Heroism and Fame in Beowulf

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Heroism and Fame in Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic medieval poem whose main theme centers on the struggle between good and evil. Throughout the poem, we can see a courageous warrior who battles with supernatural creatures arising from hell. Another key observation from the story is that individuals are connected by this common happening in the poem. Notably, it is the pursuit of fame and personal power that drives most of the actions within this medieval poem. Beowulf, the main character, travels to a land that is far away in order to fight monsters and alien beings as proof of his unique courage and bravery. Another aspect that demonstrates his pursuit of personal fame is how he prefers to fight supernatural beings with bare hands instead of using weapons. Therefore, there are risks endured by Beowulf in his pursuit of personal glory and fame. The theme of fame and heroism is eminent throughout the poem. The essay will analyze this aspect and how the author succeeds in illustrating the heroic acts of Beowulf.
We can see that the poem centers on heroism and fame at the beginning of the poem. There are many aspects that connect the audience to the heroic attitude of the main character. All that Beowulf does is pursue his personal reputation and ensure that he remains the hero of his society. In the introduction, the audience is ushered into a society where every male person is regarded as the pride of his own father. All the characters speak throughout the poem after referring to their lineage. It is an aspect that associates an individual with past heroes that were known across the community (Anonymous). Therefore, the actions that drive these individuals are to safeguard what the male figures within the family lineage accomplish. All the characters are proud of their ancestors, who acted valiantly, and it is their goal to maintain or even surpass these standards.
The ancestral roots of the people are used as a basis for affirming their identity. As the poem progresses, we can also see that Beowulf is transforming himself from being proud of his ancestral identity to establishing his reputation. In the poem's initial lines, there is a strong emphasis on the kinship of the characters involved. People with good reputations have solid reputations for building their own identities. Beowulf a...