ipl-logo

Similarities Between Achilles And Beowulf

341 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Beowulf compared to odysseus

Alissa Watson
Sophia Desilva
English 12
30 September 2015
Beowulf vs. Achilles All throughout history epic heroes were made. Beowulf, written in 1,000 A.D., by unknown portrays a hero of glory. In 1,200 B.C., Homer wrote The Iliad, which portrays a hero of determination. These heroes have many differences but it is their similarities that tie them together. Beowulf was a strong hero based on glory. “Beowulf celebrates warrior culture and deeds requiring great strength and courage” (page 36). Defeating Grendel, the monster terrorizing the Danes, took great strength and courage. He was a huge monster who killed many; however, Beowulf was not afraid. He didn’t even use a weapon, yet easily destroyed Grendel and more. That shows a great deal
Show More
Related
190 Words | 1 Pages

Beowulf shares the same traits with as many other heroes I know about. For example, Beowulf 's willpower can be compared with Henry Cavill 's Superman (Man of Steel). In Beowulf: "The Battle with the Dragon", Beowulf battled the dragon and he noticed that his weapons started to fail him and that he was weakened by his age. In spite of that, Beowulf 's willpower enabled him to continue fighting the dreadful beast. Eventually, after his ally Wiglaf provided Beowulf with some assistance, he was able to break through and deliver the killing blow to the dragon.

Read More
466 Words | 2 Pages

Beowulf stood up to Grendel’s unmatched strength and proceeded to grab Grendel’s hand and crush. He then proceeded to show the ultimate strength and tore Grendel’s straight off, causing the death of the beast. Achilles showed off his strength in battle by having masterful accuracy with his spear and the control to not fully penetrate Hector’s windpipe. Achilles was also said to have changed the outcome of battles because he could not be defeated, also being able to kill countless Trojans.

Read More
633 Words | 3 Pages

Achilles, son of a goddess, has superior strength and fighting skills to any regular human, and as a baby he was dipped into the river Styx by his mother, leaving no part of his body vulnerable to attack but where she held him by his ankles. Beowulf on the other hand is the strongest man in the world of his time, having the strength to rip of the arm of a large monster named Grendel, and he is extremely tough, being able to survive the surge of a dragons fire breath that would have killed a normal man. Despite their physical traits, they both displayed acts of brutality and ruthlessness in their poems. Beowulf did so when he ripped off the arm of Grendel and hung it in the mead hall as a sign of victory, as well as when he defeated Grendel’s mother and took her head as a trophy. Achilles acts were almost just as vicious.

Read More
449 Words | 2 Pages

Achilles died similarly to how Beowulf died. Their similarity’s do not detract from their differences. Regardless of their similarities they were not the same heroes, they were different from one another. Achilles was more of a person who fought for vengeance. While simultaneously Beowulf was the type of hero who would fight to keep people alive.

Read More
444 Words | 2 Pages

Achilles and Beowulf exemplify countless traits throughout the occurrence of each epic poem. Beowulf, in the epic Beowulf, shows traits such as being self-less. For example Beowulf shows selflessness when he volunteers to help Hrothgar in protecting the Danes. Anyone could've easily been there to help Hrothgar however Beowulf felt he owed his help to Hrothgar so he was happy to have the pleasure. Achilles, in the epic Illiad, shows the trait of being unforgiving.

Read More
430 Words | 2 Pages

The author in Beowulf states that there is one almighty god that gives him grace, while Homer speaks of Gods like Zeus. Besides their different beliefs and time frames, both heroes shared many of the same characteristics. Beowulf and Achilles were strong worriers that fought for beliefs and others. Although Beowulf fought for different reasons than that of Achilles, they both fought for glory and honor ultimately.

Read More
702 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf went through so much to prove he was worthy enough to protect their kingdom and defeat Grendel. The story Beowulf was a great story to read and a great movie to watch; however, the battles were very eye catching and had a lot of extravagant and heroic doings of Beowulf. The first scenario that I’m going to discuss in the movie and story of Beowulf is The Battle with Grendel. In the movie Grendel attacked Beowulf in the Heriot while everyone was dancing and singing.

Read More
570 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf is an epic hero because of his strength. His strength isn’t the same as an ordinary man, “He twisted in pain and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped muscle and on split and broke” (lines 337-340). No ordinary man would be

Read More
764 Words | 4 Pages

In the well-known epics, Beowulf and The Iliad by Homer, both stories feature a majestic hero in each (Achilles and Beowulf), with inviable masculine powers and seeming complete invulnerability. They are both faced with a predicament that will determine the fate of their nation or fellow community. These heroes in contrasting situations tend to both reach their personal moral conviction, and decide to do what they think is necessary. In these epics both luminaries each must conquer their own ego to complete a task, were motivated to achieve their own personal renown (or Kleos), and confront death after achieving great triumph in battle. Commencing, these featured heroes, Achilles and Beowulf, were both faced with overcoming their ego and

Read More
626 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is depicted as a heroic figure who fights monsters and defends the weak. During its time, Beowulf would be considered a great hero, however in today 's standards Beowulf would only be considered a great warrior. That’s because a hero should value the lives of the people and not seek to be rewarded. Instead, Beowulf committed heroic acts for his own selfish reasons and never shows to values the lives of the people. From fighting Grendel to slaying the dragon, Beowulf only fought because he value the fame and fortune that comes along with those accomplishments.

Read More
770 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf was invincible in his strength. He battles terrifying monster and risks his life. He showcases his heroic stoicism through his super-human physical strength. Grendel was a horrendous monster that was the incarnation of maleficence. Beowulf’s men had tried to use their weapons to fight, but Grendel “ blunted every mortal man 's blade” (Line 485).

Read More
427 Words | 2 Pages

Beowulf declares that he “drove five great giants into chains, [and] chased all of that race from the Earth.” He is immensely overbearing at that point because he is too proud of his achievements. Being excessively prideful does not exactly label Beowulf as a hero. Beowulf assumes all of the courageous acts he fulfills will make him

Read More
703 Words | 3 Pages

Christopher Reeves once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Although Beowulf was human, he was not an ordinary individual, hero, or king, for he was a man who displayed superhuman qualities in his efforts to protect the Danish and Geatish people. Beowulf, who was established Geatish warrior that spent his life in battle, showed these extraordinary characteristics that made him an epic hero, one who possesses superhuman, almost god-like qualities. Being constantly on a quest, risking his life for glory and the greater good of society, and being superiorly intelligent, courageous and strong are the three most important reasons why Beowulf deserves such a notable

Read More
948 Words | 4 Pages

This proves that he is strong and brave because no one else could kill Grendel let alone face him. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and without armor on. Other warriors could not even kill him with a sword and armor. “Beowulf’s intention to fight Grendel with only his strength proves that he carries the characteristics of a true hero”(Hailey).

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.

Read More

More about Similarities Between Achilles And Beowulf

Related Topics

Open Document