Why are heroes important? Use in reference to Grendel and Beowulf.

Answer

Fry Donald defines a hero as a legendary figure or character in an epic who performs actions requiring incredible strength and courage. An epic is a long account that traces the escapades of a great hero. A hero therefore embodies character qualities that echo lofty ideals. This paper will exemplify the importance of heroes based on Grendel and Beowulf. 

There are four main traits that heroes must have. These are: they are glorified, ethical, strong and on a quest. The narrative depicts Beowulf as the protagonist of the epic. This is because Beowulf is a Goatish hero who combats a fire-breathing dragon, monster Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Beowulf’s encounters and boasts reveal him to be the ablest and strongest warrior around. During his youth, Beowulf personifies all of the best qualities of the heroic culture. Additionally, in his old age, he proves an effective and wise.

Beowulf therefore exemplifies the characteristics of a perfect hero. The poem does this exemplification by considering two phases of Beowulf life: youth and age phases and through three distinguished and increasingly hard conflicts, when he encounters Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the Dragon. While it is possible to perceive these three encounters as a show of the heroic code, there is a more vivid division between Beowulf’s youthful heroism as an autonomous warrior and his mature heroism as a reliable king. During his youth, Beowulf is a great warrior who is characterized by his feats of his courage and strength, including his remarkable swimming competition against Breca. Beowulf also perfectly exemplifies the values and manners verbalized by the Germanic valiant code that includes courtesy, pride and loyalty. His overthrow of Grendel’s mother and Grendel authenticates his repute for bravery and inaugurates him totally as a hero. The period that follows the death of Hygelac marks another significant transitional instant for Beowulf. As opposed to hastening for the sovereignty himself, as is done by Hrothulf in Denmark, Beowulf backs Hygelac’s son who by law was the rightful heir. By this gesticulation of respect and loyalty for the throne, Beowulf corroborates himself commendable of kingship. In the final phase of his life—the happenstance with the dragon—there is a reflection on how the duties of a king vary from those of the valiant fighter. By these meditations, Beowulf’s moral eminence becomes fairly ambiguous at the end of the poem. Though Beowulf is reasonably celebrated as a great leader and hero, his last brave combat is additionally somewhat rash. The poem submits that, by surrendering himself, Beowulf unreasonably leaves his societies without a king thus exposing them to hazard from other societies.

On the other hand, Grendel is a demon that descended from Cain. Grendel games on Hrothgar’s soldiers in the royal’s mead-hall, Heorot. For the reason that his miserable and ruthless existence is part of the vengeance exacted by God for the murder of Abel by Cain, Grendel fits sturdily within the philosophy of retaliation that governs the creation of the poem (106–107). He is thus descended from a figure who epitomizes resentment and malice. Grendel is likely the poem’s most unforgettable creation as his nature is ambiguous. Although Grendel has a number of animal attributes and a laughable, monstrous look, he appears to be directed by unclearly human impulses and emotions. Grendel is shown as an outcast who appears long to be recalled.

Generally, heroes nurture others when young. Beowulf backs and nurture Hygelac’s son who by law was the rightful heir of the kingship after the death of his father. They reveal missing qualities in a society. Beowulf is able to beat in a swimming competition against Breca. Additionally, they save communities when in trouble and pick communities when down in trouble as is seen when Beowulf kills the monster, Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Other importance of heroes include: reaffirming hopes of communities, validate communities’ preferred moral worldview, offer dramatic and entertaining stories, solve problems and deliver justice.