Strength In Beowulf And The Odyssey

Christopher Reeve once said “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Strength can take many forms when it comes to dealing with obstacles in some cases seen as impossible to overcome. Using that strength to persevere is key in dealing with greater odds. Both “Beowulf” and “The Odyssey” cultures demonstrated strength however Homer focused more on intelligence whereas Danes focused on physical strength.

Plot is important in any form of literature, Similarly Both stories “Beowulf” and “The Odyssey”plot depict a hero arc. This hero arc is important because Its involves besting the challenge and proving oneself. In both theses stories the characters “Beowulf” and “Odysseus”

are up against monsters. This ability to have victory for your accomplishment. More importantly gives us the idea how these men are seen as heros for their victory.
In the story “Beowulf” the character Beowulf point of heroic victory is when Grendel was defeated.

Anonymous, Line 496-500 “ he twisted in pain and then bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and Bones split and broke the battle was over Beowulf have been granted New Glory”. The way Beowulf dealt with the creature was with pure muscle strength using his own two hands to pin the creäture to go as far as to break the monsters bone granting Beowulf as described in the text New Glory for Beowulf's achievement. By Beowulf‘s action he gets rid of the threat attacking the Denmark which makes Beowulf a hero in the eyes of the citizens he saves. As well as completing Beowulf arch by being born with his Supernatural strength , proving himself by defeating the Beast Grendel a feat not many could do

before.
In the story The Odyssey the character Odysseus point of heroic Victory is when he manages to injure the Beast Polyphemus.

Homer, Line 329-333 “ it drew from the coals and my four fellows give me a hand lugging it near the Cyclops as more than natural force curved him straight forward they sprinted, lifted it and rammed it deep in his Crater eye”. The way Odysseus dealt with the creäture was with the use of his intelligence using a weapon to puncturing the Cyclops in a weak spot to give Odysseus and the crew the upper hand. Further in the story Odysseus and his crew were freed granting Odysseus with a victory he told in his quest. As did Beowulf further told in the story said Beowulf hung the arm of the slain creäture to signify and remind of his victory. By having a character Odysseus being able to save the rest of his men and protect them. By planning this attack in hopes to escape and have no more lives of Odysseus crew be eaten by Polyphemus makes Odysseus the leading hero also completes Odysseus's arch by this feat of action in protecting others makes Odysseus a hero In the eyes of his crew. Both heros have a use of strength when facing their

challenge.
A theme is a subject repeated in the story. There are similarities between the authors repeating theme in both stories show the theme of overcoming the odds. These type of stories typically portray a character's triumph against a adversity in both cases the monsters. That are seen as threatening villains from their description. All epics have this theme to fight against something greater than oneself. Which make a hero's ability to face greater odds much more praised.
In the story “Beowulf” the villain Grendel was described that is vicious selfish beast who saw man as only an opportunity to feast. Anonymous, Line 417-424 “ Grendel to gnaw the broken bones of his last human supper human eyes were watching his evil steps waiting to see his Swift hard claws Grendel snatched up the first get he came to, ripped him apart cut his body to bits with powerful jaws drink the blood from his veins and bolted”. By giving the reader and image to imagine how vicious and gruesome Grendel truly is. Makes the hero being able to overcome the beast Grendel who by first Glance seem to have the greater odds.The hero being able to overcome this disadvantage, they're fear makes they're victory that much more deserved, which shows a stronger hero. Other details in the story like Beowulf being able to protect the people in Denmark from the fiend Grendel as well as single-handedly defeating the creäture when armies of men could not. Also contribute to Beowulf victory that got him more praise for completing what some say as impossible.

In the story title “The Odyssey” the villain Polyphemus was described as an enormous Brute compared to an average human. Homer, Line 128-131 “ A Prodigious man slept in this cave alone and took his flock to graze a field remote from all companions knowing none but Savage ways brute so huge”. Immediately suggest no man can stand a chance against a Giant to which both Beowulf and Odysseus through the use of strength to overcome when odds aren't in their favor. Further challenging Odysseus's steaks he was in charge of protecting the rest of his men by overcoming the cyclopes. Just like it was Beowulf's task to deal with the beast terrorizing Denmark. Adding on to the hero's higher stakes at a disadvantage from a terrifying creature but protector of the lives you serve. Both stories have they're similar idea of making a creäture superior which makes the hero want to fight back in “Beowulf” or in this case have opposing view than the hero. Something still shown in conflicts today. Polyphemus Fails to uphold Xenia, lack of hospitality when Odysseus and his crew needed it most. Fueled Odysseus as well as Polyphemus expression of hubris showing defiance of the gods stating he is more powerful than a god Homer, Line 219” We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss, we have more force by far”. Polyphemus explains Odysseus view means very little to him, that the Cyclopes are superior to gods when Odysseus clearly believes the gods will punish Polyphemus for the lack of hospitality toward his quest . Further builds on conflict between the hero and villain and how they're views differ but Odysseus lacks in say since Polyphemus has greater power. Making Odysseus fight for what he believes in. The purpose of intensifying the villain is to give the hero a difficult challenge to face so in their storys the hero's victory represents their strength to they're reader. That they're culture whether Dane or Greek will overcome and fight strong in whatever form that takes.
The plot and the repeating themes show similarity in both Stories that depict a heroic arch however it's the way the heroes themselves in their myths go about doing their act of heroism which makes Beowulf and Odysseus different while the Dane's focus more on the physical strength of their hero. Homer in “The Odyssey” focus on the intelligence of the hero. Both stories have they're hero facing a similar challenge in the plot and present themes in the story that intensify the odds. But the way the character themselves going about overcoming the odds are different tho achieving that say heroic plot.
Beowulf when attempting to overpower Grendel. Beowulf used his immense strength mentioned throughout the story Anonymous, Line 428-431 “clench at Beowulf with his claws gasped at a strong hearted wakeful sleeper and was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up with one arm”. Demonstrated Beowulf's strength being superior than that of Grendel the hero was able to overcome the creäture in the story purely with strength. Beowulf throughout the story deals with the monster with hand to hand combat only. Suggesting danes hero would be a strong man who values physical strength.
While Odysseus on the other hand when dealing with polyphemus a monster superior to him because of his height and brutality.Odysseus had to think cleverly and smart as clear throughout the story mainly on Homer, Line 310-316 “ Three bowls I brought him and he poured them down. I saw the fuddle and flush come over him, then I sang out in cordial tones, Cyclops, you ask my honorable name? Remember the gift you promised me, and I shall tell you. My name is Nobdy; mother, father, and friends everyone calls me Nohbdy”. By the hero's ability to think ahead and think of a clever solution to deceive the Cyclopes to aid their escape out of the cave. Thanks to Odysseus clever preparation before the attack polyphemus was caught off guard, oblivious that Odysseus was lying. Exampled by Odysseus getting polyphemus drunk before the attack making polyphemus less oblivious to attack and trickery, Odysseus advanced intelligence allowed for a fake name knowing that would seem unsuspicious if one was drunk, the name itself that Odysseus clever knew would provide aid to they're escape by not letting polyphemus correctly contacting his friend seeing as what he was saying was that nobody was hurting the Cyclops. Making polyphemus friends less egruent to help. suggest a greek hero when against greater odds would uses his value of intelligence to outsmart the emieme and prevail. Compared to the more apparent Dane hero who chooses to use physical strength prominently in the myth “Beowulf”.
In Conclusion though both heroes exhibit strength in a type of way. Physical strength in Beowulf and intelligence in the Odyssey demonstrates the use of strength in some way which is one of the points I want to touch on. My purpose of my essay is to explain both stories show strength however just in different ways the hero choices to do so which reflects the culture's values. Still in achieving the same goal which is to prevail at are challenges and have recognition of our accomplishments. Which connects to a value that holds true today, that it's important to have a balance, a balance of physical strength and intelligence to overcome the struggles that happen in our day-to-day lives. These stories and they're heros dont also just specify on one way one can be strong. Both heros exhibit a balance of intelligence and physical strength but prefer one when dealing with great challenge which reflects upon the culture. That's an important topic I wanted to touch on this essay both physical strength and intelligence go hand in hand. something noticeable in both text no hero Beowulf or Odysseus shows one type of strength tho there is a preference on what strength to choose. They still hold the idea today we need to use both in our day-to-day lives to help us when dealing with issues, that we need these two types of thinking to take action.