Exploring Heroic Qualities in Classical Literature

One might wonder what comprises a hero. Courage, passion, confidence, selflessness, and humility are a few characteristics of a hero. According to dictionary.com a hero is a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal ("Hero-Dictionary.com"). Beowulf, Achilles, Hector, and Hamlet are great tragic heroes in literature. Sometimes a hero must travel when called to action. In the story of Beowulf, he went from his home in Geatland to travel to Denmark to help his enemies, the Danes, defeat the creature terrorizing their mead hall. The monster, Grendel, a dragon-like creature who inhabits King Hrothgar’s mead hall at night. Grendel frightened Hrothgar’s men and Grendel

Beowulf, by himself, tore Grendel’s arm and hanged it from the ceiling of the mead hall. Beowulf then chased Grendel through the bogs, to the lake where Grendel submerged himself. Beowulf, not far behind Grendel, followed into the murky waters. Hours after Beowulf jumped into the lake, he finally found himself at the underwater home of Grendel and his mother. The mother had been waiting for Beowulf. Beowulf’s sword was no match for the sea witch’s powers. Laying on the ground, Beowulf looked toward one of the walls and spotted a large, beautiful sword crafted by giants. (Beowulf, Lines 633-645) Beowulf decapitated the sea witch with one blow from the mighty sword. Beowulf’s kingdom praised him and he became king of the Geats. In his final battle, Beowulf tries to obtain the treasure of a fire dragon. Beowulf, too weak to fight on his own, obtained help from his friend Wiglaf. Before Beowulf died, he crowned Wiglaf as the new king of the Geats. In the Iliad, Hector, the mightiest of the Trojan army, killed the first Greek who stepped on Trojan soil ("Encyclopedia.com", 2001). Hector succeeded at pushing back the Greek forces to their ships. In Achilles’ absence, Hector destroys the Achaean army and set fire to their ships. Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, killed Hector by piercing him through the collarbone of his armour. Achilles, a demi-god,

Unferth speaks angrily and rudely of Beowulf and his adventures only because he accomplished great feats, is far more courageous, and has acquired more fame than Unferth. Beowulf tells the true story of his and Brecca’s swimming contest. Beowulf also mentions that there are not amazing stories of Unferth’s adventures, which embarrassed him. In Hamlet, Hamlet rightfully avenges the death of his father. The ghost of King Hamlet visits Prince Hamlet and tells how Claudius poured hebanon into King Hamlet’s ear to poison him. The ghost wishes for Prince Hamlet to avenge the wrongful death, but to leave the Queen to be punished by God. In the Iliad, even though the battle belongs to Paris because he stole Helen, Hector voluntarily fights for his brother and to protect his city from destruction by the Greeks. Hector is being selfless in order to keep his family and townspeople from being attacked and killed. Achilles shows respect to his authority figures in the Iliad. Near the end of the story, King Priam kindly requests for Achilles to return to Priam the body of Hector. Achilles is respectful, as King Priam reminds Achilles of his own father who would be asking for Achilles’ body if he would have died instead of Hector. Achilles kindly returns the body of Hector to King Priam and grants the Trojans twelve days to bury