Beowulf: A Hero With Courage, Strength, and Integrity "He who had come to them from across the sea, bold and strong minded, had driven affliction off, purged Herot clean." Beowulf has traveled a great distance to help people in need. Even though Beowulf is a fictional character, he is clearly the heroic symbol needed by the people of the chaotic Middle Ages with his extraordinary characteristics of courage, strength, and integrity. To be a hero a person needs to be admired for courage, strength, and integrity. A hero is any person admired for courage.