The legendary Beowulf, an ESTP?

Beowulf, one of the most regarded epics in british literature, features a theme still loved today: Warriors killing off demons. But what personality does Beowul f have? According to the Myers-Briggs personality test, the result was ESTP. Peo ple belonging to the ESTP type are normally good and dramatic story tellers, spo ntaneous risk takers, and doers instead of thinkers. The following paragraphs wi ll explain how these characterisctics are shown through beowulf's words and acti ons. "Now the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace; yet me gainst the monsters my mailed coa t, hard and hand-linked, help afforded, battle-sark braided my breast to ward, garn ished with gold."(chapter 8) In this portion of the epic, Beowulf fully uses his dramatic storytelling skills in telling an action pact story of a swimming race . What can get more dramatic than a five-day swimming race involving sea monster s and storms? Notice all the vocabulary he's using and the tone he adds to the s tory in order to make it more exciting. He also uses similar skillls in bragging and describing his lineage. "More I hear, that the monster dire, in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not; h ence shall I scorn so Hygelac stay, king of my kindred, kind to me! Brand or buc kler to bear in the fight, gold-colored targe: but with gripe alone must I front the fiend and fight for life, foe against foe."(chapter 6). As the quote shows, Beowulf refuses to wear any armor or carry any weapons during his fight with Gr endel, because Grendel does not have either too. This furthur proves him to be a risk taker. He enjoys the danger of battle, a garunteed victory does not intere st him, he needs the risk and the adrenalin. Also towards the end of the story, knowing that he may lose his life in battle, he still took the last risk he will ever take and defeated the dragon. "Wait ye the finish. The fight is not yours, nor meet for any but me alone to me asure might with this monster here and play the hero. Hardily I shall win that w ealth, or war shall seize, cruel killing, your king and lord! (chapter 33) Towards the end of the story Beowulf faces the awakening of a dragon, but when he heard the news he didn't sit down and say "okay, lets think of our stragedies and plan out our attack", instead he grabs his sword, tells his men that either the drag on dies or they lose their king, and goes straight into battle. The same with th e battle with Grendel; he meets the king of danes, introduces himself, and fight s Grendel with no hesitation at all. Beowulf's personality fits perfectly with the main charactistics of ESTP, whethe r its telling a dramatic story of his past, taking major risks in battle, or the habit of getting things done straight away. We can see traits of these characte ristics throughout the famous epic, and through the life decisions that Beowulf made. Do you posses any similar qualities as this legendary warrior? Take the te st! You might be an ESTP like Beowulf too! Bibliography "Portrait of an ESTP." The Personality Page. Web. 02 Sept. 2011. <http://www.per sonalitypage.com/ESTP.html>. "SparkNotes No Fear Literature: Beowulf: Chapter 33." SparkNotes: Today's Most P opular Study Guides. Web. 01 Sept. 2011. <http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/b eowulf/chapter-33/>. "SparkNotes No Fear Literature: Beowulf: Chapter 6." SparkNotes: Today's Most Po pular Study Guides. Web. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/beo

wulf/chapter-6/>. "SparkNotes No Fear Literature: Beowulf: Chapter 8." SparkNotes: Today's Most Po pular Study Guides. Web. 01 Sept. 2011. <http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/be owulf/chapter-8/>. "Personality Test Based on Jung and Briggs Myers Typology." HumanMetrics - Online Relationships, Personality and Entrepreneur Tests, Personal Solution Center. Web . 04 Sept. 2011. <http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp>.