​Grimm 1

Margaret Grimm

Mr. Hasty

English 4 H

29 September 2020

What it Takes to be a Hero: Beowulf Argumentative Essay

The word “hero” is too often applied these days without much thought. People tend to give that

title to a positive person who others want to imitate and admire. But a hero in literature is seen as

someone who often puts their own life at risk for the good of others. They stay strong when facing

dangerous problems and show courage, loyalty, and strength while facing them. Beowulf should be

considered a true hero because he embodies many of the qualities that a true hero should have.

One important characteristic of a hero is apparent superhuman strength used throughout their

journey. Beowulf shows superhuman strength when battling both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. During

Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, Beowulf’s men stepped in to try and help Beowulf defeat Grendel. They

used their swords and every other weapon they had in their possession and attacked Grendel with them,

but nothing harmed him. In ​Beowulf ​it states, “... their points / could not hurt him, the sharpest and

hardest iron / could not scratch at his skin ...”(374-376). Although the weapons couldn’t hurt Grendel,

Beowulf could. Grendel fought with all his might to escape Beowulf’s firm grip on him so he could run,

but he was unable to. Beowulf was also able to tear Grendel’s arm off at the shoulder and send him

running back to his home to later die from his injuries. Beowulf’s strength was also shown when fighting

with Grendel’s mother. Beowulf went into the lake to battle with Grendel’s mother and had brought with

him his sword and helmet to help defeat her. Both his sword, Hrunting, and his helmet were no help to

him. Beowulf knew that no weapon or metal he possessed was strong enough to defeat her, but while

fighting he saw a large sword hanging on the wall. ​Beowulf ​explains that the sword was, “... the best of all

weapons / but so massive that no ordinary man could lift / its carved and decorated length”(533-534).
 ​Grimm 2

Even though the sword was ostensibly unliftable, Beowulf grabbed the sword off the wall and had the

strength to use it to defeat Grendel’s mother, then decapitated ,the already dead Grendel.

Defeating Grendel and his mother wouldn’t have been possible if Beowulf wasn’t brave and

willing to risk his life for the greater good. Beowulf showed his bravery in the beginning of the poem

after he heard about the attacks in Herot. Without knowing what he would be up against, Beowulf bravely

offered his assistance to Hrothgar. Beowulf decided to go up against Grendel without help and without

any weapons, knowing that Grendel was both bigger and seemingly stronger than him. In ​Beowulf,

Beowulf decides to not use weapons because he thinks that Higlac, “Might think less of me if I let my

sword / go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid / behind some broad linden shield: my hands / alone shall

fight for me, struggle for life / against the monster”(265-269). Reckless and impressive actions like this

demonstrate Beowulf’s courage and daring qualities. Over fifty years later, Beowulf shows these same

assets when deciding to battle the dragon in his country. Beowulf is aware that he is much older and not

as strong as he was when he defeated Grendel, but he still walks into the battle calmly, and confidently.

Before the battle he states “I’d use no sword, no weapon, if this beast / could be killed without it, crushed

to death / like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn / limb from limb”(630-633). Even though Beowulf

does battle the dragon with his sword, by saying those words he shows his bravery and courage. The

dragon had fire breath and Beowulf still didn’t run from when confronted by the dragon.

Beowulf’s actions could also be seen as greedy, not brave. One view could have him only

fighting in these battles in order to get the fame and treasure that came along with them. In ​Beowulf i​ t

says,​ “​ But Beowulf longed only for fame . . .”(503-504). Despite Beowulf’s value for treasure and

longing for eternal fame, he didn’t just fight for the gold. If he only wanted the treasure he wouldn’t have

put his life on the line for his people. At the end of his journey he fought the dragon and died and right

before he passed he said, “I thank . . . For all this, that his grace has given me, / allowed me to bring to my

people while breath / still came to my lips”(816-820). He gave his life for the treasure but gave it away to
 ​Grimm 3

Wiglaf before he passed so his followers could live safely and well. Similarly in ​Beowulf, ​he can also be

seen as conceited and seeking glory solely for himself. While speaking to Hrothgar, Beowulf says, “They

have seen my strength for themselves, / have watched me rise before the darkness of war. / Dripping with

my enemies’ blood”(246-248). When saying this he sounds cocky and conceited, he gloated about himself

to convince Hrothgar of his abilities to get the job of slaying Grendel in Herot.

Deciding to help Herot with Grendel, shows another quality of a hero that Beowulf benefits from,

loyalty. Beowulf shows loyalty when he agrees to rid Herot of the monster Grendel who had been

terrorizing the area for years. He wants to battle with Grendel alone so his men don’t get hurt. Beowulf

says “And if death does take me/Fate will unwind as it must!”(281/285). This shows that he was going to

stay loyal to Hrothgar even if it meant he would die while fighting. Beowulf also shows loyalty to his

country that he is ruling over when he decides to fight the dragon toward the end of the poem. Beowulf

has a good chance of dying while in battle, but he will fight till the death just to protect his people, staying

loyal to the Geats.

Most people have at least one of these heroic qualities, but very few have most or all of them like

Beowulf does. The story of Beowulf decidedly focuses on Beowulf as a hero, instead of him as a king.

Although he was born a prince, his bravery, loyalty, and strength made him the man he became. By

defeating both Grendel and Grendel’s mother, the author was able to validate Beowulf’s reputation and

fully establish him as a hero.