The idea of who a hero should or should not be has changed drastically over the years, as have most things. In modern-day society we see a hero as someone who is selfless, bold, courageous, and honest. We see heroes as strong leaders of our society, someone who we would not mind our kids looking up to. In an era such as when the Iliad is written, the definition of a hero is much different. One of the main characters in the novel, Achilles, is looked up to by his peers as a fearless heroic warrior. When in modern day society, we would see him as a blood-thirsty lunatic. Achilles was not a hero, simply because he was selfish, distrustful, and he acted upon his own instinct without thought of the repercussions he would cause for those around him. The Iliad is a novel about the Trojan War. Previous to the war, three goddesses, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite are competing to see who is the best. This contest is to be judged by Paris, the son of Priam, King of Troy. Hera, goddess of marriage and Queen of Olympus, offered Paris rule over all of Asia. Athena, goddess of wisdom, courage and warfare offers Paris military success. Last but not least, Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, offers Paris the most beautiful women in the world. Paris, being the young and foolish man he is, chooses Aphrodite. The promise is fulfilled and Paris is gifted Helen, wife of Menelaus, and the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. After Paris seduces Helen, they sail away together back to Troy,
What makes a hero to you? Is it being brave, strong, bold, or even saving the world? Well, according to Joseph Cambell,” The moral objection (of heroism) is that of saving people, or person, or idea...sacrificing…for…. Something,” (Marlantes 3). In the story the Odyssey, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, shows all the characteristics of being a hero.
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” May the battle begin between two godlike warriors, from the Anglo Saxons Dark Ages to the Ancient Greeks. Epic poems like The Illiad by Homer and Beowulf displays heroism in various traits. Whether it be the Dark Ages or Ancient Greek they too stood to act upon what they felt was right. Beowulf & Achilles have many similarities; they are great fighters in high positions.
In Gender and Immortality: Heroines in Ancient Greek Myth and Cult, Deborah Lyons discusses the significance of the heroine in ancient Greek religion and society. She brings up the reality that because of ancient Greek sexism, very little attention has been given to women hero figures. Lyons believes the heroine is involved in the relations between male and female and mortal and immortal. Throughout the text, she attempts to portray the importance of the heroine in ancient Greek society. One such example she provides in the form of Attic-vase painting.
A hero to me, for the longest time, is someone who did something epic. Something that changed the world, something that impacted our lives in a positive way. Never did I once stop to think about the smaller things that made someone a hero or the virtues that these heroes had in mind that mad them what they were, until I read Homer’s The Odyssey. I started to give more thought on how commitment, sacrifice and loyalty all came into play to make Odysseus the great leader that he was portrayed as, at the same time I questioned if these values, when placed in the “wrong hands” would make one into a bad and morally corrupt person.
A hero is typically someone who is respected for his or her remarkable achievements and assets. Most People define a hero as someone who does something incredible out of the virtuousness of his or her heart. In the “Odyssey,” written by Homer, Odysseus the main character would fit the definition of a hero. However, if you examine more closely, he does not fit the definition that most people think of a hero whatsoever. Odysseus does not do anything out of his heart.
What is a hero to you? Is it someone like Superman, Batman, Spiderman or maybe even Wonder Woman? Does your hero save lives or fight crimes? A hero could be anyone, just a regular person. It does not have to just be someone who fights crimes on a daily basis or put bad people away.
Jeremy Johnston 10/14/15 Period 8 People from ancient and modern times have different concepts of people being “heroes”. In ancient times, heros were people who had to overcome obstacles and beat their inner demons. They have to go on a journey and beat their opponents with their smart personality. Being a hero in the modern era is a lot easier. In the modern times a hero is a person who helps their community by saving people and giving to the community.
According to the dictionary, a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” However, if one were to ask a general person who a hero is, the response in all likelihood would be along the lines of, “a hero is someone who selflessly sacrifices himself, out of the pure goodness of his heart, in order to help or save others.” The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer over three-thousand years ago, describes the long, difficult journey undertaken by the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus certainly fulfills the dictionary’s criteria for being considered a hero. He’s cunning, intrepid, brave and strong.
Penelope in the Odyssey assumes a position of power while Odysseus is away from Ithaca fighting in the Trojan War. She defies the typical role of women by being in control. She is also extremely intelligent, and stands as a sign of hope for other women moving forward. Furthermore, Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus for the whole twenty years he is gone, while her husband has a passionate affair with Calypso (CITE). This detail again strengthens the idea that regarding women, men had little values regarding their treatment and they did not hold marriage in such a sanctity that it is now held.
In Homer’s The Iliad, epic hero Achilles serves as an example of how rage, when unchecked, leads to disastrous repercussions. Achilles, though nearly superhuman in his physical abilities, struggles repeatedly to contain his anger. Throughout The Iliad, as Achilles’ fury compounds, the consequences of his actions become catastrophic, eventually leading to the death of his best friend, Patroclus. Although Achilles ultimately chooses to avenge Patroclus’ death and achieve his own kleos, or honor, his rage-driven actions lead to the death of many Achaean soldiers, and change the course of his fate.
Odyssey Entry #1 Perceiving what a hero is an easy feat to accomplish. Everyone has a hero imagined in their head. Their hero could be someone like batman, or they could be a real person. Some people can instantly think of who their hero is, while for others it takes them a minute.
In the Iliad, Achilles is responding to Odysseus’s speech attempting to convince him to return to the war. Achilles’ main argument against returning is his incalculable rage against Agamemnon for “the prize of honor / The warlord Agamemnon gave me / And in his insulting arrogance took back” which is not only an insult to Achilles’ status, but also to his honor as a warrior (Il. 9.378-379). In addition to focusing on the main argument of Achilles’ speech, it is worth noting the contradictions present within his speech as well.
Again, the definition of a hero is a person who is courageous and brave in spirit, and they have unique abilities that make people idolize them. Gilgamesh and Achilles both were heroines in their own right, and they were even unique to their people and culture. Knowingly, Gilgamesh and Achilles possess qualities that make them the same, and so different at the same time. Furthermore, Gilgamesh and Achilles were too prideful and foolish which made them alike, but they both were different in their affluence, power, and overwhelming strength, which made them a heroine to people because of their superhuman abilities, high personal relationships, and great influence over
Every literary piece has an evident hero who seems to be the center of the piece. The story revolves around them, as well as the choices that they choose to make throughout the course of the piece. The hero faces many challenges along their journey and interacts with countless characters, including the shadow. The shadow is the main villain in a story, and challenges the role of the hero, often tempting the hero to abandon their mission, and go back to their average life. This is the point in the story, when the hero is forced to reflect upon their own self-identity, and realize what they value the most.
Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.