Comparison and Contrast: Medieval Characteristics What makes a hero, a hero? When looking back through world literature, there are many heroes. An epic hero can be described has a brave and noble character in an epic poem that is admired for their great achievements. There are many heroes throughout the ancient and classical periods. In Homer’s Iliad, there are two heroes that draw attention right away, Achilles and Hector.
The characters of Hamlet and Achilles, even though from very different time periods, encompass many of the same themes and characteristics. These two characters have many close comparisons, but upon closer inspection they differ on a grand scale. This is immanently due mainly to the time period and culture that each character was submersed in and how each character was supposed to act and to extenuate the main essence of the individual culture. Achilles was considered one of, if not, greatest warrior of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad. What made Achilles such an honorable hero was the fact that he fought for his own pride, not the desire to conquer the war.
Secondly, the difference of strength between them establishes when they try to string a bow. Finally, the philosophical view on giving forgiveness isolate them quite a part. Both Telemachos and Odysseus are very brave. But if they are compared against each other Odysseus is braver than Telemachos without any doubt. The enormous bravery of Odysseus makes him the epic hero in Homer’s Odyssey.
In the story of the Aeneid by Virgil we see the continuation of the Iliad by Homer through the eyes of a Trojan warrior. Each of these stories focus around a particular warrior and their journey to becoming great heroes. While these two stories are similar because of this, the heroes depicted vary in many ways. The types of heroes that we see in these stories are unlike in the fact the qualities required by the hero in each story are different. The easiest difference between the heroes is that Homer's hero, Achilles, is a self-centered warrior, while Virgil's hero, Aeneas, is obedient warrior.
Iliad The Achaeans (also called the “Argives” or “Danaans”) Achilles - The son of the military man Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis. The most powerful warrior in The Iliad, Achilles commands the Myrmidons, soldiers from his homeland of Phthia in Greece. Proud and headstrong, he takes offense easily and reacts with blistering indignation when he perceives that his honor has been slighted. Achilles’ wrath at Agamemnon for taking his war prize, the maiden Briseis, forms the main subject of The Iliad. Agamemnon (also called “Atrides”) - King of Mycenae and leader of the Achaean army; brother of King Menelaus of Sparta.
Salvatore Giunta similar to an epic hero. The qualities of ancient Greek heroes do align with modern day heroes. Both modern day heroes and epic heroes are able to be brave when they need to be. Odysseus, an epic hero, was a brave warrior who risked his life for his men when they needed him. Sgt.
Mid Term Essay The two literary icons I chose to do the comparison and contrast portion of this Essay on are; Dante Alighieri (1265 – 1321) and Geoffrey Chaucer (1342 – 1400) who compositions were similar in theme, but significantly different in style. In analyzing Dante’s The Divine Comedy and Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the common theme I found in each of these epic poems is the author’s firm grasp of human nature and their ability to humanize the character(s) in each of their works. In each of these classics, Dante and Chaucer masterfully animated not only the central character but their supporting characters as well. Their ability to taking the reader on a journey that is both believable and relatable is the main reason both of these epic poems continue to be held in such high regard. In addition, both Dante and Chaucer wrote their works in the vernacular or the commonly spoken language of the times.
Beowulf Versus Achilles: Who Is More Epic? “What makes one heroic?- Going out to meet at the same time one’s highest suffering and one’s highest hope.” The previous statement made by Nietzsche can strongly relate to Beowulf and the Iliad because when the heroes of those two epics went into battle they each suffered; however, they were also able to find hope at the same time. Both Beowulf and Achilles are epic heroes due to their dangerous quests for glory and their superhuman qualities. However, Beowulf is the better example of an epic hero because while he and Achilles both possess the qualities that make up an epic hero, Beowulf is able to use his abilities to not only glorify himself, but to help others as well, while Achilles does not. Both Beowulf and Achilles are epic heroes who take dangerous quests for glory; Beowulf must slay the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and eventually a dragon while Achilles must find and kill Hector, the commander of Trojan forces.
Though they come from different cultures, time periods, and lands, King Arthur and Beowulf do share some similarities and differences. The first and the most vital differences between them is that King Arthur is defined as a romance hero, and Beowulf is said to be an epic hero. According to the myths, an epic hero is a central figure in the epics where he reflects the particular values and heroic ideals of his society. Beowulf, one of the ancient England’s heroes- a brave knight, is described to be the perfect archetype of an epic hero. Like all the epic heroes, this hero of ours “possesses superior physical strength and supremely ethical standards”.
Odysseus: Noble or Not An epic hero shows bravery strength and leadership. We follow Odysseus in Homer’s The Odyssey as he tells his story of great hardships, temptations, and love. He embodies the traits that his society values. In addition, he is also clever, and resourceful. Odysseus shows how intelligent he is, by outsmarting monsters, and tricking people.