Odysseus was more thoughtful than others. Instead of killing the giant, he led his crew in ramming a tree trunk into Polyphemus’ eye. “Now Cyclops, wheezing as the pain came on him,/ fumbled to wrench away the great doorstone and squatted in the breach with arms thrown wide/ for any silly beast or man who bolted---/ hoping somehow I might be such a fool.” When Odysseus’ crew saw that Cyclops was chewing their companions, they trembled. They, short shortsighted people, only knew how to prevent not being eaten by the Cyclops. They forgot that
Beowulf possesses many of the traits of an archetypal epic hero; he is strong, humble, and willing to fight to death if necessary. One of the most obvious heroic traits of Beowulf’s is his strength, which is a vital feature in Anglo-Saxon heroes. Beowulf had the strength of thirty men and is blessed with strength beyond that of an ordinary man. Although strength is a key characteristic in defining an epic hero, it alone is not enough to define an epic hero (Greenfield 3). Along with strength, one must have other distinguishing traits to be considered an epic hero.
Though all men to a certain extent share the same qualities, some are more pronounced than in the others. It is important to see how these qualities are central to their respective stories and how it helps (or hinders) them in their journeys. The greatest value of Beowulf is his bravery, some may say bravado. There is no doubt that he is a great warrior. Beowulf's heroism belongs to a different time than that of King Arthur or Sir Gawain.
Odysseus was the first one to realize that if they had killed the Cyclops they would be trapped in the cave forever. “If we kill him now, we may be trapped inside this cave forever.” (Homer 7) Odysseus knows that actions always have positives and negatives, so he thought of the harm that would create if he killed the Cyclops so he waited. As Odysseus’s intelligence grows his knowledge of speech grows too. When the Cyclops, Polyphemus, asks Odysseus his name, he replied in a very sneaky, intelligent way. “Nobody, that is the name my father gave me: Nobody.” (Homer 8) Odysseus was able to
Odysseus: A True Heroic Figure “But I would not give way.” This simple, yet strong, inspiring quote was stated on page 218 of book 9 of the Odyssey by the heroic figure Odysseus, when his crew members were ready to take everything they could escape with and avoid confrontation with the menacing Cyclops. Even though this six letter quote is short and to the point, it shows how determined Odysseus really is. I believe that Odysseus is a strong heroic figure in Greek mythology. His best qualities that reflect his heroic character are his cleverness, caring heart for his crew members, and his strong determination. Although this crafty hero has many other great qualities, these qualities are the highlights of his character.
He was considered a “larger than life” hero and the writer of the story did a great job portraying the good characteristics of Beowulf and how he was able to conquer all. He came from a large community or group where he wanted to protect all. Without this, there would be no good meaning to this story because he was well trusted and the
The fact that not all thanes could be as courageous and have so many heroic achievements for their countries and rulers is why Beowulf seems so ideal and extraordinary. Beowulf's many achievements told throughout the story gives him the appearance of the most faithful of thanes, who has climbed the social ladder not because he has meant to do so, but because he wishes to protect his country and others and give all the credit to its rulers. This sort of behavior gives him a kind and generous nature that can be traced to a kind of chivalry. Chivalry can also be considered a very important role in the creation of a thane's reputation and popularity. Through Beowulf's chivalry, generosity, friendship, and popularity, all of his kingdom and of others knew him for his heroism and loyalty.
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.
When I hear the word hero, I think of someone who is idealized for their courage and bravery, having outstanding achievements, and having noble qualities. Policemen and firefighters are heroes to me. Heroes can come in all different shapes and sizes and that’s important for some people to understand, just because they aren’t super tall and lusty doesn’t mean that they can’t be a hero. In the earliest English epic poem, “Beowulf”, the hero is Beowulf. As a hero, the Anglo-Saxons made Beowulf have certain hero characteristics.
What is a Hero? When I think of a hero, I automatically think of a tall, intelligent, and handsome young man. In reality there is more to being a hero than huge biceps and an attractive face. A hero is a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Despite the general consensus, a hero is any person from all races, ages, and sizes that has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act.