The Illiad and Beowulf are two of the most known epic poems. As you read, you notice how different these two heros are. Achilles feels guilt and Beowulf does not. Hector’s body is cleaned after his death and Grendel gets his head cut off. However, they do share some similarities. These similarities include fearlessness and conceitedness.
Fearlessness is a trait that is essential to being a hero. These men know that they can be killed, but they proceed anyways. Before the battle with Hector, Achilles tells Zeus “do not attempt to keep me from the fight, though you love me; you cannot make me listen” (70-71). He knows that Zeus will be upset with his actions, but still, he proceeds. Also stated in the Illiad, “Here, then, as the trojan charged, Achilles drove his point straight down the tender neck, but did not cut the windpipe, leaving Hector able to speak and respond” (165-168). Achilles does not fear what Hector has to say to him. Beowulf fearlessly decides to kill Grendel without any weapons and without any help. While speaking to the people of Herot, he says “my Lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to; if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster”
…show more content…
He decides to care for Hector’s body upon returning it back to his father. Achilles “calls to the women slaves, he orders the body bathed and rubbed with oil” (410-411). Beowulf seems not to care that he took Grendel’s life. After killing Grendel’s mother, he “repays him for those visits, finds him lying dead in his corner, armless, exactly as that fierce fighter had sent him out for Herot, then strikes off his head with a single swift blow” (59). He does not feel guilt as he cuts off Grendel’s head. Beowulf explains how he could have taken any of the monster’s rich treasures, but all he takes is Grendel’s head and the hilt of his sword
Beowulf was a true hero, in the eyes of many, through said traits. He fought a number of battles and was triumphant in all, except his last battle. Beowulf possessed the skills and power necessary to kill Grendel, the monster who had been terrorizing the Danes for over a decade, with his bare hands. While fighting, Beowulf detached Grendel’s arm from his shoulder, which was later hung up as a trophy. Beowulf eventually put an end to Grendel’s life, and naturally, Grendel’s mother had pursued Beowulf. Although Grendel’s mother was an even deadlier monster than her son, Beowulf once again proved his abilities by slaying her, as well. He slashed her neck with a sword that carried unbearable weight. Afterwards, he carried her head with only his own arms, while it took the a...
In The Iliad, Hector isn't always shown as a courageous character. In book 18, Achilles discovers Patroclus is dead. Upon the realization that Hector is to blame, he is ready to rejoin the fight against Troy. The Trojans start to lose their courage until hearing Hector’s speech in which he says, “Tomorrow at daybreak armed to the hill for battle we slash to attack against their deep curved Hills!...I for one, I'll never run from his grim assault.(18.353-357)” In
Beowulf is a hero that shows honor respect and courage. In lines 710-1007 is where the battle with Grendel happened. Thinking of the destruction that he will get, Grendel bursts into Heorot. Grendel tears the door from its hinges with his hands and quickly becomes a Geatish warrior while Beowulf carefully looks around. When Grendel reaches out to pick Beowulf up, he is surprised to find his arm gripped with a strength than he never knew could even happen. Confused and frightened Grendel doesn’t want to run back to the safety of the swamplands. He tries to escape, but Beowulf wrestles him down to the ground. The crash around the hall, making noise on the walls and smashing the mead-benches. Grendel begins to panic in pain and fear; the sound
Grendel, the monster terrorizing Heorot, is introduced as being estranged from the rest of the world. He is described as an outsider, a descendant of “Cain’s clan” (107). Grendel’s outcast status leaves him living in darkness, his envy growing the more he hears the celebrations of the Danes. Envy and social status motivate Grendel’s cruelty, filling him with anger towards those who are human. When Beowulf and the Geats arrive, it is not solely out of honor that Beowulf vows to kill the beast. Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow, had an unpaid debt at the time of his death. Beowulf’s pledge that he would kill Grendel was a repayment, as well as an honorable feat. However, as Beowulf is introduced, the boasts he makes of his heroic feats and his “awesome strength” (29), only prove his barbarity. He boasts that “they had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea brutes” (419-422). He goes on to blame the enemies for the vengeance that he wrought upon them. Beowulf dehumanizes his enemies, states that they were foul beasts who tainted the land, and he purified it. This is a sadistic view of life and battle, contrasting cruelty for the
known in the Bible as Erech (now Warka, Iraq). According to the myth, the gods
Demonstrating the qualities of a hero are always represented in different ways. Furthermore, Achilles is someone who fights only for what he thinks is right. With that mindset that, he shouldn’t have to fight for someone else, based on what they want for themselves. Unwillingly, he thinks of what is right for his people, and what should and should not be done. Having these traits allows people that he is fighting for and against, wishing to be like him. Qualities that people look for in a hero, is what Achilles exerts. On the other hand, Beowulf's qualities as a hero, differ from Achilles. Beowulf, is fighting the battle for his own honor. Nevertheless, he is fighting the battle to prove to the people of Heorot that he will do what is asked of him. Bravery is being showcased by going by himself to go kill Grendel and his mother. Beowulf, doesn’t want the help of others in killing the monster, because that will not give him the honor he wants to receive.
Beowulf and “Lord of the Rings” are two very similar stories because of how the hero is portrayed in each. In Beowulf, the hero is strong and has to overcome great physical force. However in “Lord of the Rings” Frodo is a feeble hobbit that has to overcome great interior force. When comparing both heroes it is easy to notice reoccurring characteristics such as them both having chain mail and a magical sword. Beowulf and Frodo are similar by how they receive their call to adventure, their strength, and their motives. Although similar in many ways, each hero still has a unique presence that can’t be changed.
King Hrothgar once again looks toward Beowulf to take care of another monster. To get ready for this battle Beowulf wears armor and uses the Horting sword which has never lost in battle. Once again Beowulf shows his courage by deciding to go to the bottom of the monster filled swamp and fight alone. Fighting off monsters on his way down, Beowulf reached the bottom where he was met by Grendel 's mother. He tried to cut her head off with Horting, but she is too strong. Beowulf takes a sword made for giants off the wall, and uses his super strength to cut the mother 's head off. As a trophy of this battle Beowulf finds the body of Grendel in a corner and decides to take his head back to the mead hall. Hrothgar celebrates another victory by once again throwing a large celebration where they gave more gifts to Beowulf and the Geats. After two battles, Beowulf decides it is time for him and his men to head back to their homeland. Continuing to show courage, honor, and strength Beowulf states that if the Danes ever have anymore problems with monsters he will help protect
The epic hero’s within Beowulf, Gilgamesh, The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The song of Roland can be compared and contrasted to showcase the similarities and differences between each hero. In the epic Beowulf, the epic hero, Beowulf, displays
One similarity between the two heroes is the great leadership they both demonstrate to their followers. Like Beowulf being the king of the Geats and “he ruled it well” (line 2208) and showing how well he led his men into battle against the previous foes in the epic. Likewise Odysseus leading his men through the Trojan war and the decade long journey home through many challenging mythical obstacles, and being a well a well loved ruler at home showed his skill in leadership. This shows that the cultures despite their differences in time and place, share some universally respected
Beowulf isn’t a Dane, he is a Geat, and Grendel wasn’t necessarily affecting him and his people, but the moment he heard about how Hrothgar’s people were being tortured by this demon he immediately requested that a boat be fitted out for him. He didn’t have to go help them, he chose to, and not only did he kill Grendel, he did it unarmed. Modern day heroes fight with a sense of justice, and they care about ridding the area of evil forces and the safety of all the people. “Alone shall fight for me, struggles for life against the monster.God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip” (268-270). Here Beowulf is saying regardless of what happens, even if he loses his life in battle, he is going to try his hardest to defeat the beast. He put his own life before others, which shows how selfless he
In the epic poems, The Iliad and Beowulf, they both had two very similar but different heroes, Beowulf and Achilles. In the epic poem, Beowulf, Beowulf is the protagonist, and the great leader who strives to protect his small kingdom and the Danes, whereas Achilles is the protagonist and the strong leader of the Greeks in The Iliad. These heroic characters may have similarities such as supernatural strength, courage, and bravery; however, they have more complex similarities as well. Even though Beowulf and Achilles are not always similar, their similarities shine brighter than their differences. Although Beowulf and Achilles both have plenty of differences, they both face the challenge of conquering creatures, which brings glory and honor to
Grendel’s mother kills King Hrothgar’s advisor, and Beowulf comes back defeat her. Showing no fear, Beowulf bravely goes straight into the water that Grendel’s mother is in. She drags “him, armor and sword and all” (lines 377-378) through the water in the marsh to her den. Beowulf shows his bravery by not fleeing as many others would. During the ensuing battle, Beowulf displays his strength when he grabs a massive sword that was “hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic” (lines 430-431). Beowulf effortlessly lifts the gigantic sword above his head and plants the sword into the neck of Grendel’s mother. Additionally, Beowulf shows even more of his strength when he finds the corpse of Grendel, beheads it and swims all the way to shore while holding it in his hand like a
He leaves his people vulnerable because of his absent method of parenting by creating an angry creature that wishes to harm those connected to the father that never cared for him. Only Grendel’s mother benefits from the act as she gains a replacement for her former son and a weapon. Beowulf armed a known monster unknowingly and never suffers the consequences because his lies are never discovered by his subjects. The lies instead infect those that surround him. Regardless, he dies with his legacy intact and the people remember him as a
Beowulf looked over on the wall next to them and saw a magnificent sword hanging on the wall adorned with beautiful carvings, it was blessed with magic. No normal man could ever have lifted that sword, but Beowulf was no normal being. He waited for the right moment to go and retrieve the sword, and when he found the perfect opportunity and he ran straight towards the wall. He pulled the sword down with great force and began running towards Grendel’s mother. Beowulf took in a deep breath as he leaned back and heaved the sword forward. Beowulf had sliced straight through Grendel’s mother’s scaly neck, blood began to pour everywhere and he heard her bones cracking as the sword passed through her.