Similarities Between The Odyssey And Beowulf

What makes an epic hero? Throughout history, writers have developed characters that exemplify the qualities that define this type of protagonist. An epic hero is a character that strives for greatness, values loyalty and honesty, and uses his strength and fortitude to overcome great strife. To be called an epic hero, one must persevere and lead his men to victory in times of trouble. The persona of the “epic hero” has inspired works throughout the history of writing and has contributed to the enduring influence of these pieces of literature. Both Beowulf, translated by Buron Raffel, and The Odyssey, written by Homer, portray an epic hero, and these two heroes, Beowulf and Odysseus, are comparable for many reasons. In both these works of literature, the protagonists face terrible danger and must devise solutions to overcome their battles. Although both characters share similar ways in approaching their conflicts, it in these problems that the two epic heroes experience and their solutions in resolving

He murders and eats countless men in the mead hall, called Heorot. Grendel terrorized the people until the mighty Beowulf comes from Sweden to save Denmark from Grendel’s murderous ways. After he battles Grendel, the hero faces Grendel’s mother, ultimately defeating her as well. Beowulf, then, encounters the wrath of a great dragon in his old age, and, while he is also mortally wounded, kills the dragon. These three characters pose as Beowulf’s foes, the antagonists of the poem. In each battle, Beowulf relies on his strength, courage, and resourcefulness to be victorious. During the battle with Grendel, Beowulf decided to forgo the use of his weapons and armor in order to create a fair fight between him and the monster, who had no weapons. Even without his sword and shield, Beowulf still manages to overcome Grendel because of his strength. This can be seen in the following