To classify whether Beowulf is an ideal hero or not one would need to understand the definition of an ideal hero and then the decision and whether he has any flaws in this understanding can be made . . Beowulf identifies many traits to allow the reader to make their own hypothesis about this epic poem. According to the dictionary, "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his courageous deeds and noble qualities" (dictionary.com?) is the appropriate guideline for determining whether a character is an ideal hero or No. To begin with, Beowulf exhibited many characteristics that suggested true heroic qualities. “He was strong, an exceptional fighter and very loyal to all who came into his presence” (Killenbeck and Orci). When Beowulf had to show up to kill Grendel, he made sure to do so with the utmost care towards the people, their possessions, and Heorot. The people of Heorot, who made his determination to defeat Grendel even more powerful, invited him to a great feast before the battle. After defeating the great Grendel, he was praised for his work, which only made Beowulf more loyal to the people of Heorot. Another great heroic aspect of Beowulf was the fact that “he believed that no fighter should have the upper hand” (Killenbeck and Orci). Any fight that took place was considered as fair as possible. When Beowulf had to fight Grendel, he knew that Neeley 2, the dragon, had no additional equipment to increase his chances of defeating. So Beowulf did not take additional equipment and believed: "When it comes to combat, I consider myself as dangerous as the next person." Grendel” (Beowulf, lines 677-678). Grendel and Beowulf believed they were excellent warriors and were ready to prove it. "As they ventured closer, his claw was stra... middle of paper ...his change within, but they still had faith. Beowulf was their ideal hero and despite his imperfections, they believed in him to the end. Works Cited “Beowulf”. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume A: The Middle Ages, 8th ed. Greenblatt, Stephen and MH Abrams. 34-100. Print “hero.” dictionary.reference.com 2011. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/soldierKillenbeck, Matt and Rick Orci. Beowulf." The My Hero Project. Stephanie Cole, July 1, 2004. Web. February 14, 2011. http://myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero/asp?hero=beowulfZaragoza, Dianna. "Beowulf: A Hero for today? » Yahoo associated content, January 31, 2007. Web February 14, 2011. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/131699/beowulf_a_hero_for_today.htm l?cat.=9