Essay Comparing Beowulf And Achilles

Beowulf and Achilles are true examples of epic heroes. They both possess heroic traits such as superhuman strength, risking death for the glory or greater good of society and significance are three of many characteristics that both Achilles and Beowulf demonstrate.

Significance is something that is sometimes given at birth or earned for great deeds. “He knows of your noble birth.”(line 128) Beowulf is the nephew of warrior Higlac who is King of the Geats. He hears of Grendel's massacres and asks Beowulf to come and kill him. Achilles was also born into nobility. Both his father(Peleus), a greek hero,and mother Thesies, a goddess were both important in greek mythology.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles#Birth) Achilles later becomes the

greatest greek warrior and carries on the family glory. Beowulf is ethical because he is doing what God has told him to.“God, who sent him victory, gave judgement for truth and right.”(line 630-631) Achilles gave Hector's body back to King Priam after he killed him. He showed guilt and respect for the King which makes him ethical.
Epic heroes possess superhuman strength and/or courage.

Beowulf swam down to the bottom of the lake where Grendel's mother lived. “He leaped into the lake would not wait for anyones answer;the heaving water covered him over.For hours he sank through the waves.”(line 570-573) Beowulf was so focused on his quest to kill grendel's mother he didn't care what anyone said. He also shows superhuman strength my swimming for hours. Beowulf takes on brave deeds of killing Grendel and Grendel's mother. Achilles quest was to get Helen of Troy back to her husband Menelaus. (http://www.answers.com/Q/What_was_Achilles_Quest) Achilles was invincable except of his heels bacause his mothrer dipped him in the river Styx and everything went under except fir his heels. This is why Achilles was invincible until he got shot in his heel. (http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~waxmanr/87online/student_sites/morco_luisa/myths/tale_of_achillies.html) Achilles took on brave deeds when he chooses to fight in the Trojan

war.
Both Achilles and Beowulf were strong and responsible leaders because thats what their society expected them to be.

“No coward would have waked there.” (line 691) Beowulf takes on the alone dragon with full intention to kill it and does which saves the Geats. Beowulf put himself in danger to ensure the safety of society. Beowulf is strong and chooses to take the dragon on alone instead of with his whole army. “Rode their horses around the tower telling stories of their dead king and his greatness,his glory praising him for heroic deeds, for a life of a noble name.” (line 830-834) The Anglo-Saxon custom to pay respects the dead heroes, celebrate their lives, and tell stories. Achilles was in charge of his legion and wanted to win at all costs which shows he is a determined leader but not so much responsible as Beowulf. In Greece society honor and fame defined a leader and Achilles was continuously seeking honor and fame. Achilles chooses to fight in the Trojan war even though he knows he will not survive. He fights for King Agamemnon and helps him take over all of the nation-states in Greece. Achilles loved being looked upon and being the

leader.
Beowulf and Achilles show the characteristics of a epic hero in different ways. Superhuman strength/courage, risking death for society, significance, on a quest, is ethical, performs brave deeds, and reflecting the ideals of as particular society are all characteristics an epic hero which Beowulf and Achilles possess.