Explain the importance of the idea of being the perfect hero in the poem Beowulf.

A hero is simply a behavioral model. To some, a basketball
player might be a hero, but to another that may seem silly. We all have our own heroes
for our own reasons. Thus a simple all-encompassing definition of a hero might simply be
as a behavioral model.

Here are the characteristics of
heroes in the Anglo-Saxon era:

• warriors were
  loyal to the king and would fight to the death for him, surrender was cowardly. Honor
  and loyalty to the tribe and to the king were more important, in a way, than material
  goods, for being remembered well after death, where you could not take material objects,
  was very important


• these were oral cultures (there was no
  writing or recorded history)


• these cultures were
  non-Christian; they were “pagans”, worshipping many
  gods.

In the end Beowulf has hit many of the
categories needed to fulfill his role in literature as an EPIC
HERO:

1.) An epic hero of imposing stature and who is
meaningful as a legend or historical figure

Lines that
describe his stature: 238 - 256, 279 - 292 (Beowulf is rumored to have 30
men’s strength).

2.)  The hero’s actions take place on a
grand scale and are important nationally, internationally, or
worldwide.

Beowulf saves Hrothgar’s people and inspires a
lasting peace between nations.

3.)  The action consists of
a great deed( s) requiring superhuman courage & maybe
superhuman strength.

4.) Supernatural forces (gods, angels,
demons) are involved or interested in the action