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Greek mythology vs norse mythology
Greek mythology vs norse mythology
Greek mythology and norse mythology pargraph
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Epic heroes often have many things in common while also having characteristics unique to the cultures who wrote them. Many people know of the tale of the mighty Beowulf and his battle with the forces of evil, and even more people know of the adventures of Odysseus and his great adventures across the battlefields of Troy and the mythical sea of monsters. Greek and English legends of old have many commonalities, monsters, heroes, adventure, and impressive feats, but also many differences. Despite the huge distance both physically and chronologically, their cultures had many similarities as well as they both possessed technology and knowledge well ahead of their time, with the Greek philosophy and art and norse sailing and knowledge of North America, …show more content…
Beowulf is described as, “the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful” (line 197-198), and he demonstrates this quite often throughout the epic through various feats. In contrast, Odysseus, while still a fantastic warrior, is more reliant on his brain like in his encounter with Polyphemus the cyclops. This shows the differences in the cultures that wrote these epics, in Greece, intelligence was a desirable trait and honor was not glorified, while in Anglo-saxon culture, strength and honor are very important. One similarity between the two heroes is the great leadership they both demonstrate to their followers. Like Beowulf being the king of the Geats and “he ruled it well” (line 2208) and showing how well he led his men into battle against the previous foes in the epic. Likewise Odysseus leading his men through the Trojan war and the decade long journey home through many challenging mythical obstacles, and being a well a well loved ruler at home showed his skill in leadership. This shows that the cultures despite their differences in time and place, share some universally respected
Another similarity is that they are very strong leaders that will overcome any challenges that come their way. For example, Odysseus has many challenges he faces, like Polyphemus, but he defeats him with a stick on fire. He also has to deal with Poseiden because of what he did to his son polyphemus and defeats him with help from the gods/goddess which were Athena, Zeus and Aeolus. Another challenge he faces are the Seirenes, but has the help from Athena so he and his shipmates do not die and overcome this challenge, and more.
Of the many characteristics of a hero, being better than the ordinary man is the trait most easily found when studying a character. Beowulf exhibits almost god-like strength throughout his quest. For example, “He twisted in pain, / And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/ Snapped, muscle and bone split and broke.” (Beowulf 815-818). His strength is once again demonstrated in his fight with Grendel’s mother. After he realizes hand-to-hand combat is futile, Beowulf swings a sword “so massive that no ordinary man could lift/ It’s carved and decorated length.” (Beowulf 1560-1561). Yet another example of Beowulf’s strength is his presentation of Grendel’s head to the Danes. After slicing off Grendel’s head in one blow, Beowulf orders his men to carry the head back to Herot. However, the head of the monster was “too heavy for fewer than four of them to handle” (Beowulf 1636-1637). After arriving in Herot, Beowulf “carried that terrible trophy by the hair,/ Brought it straight to where the Danes sat” (Beowulf 1647-1648). The second trait that demonstrates that Beowulf is better than the ordinary man is his incredible honor. When preparing for his fight with Grendel, Beowulf decides not to use ...
Beowulf tells the story of one of the most heroic men of Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters terrifying monsters and the most brutal beasts, but he never fears the threat of death. Beowulf is the ultimate epic hero who risks his life countless times for great honor and for the good of others. Oedipus Rex is a tragic play, which discusses the tragic discovery of Oedipus--that he has killed his father, and married his mother. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gains the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx.
What is hero? A hero, under the Merriam-Webster definition, is a person who is admired for brave/great acts or fine qualities. This is a very broad definition that combines both ancient and modern belief of what --or who-- a hero should be. Beowulf is an epic poem that focuses on an Anglo-Saxon hero. As such he embodies the traits that his culture valued most. Deadpool, on the other hand, portrays the most recent ideas of what traits a hero should embody. With these examples from contrasting periods, we are still able to see similarities and differences that shows how modern and Anglo-Saxon idea of heroism reflects its culture.
Some heroes show their strength in the form of smarts, emotion, physical strength, and much more. Beowulf displays a remarkable amount of physical strength, and mental strategies.
Idolized for their courage and noble qualities, a hero achieves superlative success by utilizing their strength and intellect to battle against their greatest challenge. Typically, heroes bask in the glory of their fame and triumph, admired by those throughout society, but realistically, not all heroes live happily ever after. As demonstrated through the epic poem, Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, and Sophocles’ tragic play, Oedipus, abridged by Nick Bartel, there comes a time for one’s downfall, usually provoked by an illogical decision or characteristic flaw. Their misfortunes arrived as a result of a free choice gone awry, not because it their fate that doomed their lives, proving that heroes are just like any commoner who experiences
Beowulf is also rewarded for his deeds. with fame and fortune,. Although both of these men are heroes, the individual circumstances which allow them to achieve this status vary greatly. Oedipus was a man of power and high social status. This was due to his position as King.
One of the main topics discussed in lesson one is the fact that heroes over time and overseas all heroes have something in common; which is true in the case of King Arthur and Beowulf. It is obvious that they are similar in the fact that they are both heroes, but what makes them an idol of their time and in their culture are poles apart. There are many things that are different about Beowulf and King Arthur, but the ones that stand out the most are what kind of hero they are and what actions they did to make them heroic. Both heroes possess qualities that others do not have, but it is what they do with those abilities that prompts someone to write a story about them and idolize them in time.
Comparing Two Heroes - Beowulf and Odysseus Reading through Beowulf, I began to compare it to the last great epic I read, Homer’s Odyssey. While the Odyssey and Beowulf are both examples of both historic and modern ideas of heroism, the acts of Beowulf’s hero seem to fit better within its context. Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These, along with more subtle diplomatic actions, serve to define him as both a great warrior and leader. Beowulf shows both wit and patience in his swift retort after Unferth challenges his skill.
It is very odd that two men who appear so different can be as similar as Beowulf and Achilleus. They each have a distinct code of honor, an avid need for recognition of their deeds, and both victorious over the enemies they encounter in their epic battles.
With a great hero, comes a personal background that is significant to their roles in their stories. In this case, the two great heroes are Beowulf and Aeneas. Beowulf is in the tribe Geats, which is basically a group of warriors living in what we now call Sweden. He fights many enemies, some being, two demons, Grendel, and Grendel’s mom (the last two being the most significant), defeating them all. The reason behind the fights was just a man trying to make a name for himself and defending his people. Then in the Aenead the main character is Aeneas, who is a mythical hero of Troy and Rome (“Aeneas” 1). He was a important warrior in many battles. One of the most significant and memorable battles was the Trojan War in which he defended his city. His city of Troy got destroyed but he wasn’t done. His mother, Venus, is the goddess of
The Odyssey, written by Homer, is a heroic tale about the adventures of Odysseus in his pursuit of returning home to his wife. The Aeneid, written by Virgil, is also a heroic tale about the escapade Aeneas endures while in pursuit of finding Rome. When comparing and contrasting both epics, one must first explore the protagonists and their culture. Within the Greek culture physical and military strength as well as fighting for oneself, mainly for personal satisfaction, are highly favored and is seen evidently within Odysseus’ role. He possesses the endurance, nobility, and desire for glory of a true Greek warrior. His acute mind helps him solve his most difficult challenges while his good deeds and triumphant battles earn him immense respect amongst the Greek gods. However Odysseus’ attitude is continuously being shaped by his culture and subjects him to having a tragic flaw. Odysseus’ tragic flaw is his constant search for glory, Even though he rules his own homeland, he is still in search for a more profound glory of all lands. This flaw gets in the way of his ultimate goal of returning home to his family and kingdom. Odysseus’ flaw also greatly affects his personality. It causes him to appear prideful and/or conceited. His hubris seems to command respect from people rather than earning it. It is not that he is totally arrogant; it is the glorification and the praise he wants to receive. His behavior furthermore explains why the...
Heroes in epics typically exemplify the values of a particular culture, and the eponymous protagonist of Beowulf is no different. Because Beowulf represents the ideal Anglo-Saxon warrior and king, readers can infer that his personality traits are those that were held in high esteem by members of Anglo-Saxon society. As depicted in Seamus Haney’s translation of Beowulf, Beowulf’s strength, loyalty, and acceptance of fate are traits that were admired by his society.
Beowulf is said to be written in England sometime between the 7th and 11th centuries, but the story takes place in Scandinavia. This is right around the time the Anglo Saxons were converting to Christianity from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism which is a variant of the Germanic paganism found across much of north-western Europe. Not too much is known about the Anglo Saxon culture because the majority of people were illiterate and many didn't write anything down. The Anglo Saxons were a war centered people, and during the winter months when it was harder to pillage other settlements, stories like Beowulf would be told by what would be a story teller. The literary styles used during this time period made stories very dramatic and descriptive. Beowulf was
Of all the many similarities of The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey, the sharing of the main character’s archetype can be considered to be the most significant similarity of the two epics. Odysseus, the main character of The Odyssey, and Gilgamesh, the main character of The Epic of Gilgamesh, both fall under the character archetype of a hero, the man in charge of saving the day. This sameness implies that the two characters had similar fates and characteristics; both had the distinct traits of a hero. Both Odysseus and Gilgamesh were kings, strong, brave, and blessed by the gods. In addition, they both angered a god and suffered from the consequences. In The Odyssey, Odysseus had to change his route to avoid Poseidon’s wrath. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh angered Ishtar which consequently led to Enkidu’s death as a punishment ( “The Epic of Gilgamesh” 29). Both Gilgamesh and Odysseus had elements of arrogance in their personalities, and it was their arrogance that backlashed and caused...