Epic poems have been written and told orally for 100s of old ages. A typical heroic poem normally contains challenges. journeys. escapades and most significantly. a hero. An heroic poem hero has several features that make him alone. First of all. he or she normally comes from a baronial household. which means. a baronial birth. Besides. they tend to hold superhuman strength and accomplish beyond human workss. A must in all Epic narratives is that this hero must travel on a pursuit in hunt of something. This pursuit. besides known as a journey. holds several challenges and unexpected bends that the hero must get the better of.
Beowulf. an heroic poem hero. is a antic illustration and fits the criterions absolutely of an heroic poem hero. He is baronial. brave. and has superhuman strength. non merely in his organic structure but besides in his bosom. This strength is one that makes him thing of himself as immortal and unbeatable. What Beowulf lacks despite of this is a sense of self-knowledge. something learned about oneself through experiences. but he additions this characteristic through his heroic poem pursuit in which he will recognize that in fact. he is non immortal. Beowulf does non merely derive self-knowledge ; in fact there are a series of events which lead up to his interior realisation.
Grendel is a powerful monster who terrorizes the Danes. He is feared of vastly by all of the people and cipher who has the bravery to defy him survives the effort. “He was spawned in that sludge. conceived by a brace of these monsters born of Cain. punished everlastingly for the offense of Abel’s decease. ” ( Line 19-23 ) Grendel is such a bad figure that he is known to be the reincarnation of the Satan. When terrorising all of the people at Herot. Hrothgar calls for Prince Beowulf’s aid. cognizing that he is powerful and brave.
Beowulf slumbers at Herot and during the dark confronts Grendel in a bloody and intense conflict. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and is hence recognized and worshiped by all of the Danes. This is one of the first subscribers to Beowulf’s belief of immortality in himself and a clear illustration to him that decease in fact is possible. After holding slayed Grendel. Beowulf is encountered in another state of affairs in which he must. one time once more battle for Hrothgar. Hrothgar informs Beowulf that Grendel’s Mom hast taken and killed his best and merely friend.
He in bend asks Beowulf for aid one time once more and Beowulf lief accepts the undertaking. “Grendel’s Mom is hidden in a awful place. in a topographic point you have non seen. Seek it if you dare! Save us one time more. and once more distorted gold. heaped up ancient hoarded wealth. will honor you. ” ( Line 444-449 ) He begins his journey to Grendel’s Mom’s den. a deep dark lake in the mountains to which cipher of all time wants to travel. When he gets at that place. Beowulf is attacked by several animals other than Grendel’s Mom herself. but manages to kill them all and eventually meet himself in a conflict with unafraid Grendel’s Mom.
After the long conflict. Beowulf manages to kill this animal and once more feels excessively exultant and immortal. but is yet another illustration of mortality shown clear to Beowulf. because everything. even the most dark and feared animals can decease. Fifty old ages subsequently. Beowulf finds himself being male monarch of the Geats and being greatly loved by everyone in his kingdom. One twenty-four hours. Beowulf is informed that a firedrake is terrorising his people and is killing them. a fire external respiration firedrake. “I’ve ne’er known fright. as a young person I fought in eternal conflicts.
I am old now. But I will contend once more. seek celebrity still. if the firedrake concealment in his tower darings to confront me. ” ( Line 607-610 ) . Despite his old age. Beowulf. still brave. wants to contend and murder the firedrake which terrorizes his people. Once he gets at that place and the conflict begins. he realizes that it is non the same as earlier. that he is in fact weaker and now vulnerable. He struggles greatly. his blade interruptions. and the firedrake melts his shield and armour with his fiery breath. but now his ground forces helps him and together they slay the firedrake.
Unfortunately. Beowulf is greatly hurt and for the first clip. recognize he is traveling to decease and that he is in fact. person. When he dies. Beowulf asks for a statue of him to be built. he is in this manner seeking ageless immortality. His self-fulfillment chiefly comes across to him when he is deceasing in the weaponries of his people after his rough battle with the firedrake. He was a strong hearted and strong-willed warrior. because it was non until the last minute that he learns about his ain exposures. he lives believing he is unbeatable. until fate dramas a fast one on his belief.
