Beowulf embodies several traits that make him a textbook epic hero. Some of these traits include his larger-than-life physical strength, his courage in the face of extreme danger, and his loyalty to both his superiors and the men who serve him.
An epic hero is not perfect or immortal, but he is a sort of superhuman. He is larger-than-life in the sense that his qualities exceed those of regular humans. For example, an epic hero will have extraordinary strength. Beowulf displays this best when he fights Grendel and rips his arm from his body. Grendel is an imposing beast who has already easily destroyed a number of men, including warriors who are strong and experienced fighters. Beowulf's feat in killing Grendel perfectly displays how his physical strength sets him apart from others.
Beowulf is also incredibly brave and willing to put himself into physical danger to save the lives of others. First, he decides to go to Hrothgar's kingdom of his own volition despite hearing the horrific...
(The entire section contains 4 answers and 812 words.)
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