Truth Behind the Knight: The Presence of Archetypes in Sir Gawain & the Green Knight In the medieval story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, we are introduced to a young man, who, like many of young men, is trying to discover himself and travel through his rite of passage. He is trying to figure out who he is in life, and while in his journey, passes through many phases that mold him into one of the great Knights of the Round Table that old King Arthur wanted to serve with him. These phases affect
qualities that Greeks perceived as valuable in men. Odysseus, a prime example as the protagonist of The Odyssey, fully embodies the Greek idea of heroism, using his physical skill, as well as his clever mind to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. From escaping the Cyclops’ lair to facing the suitors in Ithaca, Odysseus chooses to use strategy over brute force often in The Odyssey and sets a precedent for future heroes of Western epics. While Odysseus has physical strength on his side, he often exercises
Final Research Paper Throughout the ages, there have been many famous myths and legends. They are constantly being retold in different stories through the years. One of the mot famous myths of Greek mythology is the Trojan War. Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows and book series of today. As a modern retelling of Hamilton’s Trojan War, Robert’s Rebellion from Game of Thrones demonstrates the power of love to generate conflict, to connect people, and to inspire archetypal heroism
The archetype of the sage pervades the epics of old: King Arthur had Merlin, Gilgamesh had Utnapishtim, and Odysseus had Mentor. In his work The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri subverts the clichéd, all-knowing and morally sound guide by placing Virgil the poet in this role. Virgil’s tragic predicament as a virtuous pagan propels Inferno’s message with respect to the nature of sin through his interplay with both Dante the Pilgrim and his surroundings. To examine Virgil’s role in the Divine Comedy
literature were virtually gods, and as civilization progresses they became more human, more flawed, and less heroic. From the divine heroes like Odysseus and Hercules, to the extraordinary but mortal heroes such as Achilles, the phenomenal leaders including King Arthur and the great but tragically flawed heroes such as, Macbeth or Oedipus. Further from the archetype of heroism are the unlikely but, eventual heroes such as Harry Potter, until we reach the notion of the anti-hero. Contrary to the sound,