Sigurd The Dragon Slayer Analysis

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Cameron Smith Mr.Hutcheson Honors English 4 October 2012 A Comparative of the Heroes Kreon from Antigone (Sophocles) and Sigurd from “Sigurd the Dragon Slayer” (Olivia E. Coolidge) From the beginning of time man has always wondered what makes a hero. Now man has two examples of heroes, Kreon from Antigone by Sophocles and the character Sigurd from “Sigurd the Dragon Slayer” by Olivia E. Coolidge. Both Kreon and Sigurd have had to face obstacles that have come in their way, but at the end of Sigurd’s tale is a happy ending, while at the end of Kreon’s tale only tragedy can be found. Nobility, supernatural aid, and tragic flaws/un healable wounds, these characteristics make up a hero. Both tragic and epic heroes have…show more content…
Kreon has the supernatural aid of Teiresias, a prophet of the Greek God’s and Sigurd has the help of two supernatural aids, Odin, the God of God’s, Regin a dwarf who excels in the arts of black smithing and Fafnir’s heart. In Antigone Teiresias says, “I will inform you. That is my prophetic duty. Yours is to comply” (Sophocles 59). Teiresias warns Kreon of the consequences of his actions, sadly Kreon does not realize that everything Teiresias says comes true and now he cannot stop it from happening. The supernatural aids of both stories both warn the heroes of fates that could befall upon them. Sigurd gets a magical horse from Odin and also, a sword from both Odin and Reign who made his sword. Sigurd has to go and fight the dragon Fafnir and Kreon is told that his decisions will cause him great misfortune. Heroes need their supernatural aids, in fact they should feel lucky to have them, but the heroes themselves always counter act the blessing of a supernatural…show more content…
Kreon tries to earn and keep the respect of the people and in doing this his whole life unravels. As Kreon talks to the prophet he states “Do you know who you’re talking to? We’re your rulers.”(Sophocles 62). Callow, that flaw almost cost Sigurd his life; Regin his supernatural aid is deceiving him all the way up until the end of the story and Sigurd doesn’t even notice the deception, as said in the story “Regin opened his eyes. The two started a moment, and the truth was open to each. Regin snatched at his belt for a dagger and leapt at the young man, who sprang up and away, fumbling for his sword (Coolidge 1057). Since Kreon yearns for respect so badly that he tries to kill his own niece and that my friend starts the domino effect of bad luck. His son attempted to kill him and then after failing to kill him, his son commits suicide, his wife commits suicide, his niece dies and then of top of all that the people of his city hate him. Sigurd ends up killing the dragon and after killing the dragon he starts to roast the dragon’s heart which is filled with knowledge. A squirt of heart juice hit Sigurd’s finger and he put his finger in his mouth and was filled with great knowledge that informs him that Regin plots to kill him for all the treasure Fafnir the dragon possess. Both of their aids tried to help, but in the end it was themselves that caused them misfortune. In conclusion, both Kreon

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