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Characteristics of an epic hero
Characteristics of an epic hero
What makes a true epic hero
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Essay#1(Draft): Epic Hero
An epic hero. What is an epic hero? Well, an epic hero is a very brave character in an epic poem that is greatly admired by their achievements or the events that happen. There are 12 stages in an epic hero:
1. Ordinary World
2. Call To Adventure
3. Refusal of the Call
4. Meeting with The Mentor
5. Crossing the Threshold
6. Test, Allies, Enemies
7. Approach
8. Ordeal
9. Reward
10. The Road Back
11. Resurrection Hero
12. Return with Elixir
These stages are what mostly happens to epic hero. Someone I would say is an epic hero is Beowulf. To me, Beowulf is an epic hero because he has achieved great achievements and has the qualities of being an epic hero. He shows qualities of being loyal and brave.
In the epic poem of Beowulf, he shows acts of bravery. When he is about to battle off the Grendel, he took of his armor. After Beowulf takes off his armor, he teases Grendel and says, “When it comes to fighting, I count myself/ as dangerous any day as Grendel” (667/668). When he did this, it showed an act of bravery. Taking off his armor was dangerous but it made him, in a way, seem like he was much more heroic without it. It was courageous! He finally shows one more act of bravery when he is with of his men, Wiglaf comes to help battle along with him 50 years later.
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In the poem, Beowulf says, “Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance” (472). Another way that Beowulf showed his loyalty in the poem, was when he and the men he was with went to go defeat the monster. This was to help pay back his father. The final act of loyalty is when one of his men (Wiglaf) shows that he is committed and loyal to his King Beowulf fifty year after his battle. Wiglaf say, “I shall stand by you” (2668). By Wiglaf going along with this Journey with Beowulf, it shows that he is brave and loyal
The epic hero is often the person who has shown outstanding superhuman abilities no other can achieve. A hero is also a person who has conquered a very difficult obstacle or challenge in their early lives. In this case Theseus’ first obstacle was to be able to get the sword and shoes his father had placed under a great stone.
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
Definition: “An epic hero is the larger-than-life character in an epic--a long narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a culture. The epic hero demonstrates traits that are valued by society. The character’s traits can be communicated in narration as well as through dialogue.”
... enormous risk that all the instincts of self-preservation resist”(Hanning 60). Beowulf is always ready to take the risks for the fame.Beowulf “fight Grendel alone and without weapons to maximize his chance for glory; if he fails he is fully aware that it will mean death”(Hanning 61). This clearly shows his bravery and how hard he goes to gain glory, and he values them all more than his life. His bravery keeps him to fight for glory, and this quality clearly makes him an epic hero.
What are the qualities of an epic hero? An Epic hero is a hero on a
From what I have read and considered to be an Epic hero’s qualities are those men who demonstrate nobility in and with their strong mind and body. They also seem to be mortal and can die. Their fears are real and with them, and yet they are helped by the gods. These heroes are steady to keep going and never give up their battles or journey until it is complete.
What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind.
In Beowulf’s youth and early adulthood he is an outstanding and fearless warrior, characterized by his desire for glory and triumphs. Despite losing his swimming match against Breca, he admits his defeat and recovers even more eager to become a hero. Beowulf’s win over Grendel and the defeat of Grendel’s atrocious mother verifies his reputation for bravery and grants him the title of ‘hero’ he’s strived for.
Simba, the lion character starring in the movie Lion King is an example of an epic hero. An epic hero can be very different, but still inquires the same twelve characteristics. Simba isn’t the first hero that comes to mind, but he is a hero. He does not fight through many battles like Odysseus, but he still fights though his own battles. Simba would be considered a modern hero with similar traits to an epic hero.
What makes an epic hero? An epic hero must undergo a dangerous journey that threatens the lives of a society, while upholding the values and ideals of that society. Although there are many differences between Beowulf the movie and the poem, both the poem and the movie basically follow the same story line. Beowulf is an amazing story of an epic hero told through text with vivid descriptions and a film version, which portrays the story in a more exaggerated manner.
Modern Poetry An epic hero is defined as larger than life, someone who embodies the values of a particular society. Common epic heroes have superior strength, they care for their people, and are fearless of death. Epic heroes show great intelligence and inventiveness. An epic hero will suffer severe pain, but in the end, they will ultimately persevere and conquer over evil.
Beowulf is able to go against all odds, and actions acting against him while risking his own life. There are many moments when Beowulf shows bravery, such as how eager he is to finally meet Grendel. Grendel has killed thirty men and carried them all at once, however Beowulf is eager to meet, and battle him. Another example of bravery is when Beowulf faces Grendel’s mother under water. Beowulf tells the prince, “And if your enemy should end my life then be, o generous prince, forever the father and protector of all whom I leave behind me” (ln. 452). Beowulf knows that he has an impossible task ahead of him but yet again he is risking his life to save others. In this battle against Grendel’s mother, Beowulf must hold his breath an extremely unrealistic amount of time, while fighting a battle with weapons that were useless against the monster. This superhuman powers are only small examples that stress the epic hero qualities Beowulf possesses.
An epic hero is defined as a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. Furthermore, and character must also meet the following eight characteristic of an Epic hero: 1). The character must be significant and glorified or famous, such as having royal background; 2). The character is called to a quest or adventure; 3). The character must have superior or superhuman strength, intelligence and courage and often faces supernatural foes and/or has assistance from supernatural beings; 4). the character must be ethical; 5). the character risks death for glory or for the greater good of society; 6). the character is seen as a strong and responsible leader; 7). the character must performs brave deeds; and 8). The character Reflects the ideals of a particular society. Upon closer inspection, all of these features are prevalent in the character of Beowulf, thus qualifying him as an epic
References to epic hero stories are around us all the time, although we may not realize it. For example, why do we have trophies? What are they for? Well the answer to this lies in Beowulf; the trophies are put up to remember the deeds that we have done. Epic heroes have been around for a very long time, their stories born as the creation tale for the places of their origin. The people needed their epic heroes to outline the proper way to act and to tell the story of their creation. Some of the most famous epic heroes include: Achilles, Odysseus, Aeneus, Socrates, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and Arthur. The question, however, is what makes them an epic hero? For each the story is different, yet alike. Homer’s The Iliad, and The Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, Plato’s Apology, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The Story of King Arthur all present epic heroes that we still idolize today.
The usual epic hero is most of the time on a mission. Beowulf was on a mission to help his people by getting rid of Grendel. He is determined to free the Danes from Grendel.The third characteristic of Beowulf is courage. There’s no way Beowulf would have accomplished anything without courage. “The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns.” Beowulf stated here that he’s known for courage, “The man whose name was known for courage, the Geat leader, resolute in his helmet,answered in return: "We are retainers