Beowulf

One of the defining characteristics of an epic poem is the presentation of the title-holder as a hero with a powerful and elevated stature. In the case of Beowulf, “There was no one else exchangeable him alive.” A contribution to his imposing stature is the fact that he comes from a long line of tried and true warriors. “Hrethel the Geat,” was Beowulf’s grandfather and Beowulf’s, “Father was a famous human race, a dreadful warrior-lord named Ecgtheow.” Even the coast-guard, upon meeting Beowulf for the first time, remarks, “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at- subdivisions on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble.”
The tale of Beowulf is one of activeness beyond the realm of ordinary life. What helps the score to be classify as an epic is the fact that Beowulf performs deeds of great valor, such(prenominal)(prenominal) as when he places Grendel, “The captain of evil… in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth.” This line also illustrates Beowulf’s powerful grip, another defining characteristic of epics.



The grasp is so strong, in fact, that when Grendel attempts to flee, “A tremendous wound appear(s) on his shoulder,” and as his arm is torn away, the, “Sinews split and the bone-lappings burst.” It is made clear in the story that to rip Grendel’s arm from the socket is a feat that requires military capability beyond that of a normal human being. The portrayal of Beowulf as a superhero is further solidified when he bravely faces Grendel’s mother. At the moment in the battle when all seems lost, Beowulf miraculously finds, “An ideal weapon.” In fact, it is a sword, “So huge and obese of itself (that) only Beowulf could wield it in a battle. Thus, he defeats Grendel’s mother.
Another prominent feature of epics is the inclusion of supernatural forces, such as angels or demons, as characters who...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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