Epic Heros In Beowulf And Roland

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and Emperor". Although elements of 'the miraculous' appear in the epic, they result in no more than a heightening or aggrandizement of reality.
The epic heroes of Beowulf … [and] of Roland go down to defeat and in some sense are responsible for their defeat ....However, we know that even in defeat partially of their own doing. they are heroes nevertheless—men above the common, above the average, whose drive for glory whether heavenly or earthly, raises them beyond the ordinary and the average. They are big persons who are semi-divine, larger than human, who fascinate us by their valor, courage, and even bravura.

The heroes of both Beowulf and Roland perish and become exalted. What exalts Beowulf is his acceptance of his wyrd. Gwyn Jones defines this exaltation by writing:

For if he accepts what is destined, without bowing to it,
he triumphs overit. An unbreakable will makes him the equal
of all-powerful Fate, and though fate can destroy him, it
can neither conquer ...

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