...The Odyssey by Homer is an epic about Odysseus. Odysseus is a hero that went to war and got cursed by a god,so he had to overcome obstacles and learn his lesson, that was the only way he could go back home. He travels over a vast setting. He faces supernatural foes and receives supernatural help. Odysseus is also a great warrior. Finally i would be discussing the journey of Odysseus . Through his ability as a warrior readers infer that Odysseus is an epic hero. I believe he is a great warrior because he had fought with all his powers to defeat the Trojan war. He have no retreat when the Trojan tried to back off he kept pushing his warriors to keep fighting. Odysseus is a great warrior because they had ask him to come fight the war. Finally Odysseus has really strong warriors just like him....
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...constituent attributes of a Greek Epic Hero? Explicate with reference to Odysseus and Achilles. The definition of an epic hero is very wide and varied. It includes a lot of attributes and criterions, but for a particular hero to reach the epic stature, it isn’t really necessary to fulfill all the demands and to come up to all the standards. In a very conventional sense, an epic hero is supposed to possess these qualities or is supposed to come up to these standards: 1. Is an important figure from history or legend. 2. Is usually favored by Gods or even partially descended from Gods i.e. semi-divine nature. 3. Takes part in a cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries and returns home with significant transformation. 4. Illustrates traits, performs deeds and exemplifies certain morals that are valued and held dear by the society/ culture from which the hero comes. 5. Usually embodies cultural and religious beliefs of the people. 6. Has no superpowers, but is smart, brave and has fears too; which he must overcome to protect his friends, family and / or nation. 7. Can also be a warrior of some sort who performs extra-ordinary tasks that most find difficult. 8. Is also a polished speaker who can address councils of chieftains or elders with eloquence and confidence. Literature is replete with examples of epic heroes. Classical Greek literature in particular has produced some of the most famous epic heroes. The epic hero in Greek literature is best...
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...An epic hero is a larger-than-life figure who undertakes great journeys and performs deeds requiring remarkable strength and cunning. In the “Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is a man who is traveling home to Ithaca after 10 years until the end of the Trojan War and comes upon many thrilling, dangerous adventures along the way. The heroic traits of Odysseus in “The Odyssey” by Homer can be compared to those of three contemporary heroes. An epic hero shows courage. Odysseus shows courage when risks his own life to visit Tiresias, a blind prophet, in the underworld. Circe, the witch of the land of Aeolus, informs Odysseus that he must visit the underworld and hear “ … a prophecy from the ghost of Tiresias.” Odysseus, familiar with the idea that he might not be able to return back to Earth,...
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...Who is your hero? By today's standard, a modern hero would be a rock star or a fictional person on TV, but this was not always the case. Heroes have been recorded in literature since the beginning of written language. The first indication of an epic hero was found in the literary piece “Beowulf”. An epic hero is defined as a larger - than - life figure, who pits his courage, skill, and virtue against opposing, often evil forces. Beowulf is clearly the epic hero in “Beowulf” because he displays bravery and strength, as well as demonstrates that he is a smart Anglo-Saxon leader. The first trait that Beowulf showcases that makes him an epic hero is bravery. Driven by honor, Beowulf confronts Hrothgar with a proposition to fight the monster...
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...There’s no doubting Bo Jackson is an awe inspiring athlete, making unbelievable plays in both football and baseball. But is he an Epic Hero? I think Bo easily reaches the requirements to make his story an epic, all except two. Nonetheless, Bo very well could be considered an epic hero, since he meets the others. The first requirement is to be capable of great strength and courage. Bo shows his great strength many times in his baseball career, sending many of his hits out to the fans or even to the top of the royals crown. He also shows this in football, flying by the defense or pushing through lines like it was nothing, such as when the massive defender who had it out for Bo hit him with immense strength, but Bo pushes through. That also shows...
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...Odysseus, the Epic Hero You think of superheroes like Superman, Batman, or Captain America; they are strong and defeat the villains, while saving other people; or you think of average heroes like firefighters, who save people’s lives who are in trouble. There are also epic heroes, like Odysseus, in “The Odyssey”. Epic heroes are larger than life and undergo a dangerous journey. The hero normally encounters conflicts as he battles forces of nature, gods, and other beings. Epic heroes have the archetypal characteristics like being cunning, courageous, daring, and having strength and knowledge. Odysseus had to fight many dangerous creatures during his 20 year quest back to Ithaca, like the Lotus Eaters, the Sirens, the Cyclops, Charybdis and Scylla while displaying the archetypal traits of an epic hero. When Odysseus faced the Lotus Eaters and the Sirens, he showed the epic hero character trait of intelligence. The Lotus Eaters tried to get Odysseus’ men to eat the sweet lotus flowers which made them want to stay forever and never return back home to Ithaca. Odysseus used his knowledge of the flower, after seeing three of his other men not come back after trying it, and made his men not try it, and continued sailing. If Odysseus did not tell this to his crew, then they would have possibly stayed there forever, the quest...
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...Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Risking one's life is only one of the many traits of the heroic code. Both Beowulf and American soldiers have put their life at risk to help protect the safety of others. The main character, Beowulf, from the story Beowulf has all of these. He is the ideal hero, and is very comparable to our American soldiers. These heroes possess bravery, honor, courage, and strength. One does not outshine the other because they both are performing incredible tasks and putting themselves in danger. The traits that define a hero have not changed since the time of Beowulf to today’s heroes. Beowulf seems to fit into every category of defining a hero. He is strong, loyal, courageous, honorable, generous and the list could go on. All of these traits help define an epic hero. He left his home to seek out danger and help save his neighbors from Grendel. He did this not because he had to, but because of his generosity. He prepared to fight a creature no one before was ever able to defeat. His courage when going out and facing extreme danger made him a hero to the Danes. He not only fought Grendel, but he also fought with the swamp hag and the dragon, and he won both battles....
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...Vincent Jackson, or more formally known as Bo, was the greatest recorded athlete to ever play professional sports ever. He was more myth than man and everyone was awed by his supreme natural talent. He would accomplish feats before his teenage years that most professional athletes at the time could only dream of. Even so, none of this went to his head and he remained humble and stoic as always. Through the events of Bo Jackson’s life he repeatedly possessed several characteristics of an epic hero such as great deeds of strength, national heroism, and Humility beyond compare. Bo Jackson was an incredible athlete who was capable of otherworldly feats. As a young boy, Bo Jackson grew up in a troubled house in a family with little income, without a father. He was angry because of his circumstances and channeled his rage into sports. There are stories of him getting into fights with other kids and throwing crabapples at them. When the other kids had enough, they would run inside; but that would not stop Bo. He would simply throw them through the screen door. His abilities were not only used for...
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...Epic Hero Paper There are numerous examples of epic heroes in real life. One that comes to mind is Lilly Singh. Like a typical epic hero in a story, Singh has the same traits as most. In order to be classified as an epic hero, you should have at least 3 of the characteristics. They include having a noble birth, being a great warrior, traveling over a vast setting, being recognized as a national hero, showing humility, having supernatural help, and showing great strength and courage. Lilly Singh embodies the characteristics of an epic hero because she has traveled over vast distances, has shown humility, and has been recognized as a national hero. One reason why Lilly Singh is an epic hero is because she has traveled far distances. According...
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...An epic hero is defined as a brave and noble character that is admired for great achievements and known for being a warrior (dictionary.com). There have been plenty of heroes over the course of time, but many believe the most popular Anglo- Saxon hero, Beowulf, most perfectly fits into this category and truly defines what it means. At all times, Beowulf is never afraid to put his life on the line for the sake and protection of his people, which helped him gain approval from the people of his area. Throughout the course of the adventure and journey, Beowulf exemplifies what it means to be an epic hero showing loyalty, courage, intelligence, and selflessness in his efforts to save his people and achieve immortality. Beowulf proves that he is a great Anglo-Saxon epic hero through his loyalty. Loyalty was held paramount by...
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...Is Beowulf An Epic Hero? Beowulf, an epic hero came from Geats to the rescue of Hrothgar. The Mighty king of Danes whose kingdom was getting ruined by an evil monster, Grendel. Beowulf eventually defeats Grendel by cutting his head off. He shows his strength and brut by killing grendel with his bare hands. However, beowulf ends up meeting grendels mother. They fight in her underwater lair. Beowulf amazingly holds his breath for one whole day. Grendels mother was on a war path to seek revenge which ended for her by beowulf finding a sword giants once used and slays her. He stabs her in the neck. After beowulfs victory he returns home to Geats, 50 years pass. Beowulf finds himself in one last battle.There is an evil dragon that threatens to destroy the people Beowulf was sworn to protect. Beowulf fails at first.. He finds a lone servant , Wiglaf to help him battle the dragon. Wiglaf gets the dragon into the cave and kills it. Beowulf gets...
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...Beowulf is a great representation of what an epic hero is. Throughout the story, Beowulf is painted as a very brave and courageous hero. He is able to slay many monsters that most men in his world cannot fathom. In the poem of Beowulf, he is introduced as a brave, determined, and loyal hero, and it is shown through the heroic deeds he displays throughout the poem. Beowulf has shown readers his bravery by losing his life to fighting a dragon when many have cowered at the thought. He has willingly put himself in danger to protect his people.”I sold my life for this treasure and I sold it well”.(pg.59 ).This proves Beowulf as an epic hero because it is selfless to give one’s life to protect a city. Would an ordinary person give his life to save...
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...Do you have a hero or role model that you look up to and strive to be like? In Beowulf’s time, he was the hero to many of his warriors and the type of person each of them wanted to be similar to before the end of their lifetime. Heroes like Beowulf had to be willing to face any challenges thrown their way and risk their lives for their people. Beowulf displayed all of these traits while still being respectable, kind, and intelligent. Beowulf was a true epic hero because of his bravery, loyalty to his men, and his strength. Beowulf was viewed as a hero by many because of his super strength and appearance. For example, in lines 109-113, the quote says “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats – greater and...
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...Enkidu: The Greater Hero of the Epic What makes a hero a hero? This is what I thought when I first encountered the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and found Enkidu far better than Gilgamesh. Strangely, his character outshone the main protagonist because of some reasons that may only be my own. He captured my attention because of his strong will and because of some things I can relate him with. Am I too vague or narrow to think such? Well this is an opinion worth valuing since it may steer away from the supposed preference of many to Gilgamesh' character. Apologies to fanatics or to those who oppose my arguments. I'd like to share what I think is right, and why it's right for me. INNOCENT ENKIDU “So the goddess conceived an image in her mind, and it was of the stuff of Anu of the firmament. She dipped her hands in water and pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness, and noble Enkidu was created. There was virtue in him of the god of war, of Ninurta himself. His body was rough, he had long hair like a woman's; it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn. His body was covered with matted hair like Samugan's, the god of cattle. He was innocent of mankind; he knew nothing of the cultivated land.” (Assyrian International Books) Enkidu was first introduced in the epic of Gilgamesh as an innocent man, one with nature and though strong, he never used his strength to harm others. Son of a wild ass and gazelle, he is very primitive and eats with the animals. His encounter...
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...In the Old English epic, Beowulf, the book’s namesake, (Beowulf), is seen maturing from a young hero, to a wise king, and it is through this progression and growth that the old English bards developed Beowulf’s ultimate goal of eternal glory. From impressively defeating Grendel and liberating the Danes, to the revenge killing of Grendel’s mom, and even later by saving his nation through self-sacrifice, Beowulf captures the heart of those of the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian world to ultimately go down in history forever. Firstly; however, Beowulf had to start as the equivalent of a nobody to us, (the reader), and the world. All that is known is his quest to slay Grendel on accounts of its attacks on the Danish mead-hall, Heorot. “ ‘I come...
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