How do you know someone is a hero? Or what their strengths and weaknesses are? Well we can find the answers to both of those questions in Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf. Some may think that Beowulf was just an arrogant fool who craved glory, while others might say that his actions were those of a true hero. Throughout the story, we read about Beowulf’s fights with not just Grendel, but also Grendel’s mother. Those two monstrosities were no easy task for Beowulf, but he still defeated them both. Then we see as he becomes ruler of his kingdom, he must face an even greater threat, a dragon. So after terrorizing hos country side, Beowulf decides to fight this dragon. But this time Beowulf does not make it out with his life. He still defeated the beast, but the beast also defeated him. So, are those traits of a hero, or are they just greedy and foolish? In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, there are many traits of a hero that are portrayed through the character of Beowulf. Beowulf made many decisions that give him qualities of a hero in his story. One act that stuck out to me was when he decides to hunt down Grendel’s mother. We must remember that he is not currently in his kingdom, he is fighting for a king that is not his own. So Beowulf does not have to do anything he doesn’t want to do. After Grendel’s mother attacks Heorot, Beowulf states to Hrothgar, “So arise my lord, sand let us immediately set forth on the trail of this troll-dam.”(Heaney l.1390-92). This shows that not only does Beowulf want to go after Grendel’s mother, but that he is urgent about it. Beowulf wants to get out there right away and take down this monster. Now doing this for your own king is one thing, but taking this action for another king is even more honorable. Beowulf is not only honorable in battle and glory, but he is also a very respectable man. After he lands at the shore of the Danes, there was guard who watched their s