Courage Quotes In Beowulf

Beowulf, the epic tale of a Danish society plagued by evil beasts, reveals many thought-provoking and admirable character traits of the main character and hero, Beowulf. Firstly, he shows chivalry through his interactions and actions towards the king of Heorot, showing him the respect and honor he deserved. Secondly, he demonstrates bravery in all battles above and beyond the standard of the times and the standard of his fellow fighters. He owes his bravery in part to his seemingly immeasurable strength, having more power in each fist than that of thirty men. Lastly, he demonstrates a trait that applies to people for his time and ours, pride.

Beowulf shows immense courage and bravery which anglo-saxons believed to be his fate. Grendel has never found a harder opponent in battle than Beowulf “.... Had he met a man whose hands were harder.... ”(167) At this moment

Fatalism is a significant theme in the poem, and is present even in the commencement of Beowulf’s epic hero journey. His first trial is his battle against the demon, Grendel. However, the outcome has already been decided, as seen when he and his men are preparing for the fight and, “They knew too well the way it was before,/ how often the Danes had fallen prey/ to death in the mead-hall. But the Lord was weaving/ a victory on His war-loom for the Weather-Geats/…they would crush their enemy and come through/ in triumph and gladness” (Beowulf 694-700). After arriving to Heorot Hall, Beowulf must face Grendel, the first trial of his hero cycle.

Beowulf is the perfect hero, both tragic and epic. He is larger than life with his impressive strength and drive that helps him defeat an assortment of monsters, such as Grendel and Grendel's mother. His overconfidence and pride makes him a tragic hero. In lines 678-684, Beowulf boldly states, "When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous as Grendel. No weapons... unarmed he shall

Beowulf shows the traits of a perfect hero. The one most shown in the poem, Beowulf is bravery. Beowulf shows bravery by fighting each and every monster he goes up against. He also shows bravery by willingly going to challenge Grendel. “I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth.

This quotation shows bravery because Beowulf knew the dragon was much more powerful than him, but he took it upon himself to fight the dragon alone and risk his life to protect the people. Beowulf defeated the dragon but also lost his life while fighting for his people. He states, “So God/Gives guidance to those who can find it from no one/Else” (Beowulf 12-14). This quote is saying, how Beowulf will do what others will not do, he’s showing his bravery towards Hrothgar. The other criteria the Anglo-Saxon hero shows is generous.

Not only have we seen brute strength, honorable courage, and admirable loyalty shine through beowulf, Beowulf also possess a great trait not many others have; his will to fight to the death, or self sacrifice. Not once throughout the story did Beowulf ever turn down a battle. Not once did he fear or flee his enemy. Not once did he ever give up even if death had him by the throat causing his mind to flood nothing but fearful thoughts and feelings throughout his body. Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is.

“I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword”(293). Beowulf will fight with all his might with the edge of his “razor-sharp” sword to display his bravery and his passion in order to save the day and fight for his people. He presents himself with politeness but also with strength and fearlessness to display his courage to fight with his razor-sharp sword. “When we crossed the sea, my comrades and I, [we] already knew that all [our] purpose was this: to win the good will of your people or die in battle”(365) They knew a battle was coming, and they were prepared and ready to fight.

Pride Will be the Death of Him People deal with fighting evil in a more intelligent way as they mature and as the degree of evil increases. This progression is illustrated in the epic poem Beowulf as the epic hero, Beowulf, constantly duals the hands of evil in three major fights until his heroic death. Beowulf is talking to the people of Herot when he says, “I have heard moreover that the monster scorns/ in his reckless way to use weapons;/ therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame/ and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce/ sword and the shelter of the broad shield,/ the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand/ is how it will be, a life-and-death/ fight with the fiend" (Heaney 433-440).

Beowulf was determined to kill Grendel, whether it was with a weapon or just bear hands. He knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but he continued to show his courage by going through with the fight. Determination plays a big part in taking a stand. Having determination when taking a stand shows what kind of person someone is. "The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen and courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king, havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere."

Beowulf definitely displays multiple examples of courage, such as fighting Grendel barehanded and going to fight a dragon alone, but the most pronounced example is when Beowulf goes to fight Grendel’s mother, his second trial. Her home is a disgusting, murky lake that’s “infested with… sea-dragons / and monsters” (1425) and so deep that “the mere bottom has never been sounded by the sons of men” (1367-1368). Even the creatures that live around it would rather die than dive under the water’s surface. Beowulf makes a big deal out of how terrifying her home is, expressing how the warriors who arrived at her home were “not man enough / to face the turmoil of a fight under water / and the risk to [their] life” (1468-1470). But Beowulf is willing to.

Beowulf reveals an act of arrogance throughout the epic poem Beowulf; therefore, it makes him an irrelevant hero. Beowulf claimed “that he needs no weapons and fears none” when fighting the monster. Stating that he can defeat a monster with his bare hands makes Beowulf very boastful. This quality of boastfulness expresses Beowulf’s thoughts on heroism. He only did heroic deeds for his desire.

We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns.” (ll. 1-3) This hero exemplified great qualities within himself that proved he is a hero. Beowulf shows signs of vulnerability, bravery, strength, willingness to put his life in danger for a greater good, he provides a sense of security for the people, Beowulf always accepts the challenge. "Living his life-days, his Lord may face, And find defence in his Father’s embrace!"

The novel Beowulf: A New Telling by Robert Nye conveys that courage shows one that even if there is something one has never done before, taking risks will provide new experiences to one as expressed when Beowulf ate the apple and fought Grendel. It was first seen when Beowulf ate the apple that he already knew contained evil. The narrator states, “Beowulf was eating an apple. He bit into it with cheerful determination.” Even though Unferth had warned him that the apples were wicked, Beowulf still took the risk, ate the apple, and found that it was delicious.

Exemplifying his fearlessness, Beowulf was “...indifferent to death” (1442), determined to battle Grendel’s mother for Hrothgar. When Hrunting failed Beowulf in the midst of the fighting, he resorted to using his hands. “So must a man do who intends to gain enduring glory in combat ” (1534-1536). However, Beowulf spotted a blade in the monster’s armory, and swung at Grendel’s mother, decapitating the beast. The quick-witted and clever hero illustrated his commitment to victory, for Beowulf stopped at nothing to defeat Grendel’s mother and avenge the fallen