Iliad vs Beowulf

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In the poems the Iliad and Beowulf heroes such as Achilles and Beowulf came from communities that were war minded. Whether these heroes succeed or fail in battle determine the height of their honor. The protagonists in both epics have similar supernatural qualities, are trusted with maintaining the fate of there country, fought for glory and fame, were aided by the gods, and faced a fate that led to death. The dynamic adventures that these stories take you through are complex, leaving the impressions that an intricate and very real tale has been told. The chief elements of an epic include: a depiction of the societies values and what is important to the people concerning the epic such as the warlike behavior shown in both the Iliad and Beowulf; heroes such as Achilles and Beowulf that are unafraid of the opposition they face and have courage in front of impossible odds; mythical creatures like Grendel and impressive beings such as Apollo that provide a challenge to the hero; settings like the heavily protected Troy and haunted Herot that capture the mind’s eye; and tales of wars and the battles that encompass them. Stark and heavy dialogue, the starring role that war played, and the contrast among the gods, women, and the concept of “good vs. evil”, all play into the basic approach to both of the epics’ innate human characteristics. War comes into play as a central theme in both of these epics. Although they come from different backgrounds, both of the cultures shown in the Iliad and Beowulf display a lust for battle. Both of the epics show that men use almost any reason to go to war, whether it is over something like Helen in the Iliad in Achilles’ case or a dragon in Beowulf’s. Men in both epics also show what they believe to be their true values by reciting the physical accomplishments of their heroes and their conscious decision to land fame and

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