Comparing Beowulf, Achilles, And King

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero as an illustrious warrior; a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. Moreover, the epic heroes, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Odysseus, Achilles, and King Arthur, all embody heroic characteristics evident in their own individual cultures. With the absence of the television, the community's people were strongly influenced by the stories depicting the noble actions of the epic heros. Each character has their own personal strengths and weaknesses. They contrast strongly in their morals and abilities. This contrast can be represented in the differences in the values of the cultures. The societies discussed in this paper include, the Anglo-Saxons, the

Greeks, the Romans, and the British.

With these societies flourishing in different time periods as well as different parts of the world many Heroic traits are shared in the story. This is an impeccable example of the archetypal character model. Epic hero's played an enormous role on the culture they lived in, they contrast in ways but still hold true to the characteristics that exemplify their heroic nature.

Courage, honor, and super strength are among some of the traits shared across the spectrum of epic heros. Some characters have a weakness, or a “tragic flaw.” Beowulf is a perfect example of these traits. The epic poem, Beowulf tells about a hero, Beowulf, and his heroic battles protecting the Geats people from the dragons. Beowulf is a prime example of the epic hero character type. His inhuman strength is evident in his battle with Grendel. He fights with his bare hands to prove his bravery. Beowulf is also a responsible leader, fighting and eventually dying for his kingdom. Out of all these traits his honor and

courage shines through. He fights to protect his people from the dragons and then infiltrates the dragon's lair to fight his last battle. The Dragon kills Beowulf in his final battle. Beowulf's only request is for his name to be remembered as a honorable hero. In contrast Gilgamesh has a tragic flaw, human fear and arrogance. He was born half god, half human. Gilgamesh was thought to be to arrogant in his actions. The gods created Enkidu to humbal Gilgamesh, a perfect foil. Gilgamesh must go defeat Humbaba in efforts to regain the faith in the youth, as they had become soft. Gilgamesh accepts the fact that he could die and continues to fight on. “I will go ahead of you, and if I die I will at least have the reward of having people say: He died in war against Humbaba. You cannot discourage me with fears and hesitations.” (Beers, 48) This shows his courageous efforts in battle. Odysseus's greatest strength is his intelligence. In book nine of the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus wits keep him and his men alive. He tricks the cyclops, Polyphemus, by telling him his name was “nobody” and then disguising his men as sheep so they could escape from his cave
“Nobody- that’s my name.

Nobody- so that my mother and father call me, all my friends.” (Homer, 410). King Arthur's largest characteristic is his strength. His strength is put to the test when he has to pull Excalibur from the stone it had been trapped in. Hector and Achilles differ greatly. It has been greatly debated as who actually is the hero in the story. Both characters have heroic characteristics but not without their own individual flaws. Achilles is struck with rage and a thirst for revenge. While Hector does not have the strength to defeat Achilles. Although Achilles is considered a hero in this epic, he is motivated by anger and revenge. These qualities do not embody the ideal of a hero and his honor. Achilles also refuses to call a truce explaining “There are no blinding oaths between men and lions- wolves and lambs can enjoy no meeting of the minds-- they are all bent on hating each other until death.” (Beers, 61) Hector is considered to be more honorable in what he does for his city. The heroes all contrast each other but share heroic characteristics that had a strong influence on the culture where they

lived.
Every society had there own story of an epic hero. Britain had King Arthur, Sumeria had Gilgamesh, Greece had Odysseus, and Achilles, and the Anglo-Saxons had Beowulf. Each of these heroes had a critical influence in the society where they lived. In the Anglo-Saxon culture they defined a hero to be warrior with great strength and honor. They had a specific ideal for the hero. The physical characteristic was also an essential part of the hero. In Beowulf, the hero Beowulf displayed strength, being the strongest in his kingdom. “Follower and the strongest of all the Geats- greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in the world ---.” (Beers, 110-111) Also in how he fought, he could defeat a foe with just his bare hands. “If weapons were useless he’d use/ His hands, the strength in his fingers.” (Beers, 490) In the Sumerian culture Gilgamesh represented bravery, strength, wisdom, and greatness. In the culture, death is not desirable. This is shown in the final moments before Gilgamesh kills Humbaba. Humbaba pleads to serve Gilgamesh if his life was spared. In the Homeric culture (Greek) Hector demonstrated honor and Achilles demonstrated sheer ferocity. In the Homeric culture a hero could not endure insults, and felt the need to protect his reputation, sometimes even until death. In the Greek culture risking one’s life is a heroic value. For instance, when Hector has realized Athena tricked him, Hector resolves the issue by going down fighting. He states “Well let me die --- but not without struggle, not without glory no.” (Beers, 62) This quote represents how he as a hero felt the need to protect his reputation even upon death. Heros should refrain from cruelty, giving them a sense of dignity. Achilles broke this code when he mutilated Hector's body. The common traits that have influenced the cultures that have traveled across different societies and time periods.
The archetypal character model is very evident in the heroic characters of the societies. An archetype, also known as universal symbol, may be a character, a theme, a symbol or even a setting that is repeated throughout many stories. These societies are flourishing in different time periods as well as different parts of the world. The traits of courage, honor, and bravery are all constant in each of these cultures. Each of the characters all demonstrates these heroic traits in some instance in the stories. There are some traits that make the hero's unique to their culture, but courage, honor, and bravery are constant across all cultures. Beowulf, Odysseus and Gilgamesh display courage in their battle against beasts. Beowulf was written in 1000AD in Anglo-Saxon England. Gilgamesh was written in 2000 BC, in Sumerian cuneiform. The Odyssey was written in the 8th century BC, in Greece. All three of these heroes have similar traits even with the vast time and location difference; a prime example of a the archetypal character model.
Epic hero's played an enormous role on the culture they lived in, they contrast in ways but still hold true to the characteristics that exemplify their heroic nature. All the characters discussed embody their culture in their actions, across different time periods and different locations. The traits of courage, honor, and bravery live on through the retelling of the heroic tales of the greatest warriors of the time period.