The Heroism of BeowulfBeowulf was written in the 8th century by an unknown author. The story centers on Beowulf, the main character, who goes to Denmark to offer his assistance in the fight against Grendel, the monster that haunts them. Beowulf certainly turns out to be a hero. His heroism is exemplified first when he kills Grendel, then when he kills Grendel's mother, and finally when he kills the dragon, called Worm. This makes him a hero because he risks his life to save the Danish people. The reader first experiences Beowulf's heroism when he meets and then kills Grendel. Grendel posed a constant threat to the survival of the Danish people because he used them for food. One night Beowulf wakes up to find Grendel on top of his bed. Instead of trying to escape, Beowulf not only confronts Grendel but also chases him when he tries to escape. Like any other hero, Beowulf chases danger until he is defeated. The reader experiences Beowulf's heroism a second time when he kills Grendel's mother. Grendel's mother wanted to avenge her son's death and returned to the mead hall where many warriors slept and attacked. Beowulf arrived and was ready to fight, but Grendel's mother fled. Neglecting his own safety, Beowulf persistently follows Grendel's mother to her cave, where the chief's head was found. Despite how colossal Grendel's mother was, Beowulf endured to the end and ultimately stabbed Grendel's mother to her death. The third time the reader experiences Beowulf's heroism is when he fights and kills the dragon, the worm. Once again Beowulf completely ignores his safety and decides to fight this monster. This time Beowulf ended up needing Wiglaf's help. Luckily the worm was killed. However, Beowulf was also injured and dying. He made some requests that he would like Wiglaf to carry out after his death.