During the Anglo-Saxon period of history in England, not much literature was produced or recorded in any form. However, the druids, Celtic priests, began a literary tradition by telling stories and reciting poems. Few of these stories and poems were recorded, and even fewer have survived until today. One famous, surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature is the epic poem Beowulf. The poem features the classic fight between good and evil, and the poem's main character, Beowulf, is the first literary example of an epic hero. The poem presents Beowulf's ordinary appearance, his super-natural strength, and his self-confidence.
             Unlike most heroes, Beowulf appears to be an ordinary man. He lives, eats, and sleeps just like the traditional Geat people. Though he is much larger than most of them, the Geats do not know that he is not as typical as he appears. Beowulf is special; he is superhuman.
             Beowulf must be a large man to be able to grasp an arm that can handle thirty soldiers, but he must also have super-natural strength. Beowulf's strength is not limited to any one thing; he is strong enough to rip an arm off of a monstrous beast. He does not stop after one battle; Beowulf continues to kill the beasts that threaten his fellow Geats and the Danes, such as Grendel's mother and the fire-breathing dragon. It was then that they realized he was not an ordinary man.
             Furthermore, Beowulf's great self-confidence comes with his tremendous strength. He approaches King Hrothgar with boldness when he asks for permission to fight Grendel. After he defeats Grendel, he becomes even more confident and this continues on when he defeats Grendel's mom and the dragon. The more battles he won, the more confident he felt with himself. He was not afraid to be aggressive and confront his enemies.
             Beowulf is the embodiment of good just as Grendel is the embodiment of evil. Though the poem is filled with both pagan and Chr...