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Kathryn, Bailey, Natalie--If you had to list four important qualities for an epic hero to possess, what would they be, based on your reading of Beowulf? Find a passage to illustrate each characteristic.
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Four Important Qualities For an Epic Hero to Possess-(Overview)
·Unlike anyone else/one of a kind
·Brave
·Trustworthy
·Staying serious
Unlike anyone else/one of a kind: Canto 3 (pg.12) Beowulf isn’t over confident in himself, and he gives the other warriors credit for the things they have done as well. (The canto describes what his father did, and what Beowulf is capable of).
Brave: Canto 9-12 (pg. 27-37) Beowulf showed how courageous he truly is, and how willing he is to return the favor to the king. (In these pages, he defeats nine monsters and Grendel).
Trustworthy: Canto 9 (pg. 29) Beowulf stuck to his promise of destroying Grendel, and by ensuring the kingdom is a safer place. This shows that he keeps his promises.
Staying serious: Canto 13 (pg. 38) Beowulf has the presence of many people who praise him, but he continues to look over the kingdom and not get caught up in his fame. Which is hard for most people to maintain, because they constantly yearn for the attention given.--Bailey
Four characteristics of an epic hero found in Beowulf are strength, bravery, belief, and perseverance.
An example of perseverance is found in Canto 8, lines 541-545, and Canto 9, lines 574-579, when Beowulf is speaking; "He could never leave me behind, swim faster/ Across the waves than I could, and I/ Had chosen to remain close to his side./ I remained near him for five long nights...// Lucky or not, nine was the number/ Of sea-huge monster I killed. What man,/ Anywhere under Heaven's high arch, has fought/ In such darkness, endured more misery or been harder/ Pressed? Yet I survived the sea, smashed/ The monsters' hot jaws, swam home from my journey"
Beowulf then speaks of his belief in Canto 9, lines 569- 573: "... Then God's bright beason/ Appeared in the east, the water lay still,/ And at last I could see the land, wind-swept/ Cliff walls at the edge of the soast. Fate saves/ The living when they drive away death by them-selves!"
Bravery is demonstrated in Beowulf's words in Canto 9, lines 632-638: 'When we crossed the sea, my comrades/ And I, I already knew that all/ My purpose was this: to win the goodwill/ Of your people or die in battle pressed/ In Grendel's fierce grip. Let me live in greatness/ And courage, or here in this hall welcome/ My death!'
Lastly, strength is shown in Canto 11, lines 745-755, then 785-790 during Beowulf's encounter with Grendel: "Then he stepped to another/ Still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws,/ Grasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper/ -And was instantly siezed himself, claws/ Bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm./ That shepherd of evil, gaurdian of crime,/ Knew at once that nowhere on earth/ Had he met a man whose hands were harder;/ His mind was flooded with fear- but nothing/ Could take his talons and himself from that tight/ Hard grip. // Screams of the Almighty's enemy sang/ In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain/ And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel's/ Taut throat, hell's captive caught in the arms/ Of him who of all the men on earth/ Was the strongest." --Kathryn
If you had to list four important qualities for an epic hero to possess, what would they be, based on your reading of Beowulf? Find a passage to illustrate each characteristic.
Brave
“I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (2511).
Wise
“Beowulf ruled in Geatland, took the throne he’d refused, once, and held it long and well. He was old with years of wisdom, fifty winters a king…” (2206).
Mortal
“And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames-a king, before, but now a beaten warrior” (2595).
Strong
“Grendel saw that strength was deserting him, his claws bound fast, Higlac’s brave follower tearing at his hands. The monster’s hatred rose highter, but his power had gone. He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory” (811). --Natalie
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