If one is brave, they’re generally arrogant. Beowulf was very arrogant, in that he is constantly saying he’s the strongest man alive and that no man’s strength is a match for his. Being boastful is a strong suit of an epic hero. If one thinks or knows they can do something, it gives them the determination and drive it takes to get the job done. Beowulf brags about his many, many battles, even in his later years.
Matt Eisenschmid Mr. Bloh English 3, Period 8 February 3, 2014 Beowulf: A True Epic Hero Throughout the history of literature many heroes have been created and observed in epic quests and stories. Many of the greatest stories about heroes are told in poems such as The Odyssey, The Iliad, and Beowulf. The heroes in these poems are defined “epic” by their valiant actions and the massive scale of their quests. An epic hero is more than just any typical brave soul; this type of hero does much more than saving a princess. The true definition of an epic hero is a character that will take on any challenge even it risks death, posses’ godly strength and ability, and finally will valiantly sacrifice themselves for the good of their people and ideals.
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.
Pride is good to have, but in Odysseus’s case, it’s a little too much. On the other hand, he does things that make him a great hero. When Circe turned his crew into animals, he climbed straight up a mountain, risking his life just to save his crew “Sweet milk and honey, then sweet wine, and last clear water; and I scattered barely down” ( line 553-554). He will do anything to get back to Ithaca and see his wife and son, no matter how crazy it is. He even goes into the underworld to speak to a prophet about how to get back to Ithaca.
He had help by means of his followers and the princess. Nothing like William Wallace, Gilgamesh fought the monster by himself. Gilgamesh fought to save his friend and became famous for that. Their challenges were successful because they meet their goals. William Wallace was wrath at the British for killing his wife.
Although these stories share the same theme, they are dissimilar in how the characters go about their process. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh appears to be fearless at first. He is very stubborn as well, this is why the gods created Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s “equal”. Enkidu is soon adopted as Gilgamesh’s brother. Throughout their journey together, Gilgamesh grows more and more fearful of death.
A hero is somebody who cares about others and fights for what they believe in with confidence. In “The Odyssey” by Homer, a king named Odysseus ventures out from his home Ithaka to travel the seas. He has a long and hard journey trying to make his way home. Although debatable, Odysseus can be considered a true hero because he is brave, clever, and loyal. Odysseus is a brave hero who shows no mercy to his enemies.
Christopher Chin GNHU 201 Professor Miller 09.23.2013 Mortal Heroism Is Odysseus a hero? Why or why not? The known definition of a hero is a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. In the myth of Odysseus, the thoroughly mortal king of Ithaca is not a hero by choice nor decision. He claims the title of being a hero by defying the wrath of two decades of distress with the use of his cunning brain instead of manpower.
Enkidu was originally made to “fight him [Gilgamesh]” (Applebee et al. 35). Utnapishtim is also a prominent mentor in the life of the great king of Uruk. He guides Gilgamesh to recover from the loss of his best friend. In Lord of the Rings, the main character has to go through trials and tribulations to reach his final goal.
The Epic of Gilgamesh For many centuries, in many different civilizations there have been legends and stories about supernatural men who have inspired the people from their culture through bravery, honor, and skill. We call these legends or characters Epic Heroes. There are certain things that these epic heroes, surprisingly have all in common. All of them: face enemies while struggling in their epic journey, the epic hero would encounter women as temptresses who threaten the completion of the epic hero’s journey, at the end of the epic journey, the hero must complete a task by himself, and after the final task is successfully achieved, the hero would return to his people as a hero. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story about a man who is two-thirds