Glory, or kleos, is a recurring theme in Homeric epics. We see many instances of the heros value for glory, and the story focuses largely on the obstacles our hero must overcome to attain it. The parallels and contrasts of the stories serve to highlight the main points Homer had in mind in his understanding of what kleos in fact is. In both cases, our heroes are all unaware of whether or not their kin is alive. Agamemnon does not know where Orestes is and vice versa, and analogously, Odysseus does not know where Telemachus is, and vice versa.
Through these battles, Beowulf’s strength, humbleness and courageousness is revealed. These are characteristics that are crucial in defining an epic hero. However, every epic hero has a tragic flaw. Beowulf’s tragic flaw is his pride. His tragic flaw is evident throughout the novel thinking he can win them all.
Everyone must learn to control this pride, and if they cannot, learn to accept the consequences. The ability to maintain pride without being arrogant puts some individuals above the masses. Throughout his epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer's use of plot events and conflict emphasizes that while a small amount of pride is helps one to succeed, excess pride leads to arrogance, destroying even the best people. Throughout the plot of Homer's epic, several men make challenges to Odysseus due to their excessive pride and arrogance, pushing them towards their demise. Each of these men makes an ill-advised challenge to Odysseus because of their arrogance and comes out physically or emotionally damaged.
He is a leader of men by he encouraged his men to stay strong even though the times were tough. He is concern for his men by rescuing them from the Circe who turned them into swine. His flaws include boastful and voracious for experience. Odysseus’s voracious to see a Cyclopes or wait for him in his cave got him and his men into trouble. Also, he puts his crew in jeopardy when he boasting how he tricked Polyphemus.
The battle of heroes: Gilgamesh and Enkidu Legends appear to have one key role of understanding life’s confusion and battles from the beginning of time immemorial. From these legends, we find a hero. Many stories talk about these heroes and the journeys they embark to lay down their plot line. By having courage, strength, talent, bravery and significant admiration, they often succeed and overcome the struggle they face during their journeys. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are two powerful figures in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” story.
Though he is usually a smart, decisive leader Odysseus does make some mistakes. His worst flaw is falling to temptation. His worst mistakes come with Polyphemos as he first investigates the Kyklops' lair. He ends up getting trapped there, and then can't resist shouting his name to Polyphemos after escaping. After his errors with Polyphemos, Odysseus has his crew tie him up so he can hear but not follow the dangerous song of the Seirenes.
a quick wit accompanied by extraordinary intelligence and a perspicacity for the journeys he must endure and the adversaries that he will have to thwart. Although, epic heroes are created to be a personification of perfection, they also have flaws. These flaws can be used against them by their enemies or even themselves. An essential part of becoming an epic hero is over conquering those flaws or learning to work with them. The two texts that we read contained to easily distinguishable epic heroes.
In this scene in particularly Achilles is enraged at the fact that Agamemnon wants to take his prize, when he satisfactorily worked to this reward. This also relates to human ideas in terms of what is expected as correct behavior. In this specific scene Agamemnon (even if the King) decides to act rashly and incorrectly against one of the highest ranking official in the Greek army. Agamemnon attempts to take what is rightfully Achilles and this is looked down upon by the entire Greeks. So, there is in fact an expectative when it comes to conduct even for the King.
Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles is one of the most famous tragedies ever written. The play centers on Oedipus the King of Thebes, who is cursed with an unfortunate prophecy. Though Oedipus is doomed by fate, his own qualities lead to his eventual ruin. Oedipus is in fact a tragic hero, because he embodies every aspect of the definition itself, the first part of the definition states the character/protagonist must be of noble birth and possess noble and moralistic character, the second portion of the definition explains the character is not perfect; he or she contains a harmartia or tragic flaw, and the third component of the definition states the character must recognize their role in their own demise and in turn experience great self realization. The character Oedipus accommodates the first aspect of the definition of a tragic hero.
These two stories, although very different content, have the same frame. Both heroes, although brave and heroic in their own ways, must rely on others in order to succeed. “Booze”, by Pinckney Benedict is a perfect example of a basic quest myth. While this story does not contain the glory, and the heroism as Beowulf, the protagonist carries out the responsibilities of a quest myth hero. The protagonist must find the courage to vanquish a beast that has burdened him since he was a young boy.