Comparing Heroism In The Odyssey And Beowulf

How does beowulf's heroic acts compare to today's heroes.Becoming a hero you do not necessarily need brute strength, but can have mental strength as well. Having pride and honor is

Beowulf is a hero, and we all know a hero when we see one. There are many traits and characteristics that make someone a hero. These traits and characteristics are more expressed in ancient epics and poems. Beowulf is one of the most famous ancient Anglo-Saxon poems still taught to this day in schools and colleges all over the world. The story starts off of how a man by the name of Beowulf receives news that a neighboring land is being terrorized by a monster named Grendel. Beowulf shows several characteristics of here such as, bravery, loyalty, generosity, friendship, and showing a high level of intellect. Beowulf first shows his heroic character through his bravery while journeying on his epic quest. There are several cases where he is not afraid, and instead of being frightened, he shows great bravery. An example of from the poem is, “Instead, they inspected omens and spurred his ambitions to go, whilst he moved about like the leader he was, enlisting men, the best he could find; with fourteen others the warrior boarded the boast as captain” (Beowulf 205-210). This quote gives proof of his bravery because he was the head of the group leading his men. Beowulf proves that even he himself must be brave in order to lead the bravest of men into battle.

Christopher Reeve once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to preserve and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Hero’s are around us in our everyday lives such as firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect people and their property. Other hero’s can be found in literature. These hero’s, also know as an epic hero, exhibit superhuman qualities to help fight and protect others while on their quest. Being a hero means taking on enormous responsibilities. With these responsibilities comes great praise from others which both Beowulf and everyday firefighter receive for their extraordinary work.

Both the U.S soldier and Beowulf portray characteristics of a hero. Courage, bravery, and selflessness all play a huge role in their lives. Although one is past and the other present, hero is the only word that comes

A hero is defined as “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character,” says dictionary.com. During the whole book Beowulf is saving the Geats, aiding Hrothgar, killing creatures and saving his people. He shows his heroism through his bravery and acts of courage; but he is also being assisted through fate and God. From killing Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon he knows that he is doing great things for all of the people in his kingdoms.

In the epic poem, Beowulf truly exhibits bravery and courage. There is no doubt that Beowulf is a brave man. As soon as Beowulf is summoned by Hrothgar, he doesn’t hesitate to take up the challenge to battle with Grendel. Beowulf is valiant as he said,“ my hands alone shall fight for me” (Beowulf 38). He intends to fight Grendel with his bare hands not knowing what the outcome will be. Beowulf is willing to risk his life for others which makes him courageous and brave of them all. As a young warrior, Beowulf has proven

“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns ... start from where you will—sing for our time too” (I, 1, 12). From the very beginning, Homer shows his intention for themes of The Odyssey to be applicable in the modern age and essentially “sing for our time” (I, 12). Homer’s epic provides the ideal reflection upon the very definition of heroism because it details the strenuous journey of Odysseus, a crafty hero whose key priority is to return home to his family. As one of the most prominent themes, The Odyssey carries forth the idea of heroism through the portrayal of Odysseus, and establishes a connection with the real world through the expression of life lessons. Consequently, Odysseus is characterized to serve as a role model for the successful hero because, after all, the poem is essentially centered on his very name. However, The Odyssey simultaneously conveys that an entirely perfect hero may be impossible, but a means for improvement is always present. The attributes for success that are revealed in The Odyssey can be examined under interconnected ideas of passion, perseverance, and prowess. Thus, heroism is the most compelling theme of The Odyssey because it exemplifies the attributes for success while also demonstrating that heroes are not without mortal flaws.

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem about a hero’s perilous ten-year journey home with twelve ships and hundreds of men. During this voyage, however, Odysseus and his men face the wrath of Poseidon, the wiles of Circe and the Sirens, and the peril of the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. In the end, Odysseus loses everything except his determination to return home to his beloved wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus. Even though he experiences many difficult challenges, Odysseus is a hero who exemplifies the Greek cultural values of bravery, wit, and loyalty.

The first characteristic Beowulf beholds to be a hero is braveness. Throughout the epic poem Beowulf encounters many deadly situations where he must show his bravery to survive. Beowulf faces a dragon who he is well aware breaths fire and poison. " I'd use no sword, no weapon, if this beast/ could be killed without it, crushed to death/ like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn/ limb from limb.

The portrayal of bravery as a heroic quality in Beowulf differs from that of Dan Evans’ in numerous ways. Being the traditional, valiant hero, Beowulf’s bravery is unmatched among the thanes of Heorot and he leaps at the chance to slay the terrible monster Grendel. Described as a “brave thane of the Geats” (Beowulf 2), Beowulf’s strength and daring spirit is demonstrated with his admirable feats of bravery, including “[destroying] five a family of giants” and “[slaying] monsters on the waves” (372). Beowulf’s daring exploits leads him to challenge Grendel in single combat in order to slay the terrorizing beast. He expresses his courage and confidence through his boast, stating that he considered himself “[…] no less brave than Grendel himself/

Beowulf ultimately faces danger head on with extreme confidence and courage just as any ancient hero does. However, Beowulf is also similar to modern day heroes in many ways as well. For instance, most modern heroes are treated with respect,

As the great Arthur Ashe once put it “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” The epic, Odyssey by Homer highlights the determination of a certain character to return to his homeland and family after many years at war. However, with determination comes important decisions to do what is right and what is best for all. In most cases, a hero must take some kind of guidance from his acquaintances. In addition, the extensive qualities of a hero can range from being loyal to others and putting their own life behind everyone else’s. By these standards, in the Odyssey, main character Odysseus can not be considered a hero because he

In society, there are many different types of heroes. Heroes throughout time have changed and from culture to culture they differ for example, in the early times they were defined as someone who will lead them into battle but now it's more about having a positive impact on other people and society as a whole. Although cultural heroes ultimately serve the purpose of solidifying the values of a particular culture, the ever changing, dynamic nature of heroism identifies itself as one who is selfless, relentless and brave. The Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf, is a brave, well respected and selfless person that will do anything for the good of the people and he will even risk his life to protect them.

A hero defined as “a person, typically a man, admired or idealized for courage,” has mostly likely acted as someone well respected. Odysseus reflects the qualities of a hero because he performs strongly and bravely. In many of the ancient Greek societies strength and bravery appear as some of the most sacred qualities someone could have, especially if they have a higher role in society like a king or a general. Bravery appears as a great, important factor to all of those who represent heroism in their society and to their family. Bravery defined as “courageous behavior or character,” shows up as one of the most significant and obvious characteristics that make Odysseus a hero.

(A Comparison of Heroic Traits Displayed by Achilles and Odysseus in Homer’s, Iliad and Odyssey)