Monsters Vs Heroes

Monsters VS Heroes

“Monsters, in the language of mythology, were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as possessing immense strength and ferocity, which they employed for the injury and annoyance of men”(Thomas Bulfinch). This quote defines a monster and describes them as unnatural and often feared by the people they terrorize. There are many different types of monsters and all monsters fight different heroes, but all their purpose is the same, to strike fear in the people surrounding them. In Greek mythology heroes are often sent to defeat these creatures that are thought to be unbeatable. Heroes are often sent to beat these monsters as a way to gain passage to a better life. The heroes who fight with the monsters often have some divinity in their background. While there is only one type of hero, who in the end always wins and overcome the odds, heroes such as Hercules, Oedipus and Bellerphon, but there are many different types of monsters to fight each hero, such as the Sphinx, the Centaurs and the Chimera.

With body of a lion and the upper part of a woman the Sphinx is by all means an unnatural creature. An intellectual monster the Sphinx purposes her victims with a riddle and if they answer wrong they are immediately slain by the beast. The only one to defeat the Sphinx is Oedipus the king of Thebes. The body of the Sphinx can be considered symbolism in the fact that the Sphinx can be compared to Mother Nature. If you don’t solve the riddle of life you will not live out your days, or if you face the Sphinx you will be clawed while if you do understand the riddle you Mother Nature will nurture you (Thomas Carlyle).

With the upper body of a man to the lower body of a horse the centaur is...

... middle of paper ...

... a god.

The lives of the Heroes and the monsters are very different but in the end they have the same conclusion. The monster is used to further the heroes life and the hero usually finds a way to squander the greatness given to them by the monster. The many types of monsters all different in size and shape have the same outcome in the end. The same goes for the hero in close to every tale.

Works cited

Bouma, Gerrit J. "Chimera." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 25 March 2010.

Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch's Mythology. New York: Avenel, 1978. Print.

Carlyle, Thomas. "The Sphinx." Past and Present. Thomas Carlyle. Ed. Edwin Mims. New

York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1918. 8-16. The Modern Student's Library. LitFinder for Schools. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.

"Oedipus Rex." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 25 March 2010.