From the very beginning of the play there are allusions to what he ideal man is supposed to be like. In the first scene, Macbeth is characterized as the quintessential man. He is strong and courageous and battle, a characteristic that is seen by many to be ideal. He fights for his country and the love of his king. “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—/ Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel/ Which smoked with bloody execution/ Like valor’s minion carved out his passage” (I, i, 16-19).
Beowulf – An epic hero? After reading Burton Raffel’s translation of Beowulf, it is portrayed that the lead character was an incredible epic hero. Even though Beowulf is known for his great strength, he has other traits that make him so fantastic. Our character did many good things and many bad things. Some of which were acts of bravery.
They gave all they had, every ounce of strength, to make that dream a reality. They waged was against one of the most powerful empires of the time so that they could remain true to their ideals. Patrick Henry is one of the examples of patriotism in that time. His bold, fiery words, “Give me liberty or give me death”, stir feelings of pride and courage within me. I am proud to live in a country with such a glorious heritage.
43). This quote displays us that not only did Beowulf defeat Grendel, but he defeated Grendel with just his bare hands. This example confirms the characteristic of how Beowulf is an epic hero by completing a great deed with great strength and courage. Another characteristic someone may see in Beowulf, is him being a great warrior. Before a hero completes a journey in his epic, he must establishes his name another way.
In eighth century culture, a legendary reputation made a man immortal. We see from his exploits in the poem that it was far more important to Beowulf to build a reputation than to build wealth. Beowulf’s bravery and skill in combat made him an Anglo-Saxon hero of his day. His valiant death as a warrior solidified his legendary status in the minds of his people. Beowulf’s embodiment of Anglo-Saxon heroic ideals has insured that tales of his great deeds will continue to endure for
He believes his reputation is all that counts because he is a warrior and the best of the warriors. “Mother tells me...that two fates bear me on to the day of death. If I hold out here and I lay siege to Troy, my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, my pride, my glory dies...true, but the life that's left me will be long, the stroke of death will not come on me quickly” (Homer 265). Achilles achieved honor on the battlefield as depicted in The Iliad, which fueled his pride.
During these time periods, a hero was usually a great a warrior who sacrificed oneself to protect their king and kingdom. In addition, culture, religion, chivalry, and traditions played a vital role in the work of these early heroes. This was seen numerous times in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where both characters frequently prayed and followed the Code of Chivalry. In contrast, a hero today would portray few— or none— cultural or religious elements. Usually, present-day heroes would acquire the label by depicting some sort of supernatural, phenomenal, or superhuman trait that a normal person would not obtain.
Alexander himself expected that he would be remembered after his death. He once said to his soldiers that “Hardship and danger are the price of glory, and that sweet is the savour of a life of courage and of deathless renown beyond the grave”. He was aware that his actions were so great that they would continue to have an impact even when he was no longer alive. Additionally, Alexander affected the way people after his time strategized in regards to military techniques. He developed military tactics that were used many years after his reign, and helped to shape war today.
In any Greek story, honor has been held at high importance. For any soldier, honor and glory were attained through heroic action on the battlefield. The hero’s duty was to fight for high country so he was constantly preparing for battle. The Homeric hero stood for certain principles. He believed that men should fight together, respect every other soldier, and also respect their opponent.
Chelsea Doyle Survey: English Literature I 2-22-11 Beowulf’s Heroism In the poem Beowulf, one's value as a hero is built on what he has done, and what he will do or the good of other people. A hero is someone who puts his or her own needs aside to do what is best for others. Heroism comes in many forms, but they all share a fundamental similarity: self-sacrifice. In Beowulf's case, there is no question as to whether or not he is a hero. He travels far and wide, telling tales of his exploits and undertaking new challenges in the name of his king.