Who is a modern day hero? This question could have so many diverse answers, as everyone has a different perception of who a hero is, based on what values are significant to him/her. The modern day hero, is someone people should look up to and admire, as a person wishes that someday he/she could be just like that admired person. A hero will have those admired traits that go unseen. These traits could be as purely as acting as a genuine human being, to as difficult as in putting their life at risk to save someone else's. In this time and age, so many heroes will either go or choose to go unnoticed because they are not wealthy, unrecognizable, or not famous. Modern day heroes are people who should be recognized for their hard work and sacrifice. …show more content…
For the most part, they are men in these books that are there to complete a task, no matter what the outcome. Achilles is a Greek hero of the Trojan war, who everyone on both the Greek and Trojan side admire. To start, Achilles came in to play in the story when, the Greeks decided they wanted to go to war with the Trojans. Although Achilles did not fight for the Greeks, he fought along side them, but with his own men. In spite of fighting alongside of him, Achilles did not believe in what the King of Greece was fighting for, therefore he did not want to fight for him. Achilles fights the battles that need to get fought. As soon as, his cousin Briseis dies, is when Achilles knew it was time to fight. Achilles, leads not only his men but also the Greeks into the Trojan walls. Once inside Greeks had soon seized the Trojan land. Where as Beowulf on the other hand, known as the hero of the geets, goes to help the land of Heorot, which is being attacked by a monster with the name of Grendel. Determined to kill both enemies of the kingdom, Beowulf sets out to kill these two because once they are killed, recognition and power are his. In order for the people of Heorot to believe he has accomplished what needs to be done, he takes back the head of Grendel and the end of the sword to prove to the people he did what was asked. Dignity, is what both these men showcased, when completing the tasked that was assigned to …show more content…
Demonstrating the qualities of a hero are always represented in different ways. Furthermore, Achilles is someone who fights only for what he thinks is right. With that mindset that, he shouldn’t have to fight for someone else, based on what they want for themselves. Unwillingly, he thinks of what is right for his people, and what should and should not be done. Having these traits allows people that he is fighting for and against, wishing to be like him. Qualities that people look for in a hero, is what Achilles exerts. On the other hand, Beowulf's qualities as a hero, differ from Achilles. Beowulf, is fighting the battle for his own honor. Nevertheless, he is fighting the battle to prove to the people of Heorot that he will do what is asked of him. Bravery is being showcased by going by himself to go kill Grendel and his mother. Beowulf, doesn’t want the help of others in killing the monster, because that will not give him the honor he wants to receive.
In my opinion, I think Achilles is more of a better hero, because of how he goes across things. Achilles is the type of leader who people want to follow because he wants what is best for not just himself, but the people as well. A hero, from my perspective, is someone who looks out for his men. Someone who wants to make sure the only battles that need to be fought are fought. He looks out for the good in the people he is fighting
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
According to google.com a hero is someone who “is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievments, or noble equalities.” (google.com). For example, superman , superman is an all time american classic modern hero who is admired for his courage and for saving earth multiple times from super villains. Another example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was created around 1000 AD and was known far and wide throughout the lands for his selflessness,bravery, and courage .
The foundation of the Homeric heroes’ actions develops from the internal struggle amongst concern for themselves, their families, and their community. The hero’s egoistic desire compels him or her to pursue everlasting glory for them, launching a manifest of feats that people will remember in history for generations. The hero’s altruistic desire seats their personal safety, and the safety of their families, above everlasting fame. Iliad opens with Achilles and Hector fighting for someone else’s gain—Achilles for Agamemnon, Hector for Paris. Both start with similar motives but in contrasting directions. During the opening of Iliad, Achilles retracts his men from the action, due to being unsympathetically dishonored by Agamemnon taking Achilles bride Briseis. Achilles, despite the loss of his fel...
Beowulf is a good example of a courageous and strong hero. He shows all of
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that Beowulf is a hero. The Dragon section displays many of Beowulf’s heoric characteristics. Beowulf establishes himself as a hero by fighting the dragon, exemplifing strength and courage when fighting the dragon, and sacrificing himself so that others can live.
Throughout the Iliad, Achilles and Hector were two of the main characters. Both Achilles and Hector defended their countries greatly. Achilles defending his country Greece and Hector defending Troy. Both were great warriors and were equal in power, but in the end Achilles would be considered the more heroic warrior. Achilles was more heroic than Hector because he was raised to be a warrior, while Hector was raised to be a king. Being brought up in different circumstances the way both men were had an impact on the way they fought. Even though Hector was indeed a great fighter he was no match to Achilles. It is said that Achilles was the greatest warrior of the Trojan War. As stated in class, the heroic code meant that honor is more important than life itself. Achilles stood by that meaning. Achilles wanted to die knowing that his name would be remembered by all.
Achilles and gilgamesh are both fierce and brave warriors, however Gilgamesh is a better representation of a better hero. Gilgamesh is a better hero because he displays loyalty by always supporting his people, bravery by fighting great beasts and determination by not giving up on what he has seeked out to do. These three qualities gilgamesh has are what set him and achilles apart.
Over time the definition of a hero has changed. Today’s hero can be defined as a person who is admired for having performed a brave and courageous act. The definition of a hero has had different meanings during different time periods. The classical hero, the medieval hero, the romantic hero, and the modern hero all have different characteristics that define them.
In Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is often referred to as a very courageous Greek hero but a further look into the epic will reveal a man that is more arrogant than courageous. It was truly his arrogance that made his name famous and not his courage. Achilles was a narcissistic, self-serving man who was not concerned with his fellow country man. His actions of courage can easily be revealed as selfishness instead of what most people believe.
The first requirement of Aristotle's tragic hero is that they are more admirable than the average character. Achilles meets this requirement because of his ability on the battlefield. In The Iliad, the background to the story is the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. This background is not only the basis for the story overall, but is also the basis for Achilles' own story. This begins when Achilles refuses to join the battle because he is insulted by Agamemnon. This decision results in the action that drives the remainder of the story. Later in the story when Achilles becomes angered and goes to the other extreme, launching into battle and killing ferociously. The significance of this is that it places battle as central to both Achilles' story and to what is important in the setting of the story. Importantly, the aspect that makes Achilles greater than most is his ability o...
...m Beowulf proves he is a hero through his battles. He’s trophies transform from physical evidence of his opponents defeat to gold and riches. Though this seems selfish, he always gave his riches and rewards from his accomplishments to his people or the king he was working for. Throughout his battles his methods also changed. He started by fighting on fair terms, without weaponry or armor, and then he had full armor and multiple weapons. Beowulf did this because he recognized his limits, especially in his old age where needed the protection and help in order to keep his people safe and continue to be a hero. In a way, he still fought on fair terms because Grendel’s Mother and the dragon were much stronger than he. Beowulf was a selfless warrior who deserved his title of an epic hero.
The Iliad, the Greek epic documented by Homer that describes the battles and events of the ten year siege on Troy by the Greek army. Both Trojans and Greeks had their fair share of heroes and warriors, but none could match the skill and strength of the swift runner, Achilles. Achilles had the attributes of a perfect warrior with his god-like speed and combat abilities. However, even though he was Greek’s greatest warrior, he still possessed several flaws that made him fit the role of the Tragic Hero impeccably. Defined by Aristotle, a Tragic Hero is someone who possesses a high status of nobility and greatness, but must have imperfections so that mere mortals cannot relate to the hero. Lastly, the Tragic Hero’s downfall must be partially their own fault through personal choice rather than by an evil act, while also appearing to be not entirely deserved of their unfortunate fate. Achilles is a true Tragic Hero because he withholds all of these traits. Achilles proves to be a good man that puts his loved ones first, reveals his tragic flaws of pride and anger, shows dynamic qualities as a character when his flaws are challenged, and has a moment of clarity at the end of his rage. Achilles truly exemplifies the qualities of a Tragic Hero.
Superman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Batman. These are some examples of the modern day hero. Most call this form of hero a Super Hero. In the early nineteenth century, the popular hero of the day was the romantic hero. Mary Shelly gives a great picture of this hero in her novel Frankenstein.
Even though The Iliad is a Greek epic poem Homer is really getting at how Hector was a better hero than Achilles or even the Hero of The Iliad. Homer shows Achilles as a selfish, disgraceful warrior that does not care about the lives of his fellow countrymen and even wish for their deaths. Achilles is put in a repulsive light while Hector is seen in a captivating way. He is a family that puts his life down for his family and City. Homer actually made Hector the real hero in The Iliad.
In the poem, Iliad, Achilles and Hector both show relative heroism in their own different ways. Achilles may have been the more popular hero, but Hector had great heroism as well. Each of these characters possess their own different strengths and weaknesses. These two characters both have pride as being one of their main weaknesses. Hector seems as if he would suit best in the modern world, but there are a few different reasons as to why the ancients may have chose Achilles. Hector and Achilles both lost a lot by letting their pride get in the way of their heroism. Both of these characters were their country’s best warrior. Achilles and Hector have very different personalities, and very different ways of approaching situations.