Epic Heroes Analysis Essay Example

characters can range from royalty to confidants and even romantic partners.

The reason why characters are recognized is often due to their relationships with one another throughout the story. This is exemplified in Beowulf, where the warrior Unferth initially resents Beowulf for being awarded the task of defeating Grendel, a feat which Unferth had failed to accomplish. Unferth then challenges and underestimates Beowulf, but after Grendel is defeated, he has a change of heart and begins to show respect towards Beowulf. Similarly, in the Iliad, Achilles has a relationship with Briseis, a Trojan widow.

Initially, Briseis felt great anger towards Achilles and the Greeks after they killed her husband. Nevertheless, over time, Achilles displayed some concern for Briseis, leading to a gradual shift towards romantic love between the two. This transformation marks a significant shift from hate to love. In the Ramayana, the hero has a close bond with his wife as well.

Although the three poems share similar plots, none of them depict any alteration in relationships. In Rama's story, he and his spouse maintain their affection for each other and he even rescues her from Ramava. Likewise, Beowulf must defeat opponents who are stronger than their adversaries but ultimately prove weaker than him. Nevertheless, Beowulf also meets his end during the concluding battle of the narrative.

The Iliad and Beowulf share a similar storyline where both the protagonist and antagonist ultimately meet their demise. Although the antagonist is defeated, the protagonist also perishes during the process. Hector, an accomplished fighter who possesses immense skill, instills fear in Greek soldiers. He successfully eliminates many Greek warriors such as Odysseus and Diomedes who are considered among the

best.

Although different in plot, both the Iliad and Ramayana share some similarities. In the Iliad, the murder of Patroclus leads to Achilles' anger and the killing of Hector. Later, Paris kills Achilles resulting in both antagonist and protagonist's deaths. In Ramayana, Rama's wife Sita is abducted by Ravana leading to a battle where Ravana is eventually slain by Rama.

Unlike the other protagonists, Rama doesn't meet a violent end but passes away peacefully. Each of these poems carries a distinct moral or theme. Heroism is the main theme of Beowulf, where the story teaches that physical courage alone isn't enough to triumph over an adversary. The Iliad's central theme is that there are no clear victors in war, and consequently, the tale underscores the moral that men's stubbornness, arrogance, and emotional decision-making harms everyone involved. Ramayana centers on the constant battle between good and evil, with the moral that it's important to defend godly law against those who pose a threat and oppose it. Beowulf and Iliad utilize poetic forms, although one can find prose renditions of these works in contemporary times.

Although it is split into seven books, The Ramayana is predominantly prose. Epic heroes from various cultures and backgrounds share many similarities, despite their differences, in the literary realm. This essay has only touched on a few examples of these similarities.

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