legends and from his past. Beowulf is humbled after fighting Grendel. Before fighting Grendel Beowulf was over confident and cocky. … Although Beowulf won the battle he did not eliminate him in the mead hall as he had intended.

How does Beowulf show courage?

Courage in Action

Beowulf is already known for his physical strength, but also displays uncommon courage in several degrees and instances. First, he makes the hazardous journey by sea to Heorot, then offers to fight Grendel, and finally wrestles with and kills the creature without the benefit of a weapon.

How strong is Beowulf?

Beowulf is huge and strong. We are soon told that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand-grip. Just as important is the way that the young warrior (not much more than 20 years of age) carries himself; the Geat has the bearing of a noble leader, a champion, perhaps a prince.

How does Beowulf show generosity?

The first sign of generosity comes from the King Hrothgar who gives refuge to Ecgheow, Beowulf’s father when he is at war with his enemy tribes. … Beowulf’s rule is also filled with generous acts of rewarding his thanes. He also proves his love and generosity by defending the people from the dragon.