Beowulf - Traits of the Anglo-Saxon Hero In the story of "Beowulf", four character traits can be found that define the Anglo-Saxon hero. The first is loyalty, as demonstrated by the relationship between the Lord and the thane. According to page 23 of the introduction to “Beowulf,” “a relationship based less on the subordination of one man's will to that of another than on mutual trust and respect.” The second and third characteristics are strength and courage. The importance of these specific traits to the Anglo-Saxon people is clearly presented during the recitation of the tale of Sigemund within Heorot. As the song says: “He was the most famous adventurer, all over the world, for his deeds of courage – he had prospered by it before, the protector of warriors – after the end of Heremod's war, his strength and his courage” (38). The last piece that makes up the Anglo-Saxon hero is the notion of celebrity. The only afterlife a warrior could aspire to was immortality through fame. Once again, this is explained by the introduction to the story: "Beowulf's chief reward is pagan immortality, the remembrance in the minds of future generations of a hero's heroic deeds" (24- 25). By understanding what defines a hero, it is easy to see why Beowulf is considered by some to be the greatest of all. He possesses unwavering loyalty to his king and his allies, and, with the exception of his final battle, his thanes show him the same devotion. His strength is unprecedented, as he is capable of defeating each of his opponents and performing feats of unparalleled endurance. Beowulf's courage, although motivated primarily by his own conception of destiny, is nonetheless unwavering. And as a hero, he realized his desire for immortality through the poem itself. Each of the four heroic traits can be identified in the three battles in which Beowulf participates: his battle with Grendel, his underwater struggle with Grendel's Mother, and his final fight with the dragon. Before leaving to fight Grendel, Beowulf gives a speech that may seem conceited to the modern reader, but is in reality simply a device used to secure his immortality through glory. Beowulf states: “I do not claim to be poorer in war strength and war labors than Grendel himself claims. Therefore I will not put him to sleep with a sword…and then God wise, Lord Holy, will give glory to the hand that seems good to him.” (35-36).