An epic hero cannot be a categorized without the traditional quest. A quest is defined as being a challenging, or rigorous task …show more content…
Divine intervention is defined as having a god, or higher class figure, show a likeness toward the epic hero being written about. In "Beowulf", divine intervention is displayed during Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s mother. During the conquest, Beowulf pulls a sword out of a rock that nobody had been able to do before due to its massive size. The sword was derived from giants, and it was contained with enchantment. This is an example of divine intervention because no person or figure had been able to pull the magical sword out of the rock . Beowulf is seen as “the chosen one” in this scene, and he is considered to have been helped by a higher class figure. Once again, Beowulf is portrayed as being an epic …show more content…
He is the typical, accomplished, “larger than life” man that survives quests that are too rigorous for the average person. The poem also includes examples of divine intervention, expected personality traits of the epic hero, and a tragic death that proved Beowulf is not an immortal being. Beowulf attempts and succeeds in several challenges asked upon him while also exhibiting nonhuman strengths. After reading this traditional Anglo-Saxon poem, one should recognize "Beowulf" as being a classic epic hero