Assessment Task 2: Beowulf, Heroism and Contemporary Leadership

Unit Context

Unit: HUM– Heroes and Communities in Western Traditions (example: second‑year humanities unit, Australian university)

Assessment type: Individual critical essay

Length: 1,500 words (±10%), excluding reference list

Weighting: 30% of final unit grade

Due: Week 7, Sunday 11:59 p.m. (AEST/AEDT) via the LMS submission link (Turnitin enabled)

Assessment Overview

Many frequently used Beowulf assignments, including Australian and international examples, ask students to analyse Beowulf as an epic hero and to compare his qualities with modern expectations of leadership, character, and social responsibility. This task adapts those recurring patterns to an Australian humanities setting by inviting you to consider how Beowulf’s heroic model sits alongside contemporary debates about what good leadership looks like in public life.

You will write a 1,500‑word essay that interprets Beowulf’s heroism in its Anglo‑Saxon context and then reflects critically on how far that model aligns with, or challenges, current Australian and global discussions about ethical leadership, risk, service, and community wellbeing.

Task Description

Write a 1,500‑word essay in response to the question below:

• In what ways does Beowulf’s model of heroism illuminate strengths and problems in contemporary ideas of leadership and public responsibility?

Support your discussion with:

• Close reference to the poem in translation.

• At least two scholarly or serious critical sources on Beowulf and heroism.

• At least one current example of leadership from public, civic, organisational, or community contexts (for instance, politics, health, education, climate activism, or local initiatives), drawn from reputable news or commentary.

Guidance for Your Essay

• Outline key features of Beowulf’s heroism: courage, loyalty, physical strength, pursuit of fame, willingness to risk death, generosity with treasure, and relationship to community.

• Choose two or three episodes (for example, the fight with Grendel, the underwater battle with Grendel’s mother, the final dragon fight) and show how they present a particular model of heroic leadership.

• Identify qualities that remain attractive for contemporary leadership debates (such as service, resolve in crisis, readiness to protect others) and qualities that raise concerns (for example, glory‑seeking, individual risk‑taking that endangers others, limited space for shared decision‑making).

• Use your modern example to test the usefulness of Beowulf’s model: explain where the comparison is productive and where the historical and cultural gap becomes too wide.

Research and Referencing

• Draw on a reliable edition or translation of Beowulf (for example, Heaney or similar), and cite specific lines or passages.

• Engage with at least two scholarly or critical discussions of Beowulf’s heroism, epic form, or cultural significance.

• Include at least one recent, credible source for your contemporary leadership example (journal article, policy commentary, or reputable news outlet).

• Use the School’s required referencing style (for example, Harvard or APA) consistently throughout and include a reference list.

Marking Criteria (100 marks)

1. Understanding of Beowulf and Heroism (25 marks)

i. High Distinction (85–100): Demonstrates excellent understanding of Beowulf as an epic hero; carefully explains how key episodes express heroic values and their impact on community; shows clear awareness of the poem’s cultural and historical setting.
ii. Distinction (75–84): Shows strong understanding of Beowulf’s heroism and context; analysis is accurate and generally detailed.
iii. Credit (65–74): Provides sound description of the hero’s traits with some attention to context; depth of analysis may be uneven.
iv. Pass/Below (0–64): Offers limited or mainly descriptive account of the poem; important aspects of heroism or context are missing or confused.

2. Critical Comparison with Contemporary Leadership (25 marks)

i. High Distinction (85–100): Develops a thoughtful and well‑supported comparison between Beowulf’s heroic model and a clearly described contemporary leadership example; identifies both continuities and tensions; shows insight into ethical and social implications.
ii. Distinction (75–84): Provides a clear and relevant comparison; identifies strengths and problems with some depth.
iii. Credit (65–74): Offers a basic comparison; may rely on generalisations; limited attention to complexity.
iv. Pass/Below (0–64): Comparison remains vague, minimal or not well supported by evidence.

3. Use of Evidence and Scholarship (20 marks)

i. High Distinction (85–100): Integrates textual evidence from Beowulf smoothly; engages with at least two scholarly or critical sources on the poem; uses evidence and scholarship to advance a clear argument rather than simply inserting quotations.
ii. Distinction (75–84): Uses evidence and scholarship appropriately; some moments of limited integration.
iii. Credit (65–74): Includes quotations and references, though links to argument may be thin or under‑explained.
iv. Pass/Below (0–64): Minimal or poorly integrated use of textual evidence or scholarly work.

4. Structure, Coherence and Writing (20 marks)

i. High Distinction (85–100): Presents a clear and logically organised essay; paragraphs build a coherent line of reasoning; writing is clear, precise, and appropriate for an Australian university humanities assignment.
ii. Distinction (75–84): Overall structure is strong; some minor repetition or abrupt transitions, but argument is easy to follow.
iii. Credit (65–74): Structure is generally sound; occasional confusion or redundancy; meaning remains accessible.
iv. Pass/Below (0–64): Organisation is weak or unclear; writing contains frequent errors or unclear passages.

5. Referencing and Presentation (10 marks)

i. High Distinction (85–100): Consistent and accurate use of the required referencing style; complete reference list; formatting and presentation meet unit guidelines.
ii. Distinction (75–84): Mostly accurate referencing; minor errors in formatting or details.
iii. Credit (65–74): Referencing present but uneven; some missing details or inconsistent formatting.
iv. Pass/Below (0–64): Referencing limited, incorrect, or absent; presentation does not follow instructions.

Sample Essay

Heroic figures in Beowulf are praised for their readiness to face danger, their loyalty to community and their desire to leave behind a lasting name, and those qualities still shape how many people talk about leadership today. Beowulf’s early battles place him at the centre of attention as a warrior who protects others at great personal risk, yet the poem also shows how his final decision to fight the dragon alone leaves his people exposed after his death. Critics who describe Beowulf as a model epic hero often highlight his bravery and self‑sacrifice, but modern readers also see the cost of a leadership style that depends so heavily on a single, exceptional individual.

Recent guidance on modern writing tasks for Beowulf invites students to relate the poem to “the world at large,” which indicates how regularly the text is used to prompt reflection on current values and public life. When the poem’s heroic pattern is placed next to contemporary discussions of ethical leadership in areas such as public health or climate policy, both similarities and differences become visible. Some aspects of Beowulf’s model, such as visible courage and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, still look admirable, whereas his pursuit of personal glory and his limited consultation with others sit awkwardly alongside current emphasis on shared decision‑making, transparency and long‑term sustainability.

An additional perspective considers how Beowulf’s heroism is inherently performative and public, a feature that resonates with modern expectations of leadership visibility and accountability. By examining how the poem frames courage, reputation, and communal responsibility, students can explore the tension between individual action and collective welfare, offering insights into the ethical demands of leadership today (Beowulf Essay Revised 2024).

Reference List

• Anonymous 2000, Beowulf, trans. S Heaney, Faber & Faber, London.

• ‘Beowulf Essay Revised’ 2024, CliffsNotes, viewed 2 February 2026, https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-notes/21289677.

• ‘Beowulf essay’ 2015, Academia.edu, viewed 2 February 2026, https://www.academia.edu/17575739/Beowulf_essay.

• ‘Modern Writing Assignment: Beowulf’ 2020, MsEffie.com, viewed 2 February 2026, https://mseffie.com/assignments/beowulf/modernwriting.html.

• York, J 2023, ‘Beowulf and Leadership Ethics: Heroism in Historical Contexts’, Journal of Leadership Studies, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 112–130.