Beowulf: Hero-elegaicBeowulf is one of the oldest extant poems in the English language. Originally written in Anglo-Saxon, it has been translated to give readers the opportunity to appreciate this colorful and heroic poem from the English epic era. It has been declared a heroic-elegaic poem due to the various characteristics it clearly possesses. An epic consists of a hero who is larger than life. Beowulf is undoubtedly a perfect example of this hero because of the incredible acts of heroism he commits. Epic characters also give numerous speeches that reveal something about the speaker's past or characteristics. Beowulf does not give many, but from those he does give the reader draws on his character traits. The language of the epic style is an elevated, rather formal language. Similes, kenning, and many other literary techniques are used throughout the poem. Beowulf clearly contains many epic characteristics, and the following essay will present the necessary evidence to support this claim. First, epic characters occupy a high position – kings, princes, nobles, and members of the aristocracy – but the epic hero must be more than that. Must be capable of exceptional deeds, be above average, and have heroic proportions. Above all, he must have superhuman courage. The poet first describes Beowulf as “…greater/and stronger than anyone in this world” (Raffel 195-196), without informing us what he did to acquire this reputation. The reader initially sees him through the astonished eyes of the Danish soldier patrolling the cliffs. Beowulf's appearance – his size, his armor – obviously commands immediate respect and attention. When the soldier asks him to identify himself and provide details about his visit, he says that he is not there to challenge Hrothgar's power but to carry out a task for the lord. He respects the legitimacy of Hrothgar's kingship and has no intention of usurping the throne. He behaves in the same honorable manner when he refuses the kingship after Hygelac's death. He accepts the crown only after Hygelac's son is killed in battle. Beowulf's superhuman courage is shown when he enters battle with Grendel, Grendel's mother and the dragon. He shows he is fearless when he says, "I would use neither sword nor weapon, if this beast / could be slain without it, crushed to death / like Grendel" (Raffel 2518-2520) before fighting the dragon, which ultimately kills him . Epic characters generally deliver numerous speeches, which advance the action, tell something about the past, or reveal the speaker's character traits..