Epic hero Comparison
Epic hero ComparisonMartin D. Villarreal
British Literature
Mrs. DeLong
11 October 2000
(Beowulf Analysis)
Epic Hero Comparison
It seems very odd that two men so different can be as similar as are Beowulf and Achilleus in their codes of honor, their avid need for recognition of their deeds & victories, and the enemies they encounter in their epic battles.
Beowulf and Achilleus’ codes of honor are somewhat similar in that they both occur while in battle. For Beowulf this happens before the battle with the rudimentary beast known as Grendel. Beowulf decides not to use weapons to fight the beast because Grendel does not use weapons and he wants to fight fair. Likewise Achilleus’ moment of honor occurs during his battle with Hektor in this battle he and Hektor come to a stimulate that the winner will keep the loser’s armor, but will give the corpse back to the family and not defile the body. Both Beowulf and Achilleus keep their word of honor and both are victorious. This shows that honor is a major component of being an epic hero.
The need for recognition of the valiant deeds and victories is what gives the epic hero his desire for fame, a plethora of fortune, and glory that will survive even after his death. Beowulf displays this when he kills Grendel by wresting off the arm of the beast and taking it to Mead hall where it is hung as a trophy of his victory “No Dane doubted The victory, for the proof hanging high From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the Monster’s Arm, claw and shoulder and all.” Beowulf again gains fame and glory when he kills the mother of Grendel, brings back the head of Grendel, and keeps the hilt of the giant’s jeweled sword. While parading both of these around as trophies around for throngs of people to see, he...
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