Is Beowulf A Hero?
...as a hero to attempt to understand the concept of a hero'. Joseph Campbell, the American theorist, studied mythological characters and texts in great detail and developed the concept of the monomyth (or Hero's Journey) which he suggested all heroes undertook:
"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow men."
If we are to take this statement as being accurate it is fair to say that at least in so far as what actually occurs in the poem that Beowulf is a hero. He ventures forth', as Campbell puts it, from Geatland to Denmark, a world inhabited by monsters, which certainly fits the idea of a region of supernatural wonder'. Here he encounters Grendel and Grendel's mother and defeats both in battle, in keeping with the fabulous forces' and decisive victory' in the Hero's Journey theory. Eventually Beowulf returns to Geatland and in time becomes King of his homeland, which in turn fulfils Campbell's idea that a hero will return from his adventure' and his fellow men will benefit from his presence. In looking at the dictionary definition of a hero:
a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage or outstanding achievements
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We can see that Beowulf obviously also fits this description perfectly, his courage is undeniable and outstanding achievements
ultimately so numerous that he is admired virtually the world over. He is strong, brave, fearless, loyal and shows a certain indifference to pain and death, all qualities pointing towards the fact that he possesses a heroic character.
Beowulf can certainly be seen as an Anglo-Saxon Übermensch in terms of his physical strength and presence. He is described thus he was the mightiest man...
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