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Comparing heroes beowulf and odysseus
Beowulf compared to another hero
Basic story of beowulf
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Comparing heroes beowulf and odysseus
Beowulf compared to another hero
Basic story of beowulf
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
“I 'm coming home, I 'm coming home. Tell the world I 'm coming home. Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday.” This song beautifully represents the goal of Everett and Odysseus. Odysseus, a mythical hero, and Everett, a century old hero, both were trying to get home.
This withdrawal from the traditional hero who seeks fame and glory, offers a refreshing perspective of the definition of a hero. Similarly, Odysseus possesses qualities similar to Bilbo. However, in The Odyssey by Homer translated by Robert Fagles, Odysseus’ heroism is based on several qualities and actions. Odysseus is known for his cleverness and ability to think on his feet. When Odysseus and his men were trapped inside Polyphemus, the cyclops' cave, Odysseus devised a plan to blind the monster and escape.
Heroes have resurfaced countless times throughout history in literature, hearsay, and the oral tradition. Although they might have different adventures and adversaries, heroes almost always share two defining characteristics. Typically, heroes that exist in literature must be willing to sacrifice something special in order to achieve the greater good, and they must end up victorious by defeating the antagonist or succeed in their quests, missions, and objectives. The victory should result from the defeat of a dastardly villain or occur despite formidable odds. Odysseus, the hero in the Odyssey, provides an excellent classical example.
Epic heroes have epic strengths, and handle much more than any normal human ever could. Most epic heroes have commonalities with one another, Beowulf from Beowulf and Odysseus from The Odyssey are an example of this. Beowulf and Odysseus exhibited strength and longevity through all of the respective adventures. The amount of similarities between these characters is extensive. Although Odysseus mirrors Beowulf there are some key differences in their relationship to their gods, strengths, and motives; society can change what happens to a hero and what a hero values, but not how a hero behaves.
The epic heroes of classical mythology are larger-than-life figures meant to inspire awe among those who read their tales. They are stronger, braver, and more intelligent than the average person, and often have superhuman abilities. At various times, the hero at the center of Homer’s Odyssey shows these qualities well. Odysseus is a prime example of a true epic hero for his incredible strength and intelligence.
Homer’s 24 book epic, The Odyssey, focuses on Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his development as a human being during his seemingly everlasting journey home from the Trojan War. The epic contains several trials and tribulations along with numerous adventures that help shape Odysseus into a well-rounded human being. As the epic develops, one notices that is unlike Homer’s pervious characters because Odysseus is more dynamic rather than static. Odysseus’ story truly begins in Homer’s epic, The Iliad. In this epic Odysseus goes through a large amount of character evolution as the poem develops.
Odysseus faced plenty of obstacles that would make the average man not only give up, but also those defeats would start to define who he is. However, in Odysseus’s case those obstacles just looked like minor bumps in the road, based on the way he overcame them. The way he got himself and his men out of those situations not only showed how he lived throw that ten year journey home but also why he never gave up. After seeing that the last thing had to face was just as bad as the next allowed him to know and believe that would in his
A key difference between the two characters is the ego contrast. Beowulf, from beginning to end showed nothing but modesty. He single handedly managed to rip off Grendel’s arm, yet he didn’t boast the slightest bit. Theseus on the other hand grew egotistical after saving the Athenians from the Minotaur, and from there on he seemed to believe he was the bravest king alive, “Am I not the bravest king alive? Look what I did to the Amazons!
Heroes face god-like judgment though the obstacles they face, and they let it extend to the judgment of their identity and their characteristics. This is what all heroes have to traverse in their tales, it places their actions into effect, to show who they are in the face of adversity. This is done by many heroes from many tales, such an example could be Beowulf, in his journey as an old king famed at a young age, slayer of monsters, but one stands from him and all others: Odysseus, the brave king from Homer’s epic the Odyssey. This tale speaks of the journey of Odysseus returning home from the Trojan war, facing wrath of gods and other abominations in his realm. His actions throughout his trek home shows some of the traits that Odysseus possesses,
Hercules is very similar to Beowulf, an epic hero. They both share certain qualities, including some that make them desirable to each one's culture. Beowulf is valuable to the Anglo-Saxon people, and Hercules to the Greek people. Although Hercules was originally a foolish boy who made mistakes, he grew into a fabulous hero who is there to save the day. Hercules is a Beowulf-style hero because he has qualities of an epic hero, and is treasured by a group of people.
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.
What qualifies a person to be called a hero? Officially a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Most people think of a superhero, like Batman or Spiderman, or someone closer to them such as their mother or their life-saving doctor. Heroes tend to be the main character in a story. Beowulf and Odysseus are two famous epic heroes in the texts Beowulf and The Odyssey.
Through the ages, grandiose tales of monsters and heroes have been told and retold either by oral tradition or written for future generations to learn from those who have come before them. To the Greek culture, these stories represent what it means to be a man, a patriarch, and the hero that can accomplish anything with a little help from the gods. In both, the Odyssey and Medea, the heroes have accomplished extraordinary feats that sets them on a path to a better future, not just for them, but for their children as well. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus has taken a long journey to come home to his Greek wife, in contrast, in Euripides’ Medea, Jason takes a journey with his Colchian wife to settle in a new home in Greece. In the end, Odysseus is able to accomplish great feats of bravery and enjoy the remainder of his life, but Jason fails at his attempt to forge a life beyond his great feats of bravery.
A hero's journey is a pattern of narrative identities that appears in many dramas, storytellings, myths, and psychological development. The journey consist of twelve different steps and in the story Beowulf we read about the magnificent and rough journey that Beowulf and this men accomplish. Many people question if Beowulf is considered a hero and if what he did was good. The journey that he embarked on, leads me to believe that Beowulf is a hero and always will be. The first step in the hero's journey is called the “call to adventure” this is when something is disturbed from external pressure of from inner conflict.
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.