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Who Is Achilles An Epic Hero

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All throughout Ancient Greece, heroism was a characteristic to be admired. Heroes were the people who stepped up to save the day; they were strong, tenacious, and they made the world a better place. Heroism was shown in countless ways, one of the most common was through literature. The Iliad is a great example of this, there are two main heroes: Achilles and Hector. Even though both men were fierce and honorable heroes, only one stood out as the clear Epic Hero: Achilles. Although Hector shows devotion, strength, and weakness-all characteristics of an epic hero-Achilles represents the Epic hero character type more comprehensively because he displays all of those, plus many more such as courage and love of glory. To begin with, Achilles is more courageous than Hector. Achilles has proven countless times that he exhibits great courage- one example of this is in book 1 where he stood up …show more content…

Glory is what motivates Achilles to fight at Troy in the first place, he craves the prestige and fame that comes with war. One example of Achilles showing this trait is in book 22 when he refuses to let his men kill Hector because he wanted the kill for himself. “And brilliant Achilles shook his head at the armies, never letting them hurl their sharp spears at Hector- someone might snatch the glory, Achilles come in second” (90). This really proves how strongly Achilles yearns for glory: he is willing to prolong the chase just so he can get the final kill. Now although Hector surely longs for glory, his focus is more geared towards just fending off the Greeks and keeping his family safe. This is apparent in book 6 when he responds to his wife, Andromache, begging him to stay within the safety of the city walls. “Let the earth come piling over my dead body before I hear your cries, I hear you dragged away” (93). Clearly, the main reason why Hector fights is not for glory, it is simply just to protect his loved

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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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Epic Hero An Epic Hero is a person who that has superhuman strength, courage and is intelligent. At times their life even ends tragically. In the story “The Trojan War” by Edith Hamilton there is two men who are made out to be epic heroes Hector and Achilles, but only one of them can be the real epic hero. They were both courages and brave, but Achilles was the Epic Hero.

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Achilles is a hero because he was loyal, determined, and empathetic. Achilles was loyal to the achaean army and his friends and family throughout the Iliad. He joined the achaean army and he killed Hector to avenge Patroclus’ death. “Hector is hit by my spear first, losing his life and paying me compensation for killing Menoetius' son, Patroclus” (Homer 22. 93-95).

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Hector is the better Hero because he fights in the place of Paris when Paris is too weak to fight, he cares about his wife and child’s safety, and he is not a coward, even when he faces Achilles. Phyllis Taylor declares, “Hector remains intimately bound to his family and society and must at all costs defend them (“The Iliad: A Practical Approach” paragraph 35).” The first way that Hector shows that he is devoted to his family is by allowing Paris to surrender to Menelaus, and fighting the battle for him. Only a devoted hero would fight a battle that is caused by something their brother did.

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