Comparing Beowulf 'And The Iliad'

Francesco Di Mola

Ms. Mekari

British Literature

29 October 2015

To stand up for something you believe in requires a tremendous amount of bravery. Many people know this, especially the authors of Beowulf and The Iliad. Two authors who used imagery and characterization to show how men are motivated in any situation to be brave. Beo-wulf and The Iliad are both epic that have become the cornerstones of modern English literature. Beowulf was written during the Anglo-Saxon time period and was based on a young warrior and his quest through life. The author of Beowulf is an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet. Beowulf who is the main character is described as a proud and stubborn warrior who never gives up. On the other hand, The Iliad was written during 800

The author uses imagery to describe the clash be-tween the Greeks and the Trojans. Achilles, a famous Greek warrior is a very prominent character during The Iliad. His most notable deed during the war, was slaying Hector, the Trojans most feared hero, after Hector had killed his best friend Patroclus. Homer uses imagery when Achilles refuses to eat breakfast together with the other warriors after the death of Patroclus. This is a clear indication of the skillful use of imagery to represent the alienation of Achilles from other warriors. In the poem: “neither drink nor food shall go down my very throat/Since my companion has perished.” (Peterson & O’Hare 2014). That kind of act remains prominent during Achilles’s rampage against the Trojans, giving a clear indication of the motivation of men to be brave and persevere in situations that

For example, the poet uses direct characteriza-tion to portray the character of Beowulf through the use of various phrases. The specific use of direct characterization include phrases such as “Higlac’s/Follower, Greater/and stronger than an-yone anywhere in this world.” (Raffel 42). On the other hand, indirect characterization has also been used by the poet for the readers to use their judgment and clues on how the writer describes the men. Consequently, indirect characterization involves the use of physical description, de-scriptions of character’s actions, feelings and thought, and the revealing of the character’s effect on various people. Further, Beowulf is also characterized by his feats of strength and courage such as his swimming match against Breca. Importantly, the encounter between Beowulf and the monster emphasizes the responsibilities of men who are to face such challenges while working for the good of the people and not for their ego. Thus, such characters motivate men to be involved in various difficult situations to protect their selves and their community, families and