Qualities of the Hero: Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus
A hero refers to someone who has done something outstanding during their generation. It’s someone who stands out for is extra-ordinary deeds in the society. A hero shapes the life of the future generation. They form the basis of what the future generation can look up to and learn from them. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are heroes who existed in the ancient days. Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk in Babylonia. He was their historical king. He lived in 2700BC.His territory was situated on the River Euphrates, which is in modern Iraq. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca. Ithaca was a kingdom situated in an island. Their comparison helps one understand the meaning of life. This is by looking at their life
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Both heroes were very mean. They did not share their things with their people. They kept to themselves. They used to use their power for self-gain. They focused on benefiting themselves without minding the welfare of the people they governed. Both leaders had some supernatural powers. They were regarded as some form of supernatural power which was able to overcome their enemies. They put into consideration these supernatural powers when they made decisions (Andrew, 1999).
Another similarity is found in the mistakes and hardships they went through in life. They learnt from their experience just like the other normal human beings. They are seen trying to discover themselves throughout. They are in search of knowledge to help them discover themselves. They go through the same challenges the ordinary human beings go through. They are seen trying to discover themselves in life just like the ordinary citizens (Johnson,
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The culture of Mesopotamia valued how friendship. The culture of Greek valued myths and they used them to explain the phenomenon surrounding them. The culture of Mesopotamia did not value leadership. The Greek culture valued leadership since their leader treated them with a human heart.
Current culture plays a big role in shaping the way people regard heroes. A leader who treats his people well and has time for them inculcates a culture which values leadership. A leadership that involves its people in making decisions makes the society value and respect leadership. A culture which listens to the concerns of its people makes the society be attached to the society.
In conclusion it’s important for the leaders to put the interests of the community at heart. This makes the society feel part of the leadership. It cultivates a culture which respects and values leadership. The leaders ought to create an environment which is friendly to the members of the society. The society should feel the existence of the leadership which puts their interests at
In my eyes a hero is a person who shows courage, is humble, does not give up, and is someone everybody can relate to. The protagonist in “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is a hero because although he is emotional throughout the book and lets his emotions take over his actions, he displays immense courage and perseveres through his journey and hardships.
A hero is defined in classical mythology as a man, especially the son of a god and a mortal, who is famous for possessing some extraordinary gift. Beowulf, the title character of an epic poem and Superman, a more modern day hero are both prime examples. Beowulf and Superman exhibit several differences, but they also share some similar qualities.
Many think being a hero is having super powers, but on the contrary it's more than that. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus earns the title of a true hero by conveying many qualities such as: determination, courage and leadership.
To me “Leadership means leading people for positive outcomes”. An effective leader may have many aspects but the relationship that exists between a leader and their followers is one of the most important aspects of leadership which can determine the success quotient in any organization.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey have been a part of human literature for many, many years now, they are both more referred to as epic poems. Both epics are found in different points of time in human cultures stretching roughly 1000 years apart. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem from early Mesopotamian culture and The Odyssey is said to be written from the early onset of the Greek civilization. The main characters for these epics are Gilgamesh, a demigod and ruler of Uruk, and Odysseus a great warrior returning home to his wife from war. The two main characters of these epic poems, Gilgamesh and Odysseus share many traits together and apart from each other. Among the qualities that these characters display in each of their respective poems,
A hero is one who sets a goal in which takes bravery and dedication in order to achieve. The book The Odyssey written by Homer reveals a story of a true hero. The main character is a man named Odysseus who displays hero characteristics throughout the book. Odysseus is a hero because he returns home with a changed perspective which reflects his heroic abilities, such as his bravery and dedication to return home.
outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. I'm going to tell you about a book called in the
Heroes are extraordinary characters who carry human qualities that reassure followers of the heroes’ limitations. A hero is commonly considered a god, a being with great power that is brave enough to save whole cities. The human qualities are always their greatest fault, it comes in the image of pride, ego, selfishness, and even denial. These flaws are represented by the heroes Gilgamesh and Oedipus. Gilgamesh and Oedipus undertake journeys in search of a truth that will preserve their glory. While Gilgamesh searches for immortality, Oedipus searches for a different fate, both, fearing death. However, only one reaches their their goal.
An epic hero is a character in an epic poem that is recognized for their courageousness and success in the face of great trials and tribulations whereas a tragic hero is a character in a tragedy who, despite his/her nobility, can’t escape their imminent collapse. Although Gilgamesh is an epic hero and Oedipus is a tragic hero there are many similarities between both epics. Both characters are valiant and heroic in their very own way.
To a naked eye, comparing the two epics of Gilgamesh and Oedipus may seems to be a difficult task. Especially considering they’re derived from separate civilizations. At a glance it may seem like the only thing these two have in common with one another is the fact they were kings. However, when you take a closer look at these characters you notice something about the two; they’re are both suffering servants. Oedipus and Gilgamesh qualify as suffering servants due to the emotional turmoil brought upon them by the gods for the purpose of mending their communities.
According to Joseph Campbell, "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself" . This means that a hero is person who is made a sacrifice for the good of others. A Hero is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities" . This means that a hero is someone people look up to. Anyone can be a hero. Heroes have qualities such as bravery, strength, and selflessness. Mothers, soldiers, and Odysseus are all examples of heroes.
The term hero is can mean many different things in just as many different cultures. For example, modern day Americans would refer to a hero as someone who sacrifices oneself in order to protect and save others. While this current definition of hero is similar to that of the past, the first generation of heroes certainly had their differences. Two unique examples of these heroes are Gilgamesh and Rama. Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk in the Middle East who ruled as a tyrant, while Rama was the king Ayodhya who ruled with compassion. While these two individuals are clearly heroes, they couldn’t be more dissimilar.
A hero is something that society has formed an idea about the characteristic it should posses from history. Through the stories told from the past a hero is developed through their qualities and characteristics they value. When one views a hero from a different culture they can form an opinion on what matters to that culture. One will notice that through all these different heroes that they all share common features. In ancient Hebrew culture Moses represents a hero and for ancient Greek culture Odysseus represents heroic figures.
Gilgamesh, Oedipus, Odysseus, and Beowulf display several characteristics classifying themselves as heroes. In the story of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is “two-thirds divine and one-third human” (Gilgamesh, par 2). He displays heroism, perseverance, and loyalty by building a monumental wall to protect his kingdom, Urek. Gilgamesh goes on an epic in hopes of finding immortality and on his journey he faces adversity several times. He ends up not finding immortality but becomes “a profoundly changed man” (Gilgamesh, par 8). In Oedipus the King, Oedipus shows courage when he solves the Sphinx’s riddle. The city of Thebes crowns him king over the city and he marries the queen. King Oedipus shows honor when he takes the responsibility of solving the reason of the city’s plague and sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to Apollo’s Oracle in hopes of finding an answer. In the
Heroes is a being that is admired for courage. Most times people think heroes are people who save others and many times it is true but Theseus, Perseus, and Hercules are a bit different. These heroes have have been favored by gods. Also they have traits such as having confidence and some not very intelligent. Every hero is different and these heroes go through very different journeys.