What qualifies Beowulf as an epic poem of the medieval period?

An epic poem centers on the deeds of a heroic figure whose actions matter to a community or people. Beowulf follows the warrior hero Beowulf through great battles and acts of courage, so “It focuses on a warrior hero” best explains why it is an epic. The monster and the setting are parts of the story, but they do not by themselves make it an epic.

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