Long after the splendor of Greek culture, the earliest heroic tradition in English literature evolved from the pagan tradition. The pagan tradition "stressed the necessity of endurance in the face of adversity and the importance of the deeds of courage performed by individual warriors in the world ruled by inexorable "Wyrd"" (Mazur and Bela 1997:2). ... One of the earliest heroic epics in English Literature is Beowulf. ... "Beowulf possesses the qualities of valor, military prowess, loyalty, generosity, and honor. ... Heroism for Beowulf seems to be more physical in nature, where heroism ...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate