Heroes come in all different types. Some heroes are silent, and others are classic. However, one constant throughout heroes is their bravery, adventurism, strength, and selflessness. In the classic myths Beowulf and Gilgamesh, two heroes are made by going on the same journey: The Hero’s Journey. Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey focuses on a variety of chronological events that a perceived heroic figure must go through to classify as a hero. While the journey consists of twelve specific challenges, two can be argued as the most important: The Ordeal and The Resurrection. The Ordeal occurs near the middle of the story and is where the hero fights the original enemy, and leaves the battle successful. The hero must confront death,
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Beowulf offers his service for no price, and risks his life to kill Grendel, succeeding without the help or assistance of any of his knights. This bravery and selflessness comes from his internal mental strength, and contributes to his characterization as a hero throughout the myth. During The Ordeal, Beowulf declared, “I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield,the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend.” (Beowulf 433-440). His confidence comes out alongside his physical strength in his battle with Grendel. The mental strength shown here is the only reason he was successful, as it is later revealed that no sword would have worked against the beast. Before then, “no Shielding elder would believe there was any power or person on earth capable of wrecking their horn-rigged hall unless the burning embrace of a fire engulf it in flame,” (Beowulf 774-781). His strength is classified here as inhuman, as it has done what no power on earth could have accomplished. His physical strength was a contributor to his success against Grendel, but his mental strength and confidence ultimately allowed him to leave victorious, with Grendel’s arm in hand. After The Ordeal, Beowulf continues on with each chapter of the hero’s journey, until he reaches The Resurrection. After his initial …show more content…
Through his Ordeal, he required the help of his equally-powerful counterpart, Enkidu, to slay Humbaba. Enkidu was created by the Goddess Aruru, planning to, “Let him be a match for the storm of his heart, let them vie with each other, so Uruk may be rested,” (Gilgamesh I 96-100). Gilgamesh struggled during The Ordeal, as he let Humbaba’s curses penetrate his focus. Enkidu had to provide constant encouragement during the fight to keep Gilgamesh from giving up, begging him, “‘[finish him,] slay him, [do away with his power,] … Establish for ever [a fame] that endures, how Gilgamesh slew [ferocious] Humbaba!’” (Gilgamesh V 242-245). Gilgamesh also called on the Gods to come to his service, and the only way his weapons were able to reach Humbaba was after “Shamash roused against Humbaba the mighty gale-winds: South Wing, North Wind, East Wind and West Wind, Blast, Counterblast, Typhoon, Hurricane and Tempest, Devil-Wind, Frost-Wind, Gale and Tornado” (Gilgamesh V 136-140). Gilgamesh was reliant on his fraternal bonds with Enkidu and not solely his own mental strength, and was reliant on Godly assistance and not solely his own physical strength when in battle. This reliance on a figure more powerful than him implies that Gilgamesh lacks either the skill or the confidence to fight Humbaba alone. During The Resurrection, Gilgamesh goes on
Beowulf offers his service for no price, and risks his life to kill Grendel, succeeding without the help or assistance of any of his knights. This bravery and selflessness comes from his internal mental strength, and contributes to his characterization as a hero throughout the myth. During The Ordeal, Beowulf declared, “I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield,the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend.” (Beowulf 433-440). His confidence comes out alongside his physical strength in his battle with Grendel. The mental strength shown here is the only reason he was successful, as it is later revealed that no sword would have worked against the beast. Before then, “no Shielding elder would believe there was any power or person on earth capable of wrecking their horn-rigged hall unless the burning embrace of a fire engulf it in flame,” (Beowulf 774-781). His strength is classified here as inhuman, as it has done what no power on earth could have accomplished. His physical strength was a contributor to his success against Grendel, but his mental strength and confidence ultimately allowed him to leave victorious, with Grendel’s arm in hand. After The Ordeal, Beowulf continues on with each chapter of the hero’s journey, until he reaches The Resurrection. After his initial …show more content…
Through his Ordeal, he required the help of his equally-powerful counterpart, Enkidu, to slay Humbaba. Enkidu was created by the Goddess Aruru, planning to, “Let him be a match for the storm of his heart, let them vie with each other, so Uruk may be rested,” (Gilgamesh I 96-100). Gilgamesh struggled during The Ordeal, as he let Humbaba’s curses penetrate his focus. Enkidu had to provide constant encouragement during the fight to keep Gilgamesh from giving up, begging him, “‘[finish him,] slay him, [do away with his power,] … Establish for ever [a fame] that endures, how Gilgamesh slew [ferocious] Humbaba!’” (Gilgamesh V 242-245). Gilgamesh also called on the Gods to come to his service, and the only way his weapons were able to reach Humbaba was after “Shamash roused against Humbaba the mighty gale-winds: South Wing, North Wind, East Wind and West Wind, Blast, Counterblast, Typhoon, Hurricane and Tempest, Devil-Wind, Frost-Wind, Gale and Tornado” (Gilgamesh V 136-140). Gilgamesh was reliant on his fraternal bonds with Enkidu and not solely his own mental strength, and was reliant on Godly assistance and not solely his own physical strength when in battle. This reliance on a figure more powerful than him implies that Gilgamesh lacks either the skill or the confidence to fight Humbaba alone. During The Resurrection, Gilgamesh goes on