He was a warrior hero, he fought to save his people, and died for them. His journey began when he journeyed to Denmark to save Heorot. He willingly went to help King Hrothgar’s people (Swanton). His point of maturity was when he fought Grendel, he knew it was going to be hard but he completed his task with ease. Beowulf returned home to be declared king and was loved by his people. Time went on and Beowulf was starting to age. When the dragon was disturbed Beowulf knew this was going to be his last fight (Zemeckis). He could sense it within himself. He knew he must fight this dragon, alone, and he would save his people for the price of his own life. Beowulf was one of the first to help form the archetype of a hero.
Beowulf’s heroic traits eventually led to his death. He was too confident to back down from a challenge, which is a common characteristic for a hero. His bravery when fighting the dragon killed him. He died a hero, and his funeral was the biggest tribute to him. They put all of his weapons and treasures on a boat with him, lit it on fire, and sent it out into the endless ocean (Swanton). This represented the legacy of Beowulf that will never end. Beowulf’s legacy set the standard for many of the key characteristics of a hero, and what one should act like; always acting with the utmost