Analysis of 'Beowulf' as Being a Hero

This is Beowulf essay about being a hero where this poem and the main character is discussed. Beowulf is an epic poem that originated between the 8th and 11th centuries by the Anglo-Saxons. It was passed on through word of mouth, but eventually was written down; first in Old English, then translated into Modern English. The epic tells the tale of a man by the name of Beowulf, a hero who defeats three monsters during his lifetime. As one of the first stories written in English and a tale that gives insight into the culture of its time, many believe that Beowulf should be part of the British canon. However, it has an undeveloped and ordinary plot, is not relevant to today’s readers, and had no influence on other works of British literature for a century after it was translated. Therefore, Beowulf should not be a part of the British canon.

Firstly, Beowulf has a common plot and undeveloped characters. The main events in the story are the defeating of monsters by Beowulf. This is a monotonous theme with little variation throughout the story. There are no plot twists or events that cause the reader to rethink the poem or how it relates to their own lives. This demonstrates that the tale is not exciting, rather it is boring at times. Also, many, if not all, of the characters are archetypal and lacking. They show little to no growth throughout the story. Beowulf is especially archetypal, as his only characteristic is his heroism (and his fault the ability to boast). The text shows the Geats’ memory of Beowulf:

Then his warriors laid him in the middle of it,

mourning a lord far-famed and beloved. (3141-3142)

…

A Geat woman too sang out in grief;

with hair bound up, she unburdened herself

of her worst fears, a wild litany

of nightmare and lament: her nation invaded,

enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles,

slavery and abasement. (3150-3155)

These quotations show that the Geats do not necessarily weep because Beowulf was the greatest leader or person. They are solemn because their hero is unable to protect them any longer. Beowulf is not a character who is loved for his personality, rather, he is praised for his ability to conquer monsters. This rids the reader of the ability to relate or humanize the main character, not only because he was lackluster and part of an uninteresting storyline, but also because his story is not relatable.

Similarly, Beowulf has no relevancy to modern readers. The story does not have an important lesson to teach, which can make it tedious to read. It does not seem worth the trouble of reading and comprehending to receive nothing in return from the poem. In conclusion, the main theme of Beowulf is heroism, which cannot be fully translated into our lives. Monsters and battles are not part of our lifestyles, and while, in theory, this would add interest to the story, it instead creates a barrier between the reader and the tale.