The Hero Epic is thought of to be one of the worlds first if not the first ever written form of a story. Filled with excitement, war, terror and extreme character change these stories have everything needed for a successfully plot even on todays standards. The Two famous stories The Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad will be compared mainly in terms of their main characters; Gilgamesh and Achilles. Initially giving background information on the texts themselves and then moving into detail on the meanings and themes of characters a clear line between the two will seem to form. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Achilles in the Homer’s Iliad both successfully create a story around the Hero Epic theme in similar teachings
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It is also thought to be one of the oldest know literary documents and was written in Homeric Greek which is a from of Ionic Greek. This story was brought to fruition around 750 BCE. It may have been written in 750 BCE, but the events being displayed occurred an estimated 400 years earlier. From this we can assume many of the things being said are more of greek mythology and story than factual evidence. Never the less Achilles was a real man and gifted warrior on and off the battlefield. He is the son of his father Peleus the king of Myrmidons and his mother Neried Thetis was a Nymph and friend of the gods. This story originated from the Greek people and greek culture which is often centered around battle. The Greek people and especially Homer wrote this story or poem in order to show people how excessive pride and self worth is something you need, but something that you cant let take you over. It was inevitably Achilles’s pride that forced decisive victories against the Achean army and the death of his companion Patroclus. “And now my prize you threaten in person to strip from me,for whom I labored much, the gift of the sons of the Achaians. Never, when the Achaians sack some well-founded citadel of the Trojans, do I have a prize that is equal to your prize. […] Now I am returning to Phthia, since it is much better to go home again with my curved ships, and I am …show more content…
Both main characters go through a huge change in persona that alters the way they act and the way everyone thinks of them. Gilgamesh in The Epic of Gilgamesh is introduced as a brutal dictator who oppresses his people. A man who rules not with popularity, but with fear and strength. After Anu told the gods of his issues they responded to her call with a man who can rival the powerful Gilgamesh. This man Enkidu ends up befriending Gilgamesh and is the catalyst to Gilgamesh’s huge alteration. After Enkidu’s death Gilgamesh sets out in search of eternal life. He is not successfully in his search for immortality, but he does find wisdom and peace within himself. He learned to accept the fact of his mortal attributes and understands the true meaning of life. With a new open mind and outlook on life he returns from his journey a new king. One not focused on oppression and strength, but on prosperity and tranquility. While Gilgamesh experiences one major event that changes him Achilles goes through many incidents which cause him grief, love, anger, pride and honor. He is initially a well tempered, but is forced to change his persona. After the battle at Chryse Achilles and his brother Agamemnon take two women as their prizes. The claiming of these two women proves to be a decisive mistake as one of there fathers happens to be a Priest of Apollo and he requests that Apollo
It is also thought to be one of the oldest know literary documents and was written in Homeric Greek which is a from of Ionic Greek. This story was brought to fruition around 750 BCE. It may have been written in 750 BCE, but the events being displayed occurred an estimated 400 years earlier. From this we can assume many of the things being said are more of greek mythology and story than factual evidence. Never the less Achilles was a real man and gifted warrior on and off the battlefield. He is the son of his father Peleus the king of Myrmidons and his mother Neried Thetis was a Nymph and friend of the gods. This story originated from the Greek people and greek culture which is often centered around battle. The Greek people and especially Homer wrote this story or poem in order to show people how excessive pride and self worth is something you need, but something that you cant let take you over. It was inevitably Achilles’s pride that forced decisive victories against the Achean army and the death of his companion Patroclus. “And now my prize you threaten in person to strip from me,for whom I labored much, the gift of the sons of the Achaians. Never, when the Achaians sack some well-founded citadel of the Trojans, do I have a prize that is equal to your prize. […] Now I am returning to Phthia, since it is much better to go home again with my curved ships, and I am …show more content…
Both main characters go through a huge change in persona that alters the way they act and the way everyone thinks of them. Gilgamesh in The Epic of Gilgamesh is introduced as a brutal dictator who oppresses his people. A man who rules not with popularity, but with fear and strength. After Anu told the gods of his issues they responded to her call with a man who can rival the powerful Gilgamesh. This man Enkidu ends up befriending Gilgamesh and is the catalyst to Gilgamesh’s huge alteration. After Enkidu’s death Gilgamesh sets out in search of eternal life. He is not successfully in his search for immortality, but he does find wisdom and peace within himself. He learned to accept the fact of his mortal attributes and understands the true meaning of life. With a new open mind and outlook on life he returns from his journey a new king. One not focused on oppression and strength, but on prosperity and tranquility. While Gilgamesh experiences one major event that changes him Achilles goes through many incidents which cause him grief, love, anger, pride and honor. He is initially a well tempered, but is forced to change his persona. After the battle at Chryse Achilles and his brother Agamemnon take two women as their prizes. The claiming of these two women proves to be a decisive mistake as one of there fathers happens to be a Priest of Apollo and he requests that Apollo