Virtues of Heroism.

... Jeremy Reed British Fiction 9/14/03 Beowulf assignment #2 Virtues of Heroism A hero is an idealized individual, who exemplifies the finer qualities of man. He is distinguished by his exceptional courage, fortitude, and bold enterprise. In the epic poem Beowulf, by Anonymous, Beowulf (the central character) embodies the distinctive qualities of a noble hero. His character illustrates a perfect parity between the natural forces instinctive within the nature of man. Throughout the novel, his righteousness combats the malevolence thriving in his harsh world. This environment is a melting pot of multiple dualities. The poem illustrates a clear-cut struggle between one of the most prominent dualisms, good and evil. Evil emerges from the absence of goodness. Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon are all perverted forces of evil. They are bent on mass destruction and chaos. Grendel invokes a sense of terror while he ravages Hrothgar's Danish hall (Heorot), "So Hrothgar's men lived

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