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Compare And Contrast Odysseus And Beowulf

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In the beginning of story writing, authors portrayed heroes with human-like flaws. They were greedy, ambitious, stubborn, and even cruel. Their perception of being a hero was totally different to what we have now. Despite those characters having severe weaknesses, they were and still are heroes. Odysseus, ruler of Ithaca is the main character in Homer’s epic. Odysseus is a strong headed man with prowess at fighting. Throughout the story his only goal is to return home after 10 years of exile and reunite with the love of his life. He defies the gods and is in a constant battle of survival. On the other hand we have Beowulf. He is the heir of the Swedish throne and a renowned and Impudent monster slayer. He is constantly driven by fame and riches. The only similarity they have is their guile attitudes. The following facts are comparisons and contrasts of both characters that will demonstrate why Odysseus is the best representation of a hero. A hero must be benevolent and thinks first of others interest rather than their own. During the stories, each character has their own purpose and motivation during their journeys. Lastly, they both have different reactions to their problems and act differently to them. Above all heroes must be people that leave an exceptional mark in people's lives. People who are benevolent, selfless and brave. The …show more content…

He is a very strong-willed person with a big devotion to his people. The Odyssey is showing that behind a hard shell to crack, there is a gentle heart fighting to survive. Odysseus fights and gives in to his temptations, he rises and falls many times, however, he always succeeds.There is no denying that Beowulf is a strong and brave man with a lot of guts. He fights many monsters and liberates people, but only for a price. A hero is much more than just a hot-headed person with the force of a hundred titans. They need to be tenderhearted, thoughtful and

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As humans, we tend to idolize people from all over the world for their remarkable qualities, bravery, actions, skills, leadership or ways of life. These people are often referred to as heroes, whether it is a leader, Superman, or a local community hero, they all share something in common, and it’s not a cape. What makes each of these people heroes? Their extraordinary character traits set them apart from their less noteworthy peers. While there is a myriad of traits that heroes possess, the most significant ones are their bravery, their willingness to ask for help, and their strength to always do what is honorable.

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Sure, I got time The Websters dictionary defines a hero as someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Heroes are ordinary people who find the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. They are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them. Maya Angelou stated, “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this world a better place for all people.”

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“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell). Heroes dedicate their lives to contribute to the general welfare of society. Most of the time, the obstacle seems to big for them to handle, but they overcome it in the end. A hero can be anyone in the world.

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The description of a hero can be different among many people. Some may say a hero has to be courageous, smart, and strong, but they don’t talk about the flaws a hero may possess. Odysseus portrays very obvious flaws in the epic The Odyssey. When I look more into Odysseus’ flaws as a character, I do not see Odysseus as admirable. When reading The Odyssey, the many obstacles that Odysseus faces and defeats shows him to be courageous and clever.

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In the epic poem the Odyssey by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a hero because he is selfless, strong, smart. After a careful reading of The Odyssey by Homer it is clear that Odysseus

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Odysseus portrays those three heroic traits throughout his voyage home to Ithaca, which is why he is a hero. Odysseus is highly dedicated to his reputation and ego for the whole of his rocky and treacherous journey. From going up against a cyclops that is five times the size of him, to placing wax upon his crewmates’ ears to mute the singing of the Sirens, Odysseus is brave when he faces his fears and intelligent when he creates lifesaving tools from ship materials. A modern hero can be someone who saves a life or even sacrifices his or her own for someone else. Odysseus can be compared to a modern hero because he risks his own life to protect his crewmates.

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In the epic poem The Odyssey the main character Odysseus shows many qualities of an epic hero. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has a wife, Penelope, and his only son, Telemachus all struggle as Odysseus goes to war in Troy the day of Telemachus’ birth. Odysseus struggles and fights through obstacles that no mortal on earth has ever conquered. Odysseus demonstrates the qualities of a leader, speaker, and superhuman strength that every epic hero should have. Odysseus shows the characteristic of leadership many times throughout The Odyssey.

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He finds a way to save most of his men. Odysseus is brave throughout the The Odyssey. Not just these traits makes him a hero though.

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The significance of being a hero in real life or in literature is the development of certain elements of their characters that bring out the qualities that allows those around them to follow faithfully; without doubt or question. Beowulf and Odysseus both have their own individual paths that they have taken in their quests; during these quests they are able to establish to those around them through their acts the establishment of their hero status. Odysseus, also known by the Latin name Ulysses, was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey (Encyclopedia Britannica). Beowulf is an epic poem from Old English relating to the hero exploits of Beowulf and his battles.

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They both go through the “Hero’s Journey,” and display many characteristics of a hero. Beowulf, however, better fits the qualities of an epic hero due to his unselfish personality, his fearlessness, and his nobility. One reason Beowulf is the better epic hero is because his intentions and motives were selfless. He always fought to save the people, not for glory or treasures.

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The concept of hero has been interpreted in many ways throughout the ages. Hero have gone from knights slaying dragons and rescuing the princess, to heroes who save the world with their supernatural-like powers, to a modern day hero who is someone who has noble qualities and is regarded as a role model. In the epic, The Odyssey, by Robert Fagles, the heroic Odysseus is a well known in Greek mythology. However, although Odysseus is the most respected, honorable hero of Greek mythology he is not a modern hero. A modern day hero is someone who puts their life on the line to save the lives of other innocent people.

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There are few fictional characters who so accurately depict the ancient archetype of a hero as Odysseus. In Homer’s The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Odysseus is departing from the Trojan city of Troy in order to reach his home country of Ithaca. Throughout the course of his journey, Odysseus is faces multiple challenges testing his leadership, vigor, and wit in order to prove himself to be a true hero. He accomplishes this by bringing about multiple heroic feats and upholding the impuissant and helpless.

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I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." (52) To Beowulf, even as an older and supposedly wiser man, his main reason for fighting monsters continues to be to gain more fame. Other heroes, like Gilgamesh and Odysseus, usually do heroic deeds to help their kingdoms and men. For example, Gilgamesh kills the heavenly bull to avoid a famine from wrecking his kingdom, while Odysseus works to save his men throughout the story multiple times. Loyalty towards himself before anyone or anything else, is one of the qualities that separates Beowulf from other traditional heroes.

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An Epic Hero is a character who’s legendary or heroic actions are central to his culture, race or nation. Beowulf and Odysseus both share some of the seven hero traits; for example being superhuman, fighting monsters and going on a quest. They do not exhibit the exact same traits or in the same way, for example the intervention of the divine world, but they both demonstrate the qualities of an Epic Hero. Both Beowulf and Odysseus prove they are superhuman. Beowulf is able to take down Grendel and Grendel’s mother.

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In The Odyssey, Odysseus was a major hero of the novel. He had both heroic traits and human weaknesses. Odysseus defeated the Cyclops, defeated the suitors that were courting his wife, and overcome other challenges throughout the novel. A special trait that made Odysseus a hero was that he was a courageous

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