Caitlin Kruckenberg January 3, 2014 Beowulf: A Great Leader Literature is found in all parts of the world, both written and oral, and boasts the cultural differences of each area. No matter how different the stories are, they all have one thing in common: a great leader. Each culture may have slightly different standards of a great leader, but there are some indispensable traits that make up every leader, no matter how big or how small. The story of Beowulf, the fearless warrior, is a great example of what a great leader is made of. The first characteristic of a great leader that Beowulf portrays is belief in the right things. When Beowulf was a young warrior he boasted of his unmatched strength, but he also boasted of something more important: his faith in God. "They saw my strength alone / they saw me emerge from the darkness of war / dripping with the blood of my enemies... my hands/ alone will fight for me, will fight for life/ against the monster God must decide/ who will be subjected to the cold grip of death” (36-37). Beowulf himself, illustrates not only his trust in himself, but also in God. He knows that he is strong, but he also knows that it is God who truly grants the victory. He must be in good grace with God to win his battle. He knows that he cannot survive without God's approval. This gratitude towards God is manifested even in the last moments of his life Beowulf thanks God for the life he was allowed to lead and for all the battles he won thanks to God's grace. «For this, this Gold, these jewels, I thank / Our Father who art in Heaven, Lord of the Earth / for all that his grace has given me» (109). This humble attitude is a great asset for a leader... middle of paper... fighting the dragon. Beowulf understood that the key to being a great leader was selflessness, which is why he chose Wiglaf, son of Wexstan, as his successor. In Beowulf's moment of greatest need, Wiglaf was the only selfless warrior who came to Beowulf's aid. Even in death, Beowulf understood all the qualities of a great leader and saw them in Wiglaf. There is no doubt that Beowulf was a great leader. His courage, his selflessness, and his faith in God helped shape him into the great warrior and great king that he was. Both ancient civilizations and modern populations should all strive to live their lives in accordance with the characteristics of a great leader that Beowulf demonstrated, no matter where they come from or who they are. Works Cited Baskin, Leonard. Beowulf. Trans. Burton Raffel. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 1971. Print.