Shield of Achilles

What do a queen, a rooster, a miller, and a mistress have in common? They all share heroic qualities with the titular character in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Though some scholars doubt the King being a hero at all, as expressed by author David L. Perry, he certainly exhibits many heroic qualities throughout the play. The main characters in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales are those of a wide range of attributes and status. By examining the tales of the Miller, the Reeve, the Nun’s Priest, and…

“Wyrd often spares a warrior, who is not ripe for death, if his courage is strong.” (Iliásics 10). This quote from Beowulf describes something called “Wyrd” which is the concept of fate that manifests as a hero’s willingness to fight heavy odds courageously, which could push back their end (Benét 1131). Macbeth and Beowulf, though both affected by fate, are in control of their own destinies and were capable of changing what happened to them. The concept of Wyrd in Beowulf is not an all…

What is it that makes a hero? Is it their appearance, their powers or the strength that they possess? In reality it is the journey, also known as the hero’s quest cycle. Whether it’s a real life hero or a fictional hero it is the journey that differentiates a hero from an ordinary person. Bilbo Baggins a small hobbit, who is unlike a hero, proves otherwise through the journey he takes. What truly makes Bilbo a heroic figure are the actions he takes in response to the challenges presented to him.…

Journeys can change people tremendously. That is very much the case in Homer's The Odyssey. Telemachus goes on a journey to find news of his long-lost father Odysseus. After fighting in the Trojan War, King Odysseus of Ithaca is lost on his travels home. Suitors overrun his palace, trying to marry his wife. Athena convinces Telemachus to journey and find out whether his father is alive. He meets King Nestor in Pylos and King Menelaus in Sparta, who both have news about Odysseus. Telemachus's…

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer and centers around Odysseus and his adventures on his way home from the trojan war. During these adventures, Odysseus leads his men to different islands and through various obstacles. Many people often question Odysseus' leadership. Should Odysseus receive a nomination for a leadership award? I on the other hand believe that Odysseus should not receive a leadership award. Odysseus lacks some qualities of a great leader such as communication, being…

away and eat you raw- such agonies you have caused me!” (Iliad, lines 184-187) Achilles, the Greek warrior gloats over his enemy Hector of Troy. Prior to this battle of vengeance, Hector had killed Achilles’ best friend Patroclus, dishonouring him by not giving him a proper burial and by taking his armour. Enraged, Achilles seeks revenge for his friend and slaughters Hector. Through his actions and inner thoughts, Achilles, become what he hates- a dishonourable warrior rather than the hero of…

The Role of Klytaimnestra’s Story in The Odyssey Being a hero can mean many things, but nothing defines a hero more clearly than an antihero. So often, being a hero is defined by “doing good deeds”, but good deeds cannot be understood without their bad equivalents. Good could not possibly exist without evil, otherwise there would be no way to define it. That is the role that the story of Klytaimnestra fulfills in The Odyssey. The story is used to express the scope of Penelope’s loyalty to…

The Odyssey is a book that was written during the Ancient Greek era, 8 century B.C. The story of the Odyssey was passed down from generations, where Homer is believed to be an era- not a person. The Odyssey was about a hero, Odysseus, who spent a decade in the Trojan War and a decade trying to get home, back to Ithaca. Ithaca is is homeland and where he rules. This means Odysseus has not been home in twenty years, the people of Ithaca think that Odysseus is dead, except Penelope, his wife.…

A hero is an individual who is admired for his or her brave acts or for their fine individual qualities. The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh’s main protagonists are heroes. However, one of the main characters falls short from being a true hero, making him unworthy of the title. The Epic of Gilgamesh begins with a long exaltation about Gilgamesh—the epic’s main protagonist—¬hero attributes. The author uses direct exposition to describe Gilgamesh, as a hero and a godlike character. He does this…

Two translations of The Odyssey, by Robert Fitzgerald and Emily Wilson create nuances about the characters. The variations in the Wilson translation and Fitzgerald translation of The Odyssey make distinctions in how the reader views Odysseus, Penelope and Telemakhos. Odysseus left for Ithaka 20 years ago. Suitors stay in Odysseus’s house to attempt to win Penelope’s hand in marriage. Eurykleia, the nurse, tells Penelope Odysseus killed all the suitors. Penelope thinks Odysseus has not returned.…