Question

Would Emerson consider Beowulf a hero? Look at his description of heroism in the excerpts you’ve read to determine your answer. In an 8-10 sentence essay.

Answer 1

In terms of the epic hero, yes. He is the epitome of what his people believe in--loyalty to family and friends, brave, a good leader. He is larger than life--his conquests prove this...sea monsters, Grendel, the dragon. He is strong, honorable, and does what he says he is going to do. He does choose not to use anything but his bare hands to fight Grendel since the creature is also unarmed.

On the other hand, he brags a lot. Consider that in Anglo-Saxon times, not everyone was a Christian. The people believed that everlasting life was possible, but through fame. In order to achieve fame, one must do amazing deeds and these deeds must be publicized. Thus, bragging and being good friends with the traveling storytellers known as scops or bards were necessary.

So, based on this information, you will need to determine if you think Beowulf is a hero or not. Be sure to check out the links below to help you make your decision.