Essay Comparing Beowulf And Achilles

What is and makes an epic hero? An unknown person wrote Beowulf in 1000 A.D based in 500 A.D. Homer wrote the Iliad in 1200 B.C. These poems are based on two main characters Beowulf and Achilles. Both Beowulf and Achilles fulfill the role of an epic hero, but also are unique warriors due to their individual cultural differences. What reflects each warrior’s individual cultural differences? Beowulf comes from a culture where fighting is all they do. Also his culture strongly believes in glory. For example, “Grendel’s mother/ Is hidden in her terrible home, in a place/ You’ve not seen. Seek it, if you dare! Save us/ once more, and again twisted gold, / Heaped-up ancient treasure, will reward you/ For the battle you win!” (Line 444-449). This is saying that if Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother and win he will be rewarded with treasures and glory. Achilles comes from a culture where honor and respect is important. He believes avenging his friend Patroculs’s death is the honorable and respectful thing to do. For example Achilles says “Likewise with me, if destiny like his/ awaits me, I shall rest when I …show more content…
An epic hero is someone that takes part in dangerous adventures and accomplishes great deeds. Beowulf performs epic hero qualities by defeating the horrid monster Grendel that no one else can conquer. For example “But wounded as he was could flee to his den, / His miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh, / Only to die, to wait for the end/ Of all his day” (Line 342-345). This quote adds proof that Beowulf conquered and killed Grendel. Achilles performs epic hero qualities by, avenging Patroculs’s death by killing his killer Hector. For example “Die, make an end. I shall accept my own/ whenever Zeus and the other gods desire”(Line 214-215). This tells that Achilles had killed Hector and accepts he will die when the gods decide to kill him. This is why Beowulf and Achilles are examples of an epic