You might want to respond to this question by refering to
the heroic code that is developed and explored in this epic text. Every position in this
world has characteristics that emerge from this code and serve as pointers towards
whether actions support or break this heroic code. For example, warriors are expected to
be strong, courageous and loyal, and kings are to be generous, politically astute and
hospitable. Of course, this actually presents us with many ambiguous situations in the
text where the limits of this heroic code are presented and questioned. Key to this
issue is the choice of Beowulf to go and fight the dragon, even though he knows that
this will result in his death, leaving his people defenceless and without leadership at
a critical juncture for his nation. Does Beowulf do the right thing? Every reader will
have a different response.
Clearly, you could argue that
the statement can easily be supported by the way that the legend of Beowulf is still
being studied and read today. In spite of his death, decreed by fate, he has,
nonetheless acheived a measure of immortality through his bravery. However, as my points
above suggest, whether Beowulf was truly heroic in going to meet his doom is another
matter.
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