An epic poem is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet. These poems tell tales of intense adventures and heroic feats. They often include cultural references to the time it was written and was a way for the people to spread their ideas and beliefs. Epic poems are very important when a person is trying to learn more about a certain culture or era in which the poem was written. Two of the most famous epic poems are Beowulf and The Odyssey. Although no two poems are exactly them same, Beowulf and The Odyssey do share a few similarities. Between Beowulf and The Odyssey, the most salient similarity they share is the way the monsters from the epics are symbolic and challenge …show more content…
Commonly, epic poems have a theme called “good vs evil.” This theme runs in both Beowulf and The Odyssey. Monsters such as Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon from Beowulf and Polyphemus, Scylla, and the sirens from The Odyssey all represent evil in the epic poems. These evil beings make their protagonists look like perfect people in comparison. They do this because the monsters represent the qualities their respective societies do not accept. For example in The Odyssey it says, “Give it me again with a ready heart, and tell me thy name straightway, that I may give thee a stranger's gift whereat thou mayest be glad’… So I spoke, and he straightway answered me with pitiless heart: `Noman will I eat last among his comrades, and the others before him; this shall be thy gift.’” (The Odyssey Book 9, 355-356 and 368-367) Polyphemus did not show xenia, which is one of the greatest offenses to the Greeks. From Beowulf we also see an example of a monster going strongly against the common practice of the culture. “Sad lays were sung about the beset king, the vicious raids and ravages of Grendel, his long and unrelenting feud, nothing but war; how he would never parley or make peace with any Dane nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death-price.” (Beowulf, line 153) Grendel would not stop murdering or pay for the deaths he has caused which was the opposite of how …show more content…
These epic poems have different functions for their respective monsters. In Beowulf, the monsters Beowulf, the main protagonist, fights are his way of becoming an epic hero. Defeating Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are the main ways that Beowulf becomes a hero. These monsters are his ultimate goal. The monster’s defeat in this epic mean much more to the main protagonist because they are how he achieves his glory and fame. When Beowulf defeated the monsters he was heavily praised. For example, “Then away they rode, the old retainers with many a young man following after, a troop on horseback, in high spirits on their bay steeds. Beowulf's doings were praised over and over again.” (Beowulf, line 852-856.) On the other hand, Polyphemus, Scylla, and the sirens in The Odyssey are obstacles to Odysseus’ main goal. Odysseus must fight his monsters in order to get back home and win back his kingdom. The monsters from this epic are simply steps the main protagonist must take to get to his ultimate goal and become an epic hero. These monster’s defeat do not mean nearly as much to Odysseus. When Odysseus defeated each one, no one celebrated him the way they did for Beowulf. For example, “-men around me trying to check me, calm me, left and right: So headstrong-why? Why rile the beast again?” (The Odyssey, line 548-550) His men did not
Monsters play a big role in the poem of Beowulf. Without them, there would not be much of a story, and there is a purpose for each of them. They are there to represent the forces that go against the grain, trying to stop others from prevailing. Describing Grendel, “bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came hoping to kill” (Beowulf 33). They take pride in doing so and do not want to be associated with anyone. Later on, the author describes the dragon as “anxious to find the man who had robbed it of silver”(Beowulf 95). The monsters have many ways of heroic code by taking pride with what they do and going against what seems evil to them. It is what they believe in and are unique to themselves. They decide to be and act differently than everyone
Anglo-Saxons refers to settlers from the German regions that migrated to Britain during the fall of the Roman Empire. In the story Beowulf, his actions portray him, indeed be an epic hero. Both Christianity and Paganism are both portrayed throughout the epic Beowulf. Beowulf frequently speaks of God throughout the story, while there are also many Pagan elements that are evident throughout the story as well. In addition, "It 's hard to ignore the Christian and Pagan elements in Beowulf. These types of elements are what define the heroic warrior in the epic Beowulf"(Vengeance the Pagan and Christian Inspiration). Throughout the epic Beowulf, while the Anglo-Saxons followed Christianity, they had a hard time letting go of the Pagan beliefs when things got hard.
Beowulf’s wrath is swift and justified. He plays no games with his opponents. Beowulf even shows respect to his foe and honorably faces them with no undue advantage. A classic example of the honor usually associated with heroes lies in Beowulf’s decision to use neither sword nor armor when facing the monster Grendel in Heorot. Beowulf instead opted, in the name of fair play, to fight the monster on it’s own terms. Unsurprisingly Beowulf conquered his foe in true idolic form, tearing Grendel’s arm from his torso with only the strength of his grip and the power of his arms. This is what we cheer for in such stories, this is the satisfying victory over evil by the true embodiment of good: the hero.
During the Anglo-Saxon time period, individuals wrote poems about achievements, deaths, emotions, and adventures taken by certain individuals. There were many popular poems during this era including, “Beowulf” translated by Burton Raffer and “The Wanderer” translated by Charles W. Kennedy. Although both these poems were written during this era, “Beowulf” was an epic poem and “The Wanderer” was an elegiac poem. However, both of these pieces shared certain characteristics related to the culture and values of the Anglo-Saxon culture. Many attributes that make up this culture are related to both Pagan and Christian beliefs. This includes many ideals relating to fate and God. The culture and values of Anglo-Saxons through “Beowulf” and “The Wanderer”, suggest that along one’s quest emerges an individuals outlook on ways of life.
When you hear the words “Epic Heroes”, you probably imagine the cliche muscular men with super powers that take on tasks to save the city, such as Superman or The Hulk. Although both show great strength, it does not compare to the heroes I know, Beowulf and Odysseus. Beowulf and Odysseus both possess great powers such as strength, confidence, and the courage to overcome the many challenges they face. Although their strength, ethical views, and quests are very different, they both use their skills and perseverance to become the well known heroes they are today.
Beowulf and The Iliad are both famous works of literature that have been studied for hundreds of years. Both Beowulf and Achilles are great heroes in their Epics. An important component of these Heroic Epics are their heroes and their how the act. Beowulf always exhibits the traits that would make him an epic hero, and would never do anything dishonorable or that wasn not for the benefit of everyone around him, while Achilles had moments that made him look dishonorable and not heroic. Overall, Beowulf is the better hero because he never gave up and fought for God, while Achilles refused to fight and disrespected Greek traditions such as respecting fallen foes.
The poem Beowulf and The Odyssey are two great epics that have much in common but not everything. These two works are considered epics which is just one thing they have in common. By definition an epic is a long poem that is centered around a hero who is great in the eyes of many, it also follows ancient oral tradition. Beowulf is the great hero that everyone loves.
Literary devises use utilized by authors to help show common themes as well as tone and symbolism. The epic poem Beowulf (translated by Seamus Heany) is a three-part epic of the Anglo-Saxon warrior Beowulf. First, he brought his warriors to Heorot and to the king Hrothgar to help him get rid of the monster Grendel. Grendel is a monster, and is very isolated. Beowulf is successful and ends up killing Grendel, and kills Grendel’s mother after she returns an attack. The final part is Beowulf’s final fight with a dragon, in which he dies. Various literary terms are used in Beowulf to help provide themes of fear of outcasts, the struggle of good and evil, and the difference between isolation and being part of a tribe.
That's because it is everything and more that makes an epic. Starting with hero Odysseus. Odysseus is not a god, not a king, but a worrier who stops at nothing to bring pride and joy to he and his father laertes name. To do this odysseus battles in the trojan war to bring pride to him and his home land ithaca but on the way he bring bad fortran to himself by upsetting the gods now that he has done this he must battle strong,
be comparing these two epics and seeing what parts of them make them epics, as
Heroes bring a hope to people whom they protect. Heroes bring people joy and bring a sense of relaxation to the people of their society because they play such an important role in lives everywhere. Heroes are complex rather than unembellished because they can fight dragons to defend their kingdom, or create a non-profit foundation to enhance the quality of life for more than 2,000 underprivileged kids. Heroes in our present day can be very complex because a person’s viewpoint on a hero’s life can be a completely different than the way another person looks at that same hero. Thomas Davis Sr. can be extremely comparable to Beowulf but they also have major differences.
Traditionally, an epic poem is a poetic narrative about a significant event normally featuring a hero. Epic poems frequently involve interactions between the heroes and the gods. In addition, epic poems arise out of Oral Traditions in poetry. Also, epic poem feature tragic deaths most of the time. Beowulf has just about every aspect of an epic poem.
An epic is a long, narrative poem that encompasses a hero or a heroine who is usually involved in an amazing battle between two forces. It includes forces that are not of the human world such as demons, angels, gods, and spirits. The epic of Beowulf is about a hero with superhuman strength that defeats the demon who torments the soldiers of the kingdom. In The Rape of the Lock, the heroine Belinda has a piece of her hair cut and stolen from her and the major battle is trying to get her lock of hair
epic poems, dragons play major antagonistic roles. The foe of Beowulf and the two dragons in The
The epic poem of Beowulf was passed down orally through important people called scotts. These “scots” had high positions being known as story tellers. The poem of Beowulf was the first poem to ever be translated and written by these scots. Beowulf is known as one of the oldest and most popular poems to be passed down through scots. This oral story was passed down for decades until eventually it was translated and written. Part one of the epic was translated by Burton Raffel, and part two was translated by Seamus Heaney. The poem of Beowulf is an epic proven through long journeys alongside the people he fought with and led. Beowulf goes through extreme conditions and hardships to keep his people safe. Beowulf is a true heroic. There are many examples of the obstacles Beowulf had to overcome in order to become an epic hero.