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Is Hector A Hero In The Iliad

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What is a hero? The meaning of being a hero is all about perspective. When asked about what they believe a hero is, one might say superman or batman etc, while others might say someone influential to them, like their parents or teachers. Typically what defines a hero was one who shows bravery, acts of humility and has the strength to overcome the most rigorous of tasks. Also a hero is one who is respected and appreciated by their peers. Over centuries many people have their own opinions about who is the central hero of the great The Iliad. The debate comes down to between Achilles and Hector, one deemed the greatest hero of The Iliad while the other is praised as the greatest warrior. While many people have acclaimed Achilles to be the most …show more content…

All throughout the Iliad, Homer brings about the idea of “courage”. This was one of the main themes of the epic, which allowed heroes to emerge from the acts of the war. A hero is one who shows and has the courage of a great leader. Homer uses imagery to portray Hector’s acts of bravery throughout the Trojan War. In Book 3, Homer shows the readers how honorable and well respected by the other warriors Hector was. He shows this to us, when Hector was being shot at by arrows from the Achaean army, as he tried to step between the two armies while they are fighting, as he tried to hold his warriors back. The arrows were continuously shot until Agamemnon tell his army, “ "No more shooting,you men of Achaea! For it seem that bright-helmeted Hector has something to say  (Iliad 3,88-89). We can interpret from Agamemnon’s action that Hector is well respected and praised of high honor. Right after Hector gives the speech he was allowed, the fighting between the two armies comes to an end. Due to his amazing character, he was able to influence and bring together the men around …show more content…

In Book 22, he shows us the bravery that Hector has and how he is willing to sacrifice himself for Troy. Although he still contemplates his option by stating, "if I take cover inside/That's what they'll say, I'll be much better off/facing Achilles ,either killing him/or dying honorable before my city  (Iliad 22.115-125). Hector comes to a realization that he has no choice but to stay outside of the Scaen gates and face Achilles if he wants to maintain his respect and honor. Throughout the entire poem of the Iliad, Homer shows us how Hector stands out as a hero as he fights for his honor, respect and Troy. Not only did Hector have courage but he did what any other hero would do: fight for what he believes

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He never fought Hector to help the Greeks out, but rather for the glory and vengeance involved in killing and defiling Hector’s

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In the epic poem, the Illiad by Homer, Achilles is the most courageous character. For example, Achilles avenges his best friend Patroclus death by battling Hector for revenge. After Achilles is informed about Patroclus death he says, "if Hector does not feel my battering spear tear the life out of him, making him pay in his own blood for the slaughter of Patroclus!" (ln 28-30). His bravery shines through this act because he puts himself out there to avenge his friends death.

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Homer’s Odyssey: Helen on the Wall & Hector and Andromache Greek mythology is still a widely studied and important subject in today’s society. For many years, Greek myths were passed down orally from generation to generation. These myths are stories with a purpose and reason that serve as an explanation for why certain things occur throughout history. For our presentation, we explored the topic of Homer’s Odyssey. The Odyssey deals with a very important time in Greek history, the time of the Trojan War.

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Selflessness is putting others needs before one's self, which is extremely similar to the definition of bravery. Hector is selfless because he literally died to save his kingdom. Next, Hector was clearly a responsible warrior. He stood up for his kingdom, and became a very important war leader of the Trojans. As a Prince of

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Iliad, the poet presented the importance of human choice and actions but humans were still governed by the gods. Hector, a great warrior, was forced to battle with Achilles. Hector’s wife, Andromache, tried to persuade Hector from battling. As human, he had the ability to make a decision, which was to battle Achilles, who was angry for Patroclus’s death. Homer states, “Fate is a thing that no man born of woman, coward or hero, can escape” with the voice of Hector.

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Hector fulfills the characteristics required of an ideal warrior, his personality depicts him as a man of valor, his code of living is modest, and he is written to

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Throughout Book 22, Achilles tries again and again to chase down and kill Hector, and is finally able to do so. Before he actually kills Hector, he tells him “I wish my stomach would let me cut off you flesh in strips and eat it raw for what you’ve done to me” (Iliad, Book 22, 384-86). Shortly after Achilles allows the Greeks to stand around and continually stab the corpse of Hector. However, not even this brutality satisfied Achilles. Eventually, he ended up completely disgracing Hector’s dead body in front of all of Troy, tying him up to a chariot and dragging him around, being “defiled in his own native land” (Iliad, Book 22, 449).

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Hector is shown to be devoted to this war between the Trojans and Greeks, and shows this when he refuses wine from his mother Hecuba when he first returns to Priam’s palace, telling her that it will only make him weak, and that instead she should go to the temple of Athena and pray that she pity Troy and its people (Book VI, 11. 275-88, pg. 249). Returning back home and making his way to his brother Paris’ house, Hector is completely ready to chastise him, showing his anger towards him as needed for not being out there and fighting in the war he himself caused (VI, 11. 342-47, pg. 251) but rather sitting in his house with his armor and weapons surrounding him. Hector is also given the opportunity to lay with Helen and relax, but instead says “my heart is out there with our fighting men” (VI, 11. 380, pg. 252). This makes it evident that he is a noble man and that his only purpose now is to fight with the Trojans, seeing himself as “One of the best, to fight in Troy’s ranks” (VI, 11.

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Throughout life, regardless of a person’s belief system, a majority of the ideals and concepts that people come in contact with are categorized and defined based upon truth, goodness or beauty. Literature is no exception to this rule. Homer’s work of the Iliad provides a well-rounded perspective of truth because the several the characters demonstrate qualities that exemplify that they struggle with morality similarly to the rest of humanity, but situations are not always plainly painted black and white. Homer tends to demonstrate these walks along the fine line between right and wrong through the characters of Hector, Achilles and the gods, which leads to suggest his own personal perspective of morality.

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Hector, as well as Achilles, does not fear death but shows courage. Homer has many adjectives to describe Hector such as, “Glorious Hector.”(17.845) Achilles and Hector both parade many of the same qualities. Each demonstrates how their society and Homer determines a hero. They’re adored for their noble qualities and the difficult tasks they achieve.

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1032 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction, Vision, and Influence Methods: The play “12 Angry Men” takes place in the New York City Court of Law in 1957. These 12 jurors, are to carefully and slowly consider and discuss in a first degree murder trial. An 18-year-old boy was accused of stabbing his own father in the heart, resulting in an automatic death sentence. Henry Fonda, who plays Davis in the play, is the leader.

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In the epic poem, the Iliad written by Homer, several characters taking part in the warfare between the Achaeans and the Trojans are portrayed as embodying the heroic code of courage, physical strength, leadership, arete of value of honour, and the acceptance of fate. The heroic code is illustrated by the actions of the Trojan prince, Hector and the Achaeans strongest warrior, Achilles. Both of these characters display the Greek’s image of a hero, and can also let the reader discern what the society admires, looks up to and aspires to in its heroes. There are also characters who fail to be heroic, such as the Trojan “vivid and beautiful” prince, Paris. These characters in the Iliad illustrate the qualities that Ancient Greek society values.

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The epic poem, The Iliad written by Homer shows the conflicts and events that occurred between the Greeks and Trojans during the Trojan War. Among both sides there are warriors who follow a distinct code, known as the heroic code. This Heroic code helps portray the characteristics of the warriors and their perspective on war. This distinct code is composed of many elements such as arete, acceptance of fate, honour, excellence in war, leadership, courage and power. These traits are shown within the main warriors, Hector and Achilles throughout the epic war poem and helps to guide their decisions.

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The Iliad also spotlights the individual qualities of a Greek hero or non-hero. Numerous characters in the Iliad demonstrated exceptional qualities of a Greek person that was valued, such as bravery and helpfulness and that was disproved of like selfishness. One trait that is highly appreciated by the greeks in the Iliad is bravery. In battle Hector killed Achilles´s best friend Pactorlos in battle.

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