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Strengths And Weaknesses Of Beowulf

Decent Essays

The strengths of heroes in epic poems has been written on a countless amount of times. Why? Because the heroes’ strengths are plainly displayed in the literature and the weaknesses are not. However, the weaknesses can be found where the heroes turn to for strength. In the Epic of Beowulf, the journey begins with the terrorization of the Mead Hall by an awful monster named Grendel. Beowulf comes in and saves the day by killing Grendel and he receives riches and fame for doing so. Then, stricken with grief, Grendel’s mother comes to the mead hall to avenge the death of her son. Beowulf goes and fights Grendel’s mother in her home in the swamp and manages to kill her with a sword forged by giants. After this battle, he is more beloved than the one before and is endlessness praised and rewarded. Then, fifty years later, Beowulf is the king of Geat and a thief angers the dragon. Beowulf then decides to kill the dragon himself. He manages to kill the dragon with the help of a Geat named Wiglaf, but loses his life in the process. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, our hero has a rough beginning with actions that resemble a villain more than a hero. Then the God’s create Enkidu to tame Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu become best friends after their first tumultuous meeting and go on many adventures together. After one adventure, Gilgamesh and Enkidu return and Gilgamesh is propositioned by the goddess of love who he refuses. Then she is angered and demands her father send the bull of heaven

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