What is a hero
What is a hero? Would he be loyal, brave, or have superhuman strength? What if he possessed all of these characteristics? Beowulf, the protagonist in the poem of the same name, fights three epic battles against the wicked Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. Although Beowulf defeats all three foes, his story ends in tragedy when he dies conquering evil.
One of the first characteristics of Beowulf is loyalty. Loyalty can be described as devotion, dependability, and trustworthiness. Beowulf shows these qualities by volunteering to fight and kill the dragon, protecting his entourage by keeping them away from the fight. Another way Beowulf demonstrates his loyalty is by tracking down Grendel’s mother after she killed Hrothgar, Beowulf’s friend.
Another characteristic of Beowulf is bravery. Beowulf’s bravery was shown in his daring battles, fearlessness in the face of the villains in the poem, and courage in fighting the dragon alone.
