Three elements that yield a heroic warrior include Bravery, Courage Confidence, and Honor. Beowulf shows his bravery in his battles with monsters much larger than himself. He fights without weapons and when he has aged shows his confidence in himself, and his courage to never back down. He is honored by the Geats and the Danes throughout the poem as compensation for his victories. Anglo-Saxon culture values many of the qualities that Beowulf exudes in his quest to save Denmark.
Throughout the poem, Beowulf undergoes several instances where his bravery stands out among his fellow men. Fairness in a battle is strongly valued by warrior culture. Beowulf speaks to Hrothgar stating, “My lord Higlac / Might think less of me if I let my sword / Go where my feet were afraid to…God must decide…” (Beowulf 264-269). Beowulf wants to fight Grendel fairly and doesn’t want to look like a coward in front of his men, so he fights without weapons and lets God’s power decide his fate. In the same speech, he says, “ … carry our bloody / Flesh to the moors, crunch on our bones / And smear torn scraps of our skin on the walls…” (Beowulf 276-278). Beowulf’s bravery is shown here because he understands Grendel’s potential, but doesn’t back down. He also exhibits bravery while fighting the dragon. Fisher, mentions, “ In his speech before the battle, the aged hero, for he has reassumed his original role, shows that he is willing to discard his sword as he did formerly, but the enemy is too strong” In addition he says, “He offers himself directly as the sacrificial victim…” (180). This proves his bravery continues into the middle of his senior years because he still dares to battle a dragon that has stronger powers than he has fought before. Along with bravery, confidence remains an important factor in a warrior culture. Beowulf shows his
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Three elements that yield a heroic warrior include Bravery, Courage Confidence, and Honor. Beowulf shows his bravery in his battles with monsters much larger than himself. He fights without weapons and when he has aged shows his confidence in himself, and his courage to never back down. He is honored by the Geats and the Danes throughout the poem as compensation for his victories. Anglo-Saxon culture values many of the qualities that Beowulf exudes in his quest to save Denmark.
Throughout the poem, Beowulf undergoes several instances where his bravery stands out among his fellow men. Fairness in a battle is strongly valued by warrior culture. Beowulf speaks to Hrothgar stating, “My lord Higlac / Might think less of me if I let my sword / Go where my feet were afraid to…God must decide…” (Beowulf 264-269). Beowulf wants to fight Grendel fairly and doesn’t want to look like a coward in front of his men, so he fights without weapons and lets God’s power decide his fate. In the same speech, he says, “ … carry our bloody / Flesh to the moors, crunch on our bones / And smear torn scraps of our skin on the walls…” (Beowulf 276-278). Beowulf’s bravery is shown here because he understands Grendel’s potential, but doesn’t back down. He also exhibits bravery while fighting the dragon. Fisher, mentions, “ In his speech before the battle, the aged hero, for he has reassumed his original role, shows that he is willing to discard his sword as he did formerly, but the enemy is too strong” In addition he says, “He offers himself directly as the sacrificial victim…” (180). This proves his bravery continues into the middle of his senior years because he still dares to battle a dragon that has stronger powers than he has fought before. Along with bravery, confidence remains an important factor in a warrior culture. Beowulf shows his courage and confidence in himself during his numerous battles in the Poem. According to Fisher, “He displays the characteristics of the hero: confidence balanced by magnanimity in discarding his weapons, and a readiness to accept the outcome whatever it may be” (176). This shows confidence in himself to defeat Grendel single-handedly with the courage to rely on fate. Later in the poem, Beowulf fights the dragon who possesses a power he struggles to compete with. Foster says, “ As a young warrior, Beowulf faces evil in vigorous foreign exploits; as an old king in his own country, he faces the dragon, the ultimate test of his courage.” Beowulf demonstrates courage and confidence in himself by fighting the dragon at his venerable age when he doesn’t possess the strength he formerly had. Because of his courage, he is also often honored throughout the story for his victories in battles and good deeds on the quest. In the poem, Beowulf’s accomplishments are honored by his kinsmen to celebrate his deeds. On a side note in the Prentice Hall Literature textbook, it is stated that “… the Danes celebrate Beowulf’s victory” (Beowulf 51). The Danes were so thankful Beowulf defeats Grendel, they host a feast in his honor. Foster mentions that “ Once more at the court of his lord Hygelac, he is held in high esteem and is rewarded with riches and position.” Even after returning home his accomplishments are rewarded by his king. Fifty years later, after he acquires the throne, a dragon threatens the kingdom. His old age and the dragon’s fire were detrimental to his victory. Although the dragon is slain, Beowulf suffers fatal wounds and asks for a memorial in his honor. Fisher says, “The twelve sons of the chieftains ride about the burial mound of Beowulf to lament the king, and exalt his heroic life” (183). The men ride as a memorial around his monument to mourn his death and celebrate his accomplishments.
As a result, Beowulf’s characteristics represent him as a prime example of a true warrior in the Anglo-Saxon culture. His bravery in his battles allows him to rise above the other warriors in his country. The confidence he has displays courage to go against monsters with extreme strength and power. His accomplishments are honored with feasts and riches and eventually the throne. As shown, Beowulf remains the perfect epic hero that embodies the traits valued by warrior culture.
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