Epic poems tell adventurous stories about strong, brave heroes. The poem Beowulf is a great example of an epic poem with an extraordinary hero. The hero, Beowulf, goes on several journeys to defeat dangerous monsters. No ordinary person could ever win the battles he partakes in. The poem Beowulf is an epic because it demonstrates the characteristics of a great leader: one who is identified with a particular society, a hero that does great deeds in battle, and one who inhabits broad settings.
One characteristic that makes a poem an epic is that there is a great leader identified with a particular society. Beowulf traveled to the town of Heorot because the people needed a warrior to defeat the monsters causing disruption in their town. Beowulf told the people he would defeat the monster even if it meant his death. The first battle he partakes in is against a monster named Grendel. On Beowulf’s way to the battle he states, “‘My purpose was this: to win the good will/ Of your people or die in battle, pressed/ In Grendel’s fierce grip’” (7:366-368). Beowulf proves that he is a true hero because he will do anything to protect the people of Heorot. He is very loyal to them, and he wants what is best for their town. Beowulf does not want them to live in fear of Grendel anymore. Beowulf is a strong leader and protector within the society of Heorot.
Another characteristic of an epic poem is that a hero does great deeds in battle. Beowulf fights in three battles against different monsters. He uses his advantage of superior physical strength to defeat the monsters in battle. In the first battle with Grendel, he decided to fight without a weapon. Beowulf defeated Grendel by ripping off his arm: “And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/Snapped, muscle and bone split/And broke” (9:497-499). Not only did Beowulf kill Grendel, but he killed him in a fair fight. He proved his strength by killing Grendel with his bare hands. Only a true epic hero like Beowulf would be able to do such a great and difficult deed in battle.
Broad settings are another characteristic found in epic poems. Broad settings in epics include upper and lower worlds. In Beowulf, Grendel’s lair is in deep depths of a boiling hot lake. His lair represents hell and the lake the lair resides in is compared to hell multiple times. One descriptor of the lair is “As dark as the air, as black as the rain/That the heavens weep” (11:562-563). Grendel’s lair is a dark place that is the opposite of heaven. The main setting of Beowulf is Heorot, but the dark lair that symbolizes an underworld provides for a contrast in setting. Grendel’s lair helps to create a broad setting, furthering the epic poem.
A great leader is identified with a society, does great deeds in battle, and inhabits broad settings, which proves that the poem Beowulf is an epic. Beowulf is a loyal leader willing to defend Heorot and its people until death. He fights several battles against monsters in various ways that prove his great strength. Also, Beowulf goes on several extraordinary journeys to contrasting settings. Overall, Beowulf’s adventures, strength, and bravery prove that Beowulf is an epic poem.
Works Cited
Beowulf. Translated by Raffel Burton. Elements of Literature Essentials of British and World Literature, 6th Course, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2010. 23-49.
