Gandalf
“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” - Felix Adler
Although it is accurate, rarely has the epithet “epic hero” been used to describe Gandalf the Wizard. Epic heroes are easily recognizable throughout History textbooks and simple searches via Google, but many people just cannot put a finger on what exactly is an epic hero. The criteria is simple to say, yet difficult to accomplish; do a tremendous deed or disservice and be identified by a well known or well established piece of writing or section of History. In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf embodies the characteristics of an epic hero, such as traveling vast distances, battling supernatural foes, and having humility.
Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Gandalf; in their time, these four figures traveled over vast distances. Hannibal through Italy, Caesar through Gaul, Napoleon through Europe, and Gandalf through Middle-earth. However, Gandalf did not just travel the span of Middle-earth, but the span of life and death. In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf is pulled into a dark chasm by a Luciferic creature, a chasm that has a symbolic meaning. He lands and defeats the Balrog on a snowy mountaintop, but death creeps up on him, until it finally takes him over. Gandalf then began a separate journey, one that took him away from life and entered the unknown. As the “stars wheeled
What is an epic hero? Although we would like to believe that a hero would always be there to save us as needed, that is not always the case. All heroes are different, but what makes them epic? Many would answer that question by saying because they are in an epic poem or story; however, that answer isn’t true. An epic hero, of course is in an epic narrative, but it is what they accomplish in that specific text. First, an epic hero has to make a grand journey and be in the Gods favor or shall we say the chosen one. Also, he has to be seen as superior than any other man. For clarification, the epic hero needs to be bigger, faster, stronger, and wiser than anyone else in the story, except for the Gods of course. Also, and epic hero is also
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”-Christopher Reeve
What are Heroes “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” Joseph Campbell.
Praised for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities, a hero has distinguished courage and ability. An epic hero is a unique type of hero who is often depicted in an epic poem. Homer initiated the concept of an epic hero in the person of Odysseus in the epic poem The Odyssey. Through his works and other author 's works, the traits of an epic hero emerge. An epic hero embodies certain traits or characteristics; a strong love for their people, courage and being humble. The hero also grows stronger through a journey that benefits more than just the hero; a selfless act. Bilbo Baggins who is a hobbit who lives in a small house, small town in a small hole. No one would have thought he would become one of the greatest Epic Heroes in literature, because of his size and because he isn 't "well known." Some call him the "unexpected" hero, but there is no doubt that he has many of the characteristics of an Epic Hero. He does not exactly have an exigency to go on the journey at first, but as the story unfolds, Bilbo Baggins portrays traits of an epic hero.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”(Joseph Campbell). Joseph Campbell showed how important hero’s are by creating the Hero’s Journey and that you can be a hero just through writing and showing it through different characters. A hero shows that you can help other people to make the world better
An epic hero can also be a warrior of some sort who performs extraordinary tasks that most find difficult. This hero is strong, smart, and brave.
An epic hero is a protagonist whose life is a series of well-marked adventures which typically change the hero into a better, more refined person. These heroes are typically characterized by courage, strength, honor, and the hardships they endure and eventually overcome. An epic hero can even be known to risk his or her life for the good of others. Gilgamesh and Achilles are perfect examples of what an epic hero truly is. They are both able to become successful despite their flaws and go on to become powerful men.
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.
The Journey of Epic Heroes Every epic hero is the personification of goodness and strength. Similar to Odysseus in The Odyssey and the Iliad, he is fighting for his people and for good. An epic hero is not just someone who has heroic characteristics, but also someone who embodies the goodness and virtues of their writers time and society. In the modern era they are mainly characters with crazy powers and stories.
In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf holds many traits of being an epic hero. A epic hero is a brave and noble character, admired for great achievements. Beowulf takes charge and kills Grendel and his Mother, rules Geatland for the best, and finally gets defeated by the dragons. Beowulf holds a strong standing as an epic hero in this poem. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf shows the real meaning of being strong, on a quest, and ethical.
An epic hero is someone who is of great importance, they have supernatural abilities, have some form of connection with the Gods, and accomplish great deeds. In Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is the epic hero in his tale and he is considered great by those who know of his life. There are two versions of his story which portrays him in a certain way. The video version does not do its best to portray him as an epic hero but instead show that he is a liar, a womanizer, and a coward. The written version does not portray him as such, it portrays him as someone who is strong, brave, and fearless. The written version best portrays Beowulf as an epic hero by showing his actions involving superhuman deeds in battle.
A hero can be defined in several ways. Someone can be considered a hero by the qualities he or she displays. The epic poem Beowulf, written by an unknown author, describes the most heroic man and role model of the Anglo-Saxon times. This hero Beowulf has all the qualities and traits that a true hero expresses. Beowulf, as depicted in the epic Beowulf, is the prototype of the epic hero, a larger-than-life figure who embodies the virtues and ideals of his culture.
The characteristics of an epic hero range from unfathomable strength and courage to simply being a good person. A typical epic hero has super strength, courage, devotion, loyalty, a strong sense of justice, a primary weakness, a love of glory, and they are usually champions of freedom. There have been innumerable changes in the characteristics of an epic hero over time; however, there are a few key traits that will forever stay the same. Beowulf is a prime example of an archetypal epic hero—past and present—because he exudes qualities such as loyalty and honor, courage, and adroitness to risk his life for others and the “greater good” of society.
An Epic Hero is a brave, noble character in an epic poem, and they are admired for great achievements or affected by a grand event. In another point of view, A Epic Hero has to have strength, faith and Braveness in order to perform heroic deeds. In the story Beowulf , Beowulf is an epic hero because he kills Grendel the monster, Grendel’s Mother and a dragon that no one else could have defeated. All the things Beowulf did throughout this story showed evidence of an epic hero, also with his personality and dedication. Beowulf is an epic hero because of how he sacrificed his life to perform heroic deeds. Also for his extraordinary strength, Braveness, and Faith.