An epic is a long narrative poem that celebrates the action of a hero. An epic hero is best described as being brave, strong, humane, and not invincible, and undertakes quests to defeat evil. Beowulf, from the Anglo-Saxon epic, is an epic hero. Beowulf is a classic example of an epic hero because he possesses all of these traits. Beowulf is an example of an epic hero because he is brave. Beowulf is described as courageous because he agreed to fight Grendel without weapons or a shield. Beowulf tells the king “...the monster's contempt for men/...me neither” (168-169). Only a brave hero would face a deadly monster without any aid such as a weapon. Plus, Beowulf is even when he's old. Beowulf decides to kill the dragon that threatens his people. He announces “...I am old now/But I will still fight, will still seek glory,/If the dragon hidden in his tower dares to face me” (609-611). Although epic heroes are brave, Beowulf is stronger. than ordinary people. Beowulf expresses his strength when he grabs Grendel's arm. Grendel “...writhed in pain/And the tendons that bled deep in his shoulder/Breaked, the muscles and bones split/And broke” (337-340). Additionally, Beowulf raises a sword made by the giants. Beowulf “...saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy/Sword, hammered by giants, strong/And endowed with their magic, the best of all weapons/But so massive that no ordinary man could lift it/ Its sculpted and decorated length” (513-517). Beowulf drew the sword "...from its sheath, broke the chain on its hilt" (518) with his extraordinary strength and kills Grendel's mother. All epic heroes undertake quests to defeat evil, and Beowulf undertakes many quests to defeat evil. First quest; Beowulf crosses the sea to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel. Beowulf “...would cross the sea to Hrothgar,/Now when help was needed” (115-116). Second quest; Beowulf goes underwater to fight Grendel's mother. Beowulf "...jumped into the lake.../...for hours he sank into the waves;/At last he saw the bottom/And suddenly he saw the eager she-wolf" (450-453 ) Grendel's mother. Last quest; Beowulf is old and travels to kill the dragon that threatens his people. Beowulf “Walked calmly, confidently, toward the tower, beneath/The rocky cliffs; no coward could have walked there” (635-636). Even though Beowulf is quite strong, brave, and takes quests, Beowulf is first and foremost human and not invincible. In a battle, Grendel's mother has a trap for Beowulf and for a second, Beowulf can't get out of it..