Essay on Beowulf and Achilles - 1178 Words

Beowulf and Achilles Beowulf is a story about a man named Beowulf who desired fame and fortune in life. The Iliad had a character named Achilles who is similar to Beowulf because he also desired glory. But they are two completely different stories written at different times and different places by different people. Both stories have unique qualities such as dragons in one and multi-gods in the other and that is what makes fictitious stories like these classics. Since achieving fame is a goal of these two characters, and since these are great works of literature, people can relate to wanting to be famous in life. So this essay is about Beowulf and Achilles and what they went through to be famous and also what they went through to†¦show more content†¦After Hector’s death, Achilles would drag the body every morning around his army base three times to show the accomplishment he had made in the war. The gods didn’t really agree with him though because they kept h ealing Hector’s body (not back to life though). â€Å"...All his wounds sealed shut, wherever they struck... and many drove their bronze blades through his body†. Eventually, Priam (with help of gods) got Achilles to sell Hector’s body back for a bunch of priceless goods. â€Å"Give (Hector) back to me, now, no more delay – I must see my son with my own eyes† (The Iliad, ln 650 – 651, p 212). Being begged by a king increases his fame just because a king doesn’t usually do that, especially in this case. Priam gets the body and buries it and that’s the end of The Iliad. Whereas in Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is about a man who is very strong. He travels to a distant land to kill a couple monsters and earn glory for himself. The quest begins when Beowulf heads to the Danish castle. He is a Geat by the way. His king is Higlac and Beowulf asked him if he could travel the seas to earn glory for himself by helping out the Danish and their king, Hrothgar. When Beowulf finally got to Hrothgar, Hrothgar was glad to see him; he seemed to have a lot of faith in Beowulf. â€Å"Our Holy Father has sent him as a sign of His grace, a mark of His favor, to help us defeat Grendel and end that terror† (Beowulf, ln 381 – 384). The monster, Grendel, hadShow MoreRelatedBeowulf Vs. Achilles Essay754 Words   |  4 PagesTasia McCoy Sophia DeSilva English 12 30 September 2015 Beowulf Vs. Achilles The Old English poem, Beowulf, doesn’t have an author. Nobody is one hundred percent sure about the history of Beowulf. All they know is that its about a warrior and a monster in conflict. Homer wrote â€Å"The Iliad,† roughly a thousand years before Beowulf. They were both a part of the ancient Greek world. Though Homer was blind, some scholars believe that a philosopher as a blind man had an exceptional inner vision. (72)Read MoreComparing the Characters of Beowulf and Achilles1291 Words   |  5 PagesComparing and Contrasting Beowulf and Achilles Both Beowulf and Achilles are poetic characters, who hail from different eras of history and different cultural backgrounds. While each is unique in his own way, the two heroes also share similar characteristics. This paper will compare and contrast the medieval Germanic hero Beowulf with the classical Greek hero Achilles (of Homers Iliad), and show how the two are similar and how the two are different. The first way in which both characters areRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Beowulf And Achilles1104 Words   |  5 Pages†¢ Achilles and Beowulf both were born of high importance and were known throughout the lands. Beowulf and Achilles fought for two different reasons. Beowulf was being a help by contributing his talents with the defeating of Grendel. He never was even asked to do it, he volunteered himself. Beowulf used his talents to conquer bad monsters and super naturals in a good way. Achilles on the other hand was a talented fighter who used his strengths to conquer and kill Hector, the man who killed his friendRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Achilles : A Hero As A Hero829 Words   |  4 Pagesinspired by ancient heroes in the spirit of Beowulf and Achilles. Now, they were very similar to each other; but they had their differences too. No well written character is a hero â€Å"just because they are†, they need to have a motive for their actions, and it’s often a personal reason. Even back when Achilles was fighting for the Greek Empire, he initially wanted little to do with the Trojan War, but wound up fighting when a man named Hector killed Achilles’ cousin Patroclus. â€Å"Hector, had you thoughtRead MoreAchilles vs Beowulf compare and contrast Essay1150 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Compare and contrast Achilles vs Beowulf The way of the warriors Achilles and Beowulf were two characters that had an amazing power that made his name lives for hundreds of years. Great warriors need some to have some specific characteristics to reach their fame because we have seem in some heroes that they have gods strong, a unique way to be and goals to achieve. Comparing the character of Achilles and Beowulf who were two of the best warrior of the history we could know if there areRead MoreWhen tales are told of valiant heroes in history, a handful stand out as some of the most1400 Words   |  6 Pagestheir tale any less epic. Both Achilles and Beowulf brought a new style of hero to the table. The two heroes had their flaws, however paid it back in spades with the bravery displayed in their respective epics. What is interesting about these two heroes is that their stories were written in completely different time periods, by peoples who were geographically extremely far apart. Beowulf was written in the estimated early eighth century in Den mark, while The Iliad, Achilles tale, was written by HomerRead MoreLiterary Works Based On War And Heroism1003 Words   |  5 PagesInstructor Lovoy English 271 June 22, 2015 In reading The Iliad and Beowulf, one can conclude they are both literary works based on war and heroism. The hero in the Iliad is Achilles, who is from Greece and is the Archaen army’s greatest warrior in the battle of the Trojan war. Beowulf, a Geatish warrior has come to help the Danes in their long fight against Grendel, showing his heroism. Both characters Achilles and Beowulf share some similar traits such as their thirst for glory, their abnormalRead MoreCharacteristics Of Gilgamesh1021 Words   |  5 Pageswill put others before themselves. Beowulf is another example of heroism. Some people believe Beowulf is the definition of a hero. He shows his strength and wisdom to his people has he fights battles. Beowulf has physical strength and bravery, which shows everyone what a ample warrior he is. Beowulf shows his courage by willing to die for the life of other people. Beowulf rids the Kingdom of every demon, dragon, and anyone that is harming his people. As Beowulf battles become stronger and harderRead MoreCharateristics of Epic Heros837 Words   |  4 Pagesnot. Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Hector, and Achilles are characters that are very self-confident, courageous, and skillful, or the opposite! Self Confident-. A measure of ones belief in ones own abilities. Each character portrayed this characteristic, with Beowulf it was when he went to war with Grendel without any armor on. â€Å"I would rather not use a weapon if I knew another way to grapple/ with the dragon and make good boast/ as I did against Grendal in the days gone by.†(â€Å"Beowulf† 33) This quote showsRead MoreHeroes Are The People In The Society That We Admire For1048 Words   |  5 Pageswhich the people need at the time. In my case, I will be making a comparison of the Achilles, Beowulf, and Aeneas. All the three heroes portrayed different ideas that motivated their actions. Achilles is considered as the greatest warrior, although, he is a complex warrior. The character sometimes ignores cultural norms in the time he presides because he does not completely agree with the heroic code. With the Achilles, they believed in honoring and compensating their heroes for their heroic duties