Epic Hero Comparison Essay Example

Their readiness to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of American citizens is proof of their courage.

Military personnel need physical strength and mental agility to be effective in combat. I pondered the most efficient method to harm him, hoping Athena would fulfill my desire. I contemplated using a nearby club or staff crafted from a dried olive tree, ideal for the Cyclops to wield. It resembled an enormous mast akin to those discovered on twenty-oared sailing boats—wide and resilient enough for navigating deep waters. Additionally, it possessed great length and strength.

According to Homer (764), I took a six-foot section of a pole and presented it to my comrades. They scraped it until it was smooth, and then I shaped it into a stake with a sharp end. I heated it in the fire and hardened it, before hiding it in the back of the cave, under piles of dung. The time had come to determine who would accompany me on this mission. Who would be willing to drive that spike into Cyclops' eye while he slept peacefully? Fortunately, the men I would have chosen were the ones who won the toss - four strong men, and with myself as their captain.

Odysseus, the epic hero of the Odyssey, exhibited his mental cleverness when he devised a plan to harm the Cyclops and initiate his escape from the Cyclops' cave. Similarly, American heroic luminaries possess mental ingenuity and strength. However, they also possess distinct characteristics. “A man in a distant field, without any nearby fires, will conceal a fresh piece of wood among his smoldering embers to preserve a spark for the next day. In

a comparable manner, Odysseus concealed himself in the leaves, while Athena bestowed upon him a deep slumber to alleviate his distress, and soon enough.

"In a quiet sleep she sealed his eyes" (Homer 754). "Greathearted Odysseus, home at last, was being bathed now by Eurynome and rubbed with golden oil, and clothed again in a fresh tunic and cloak. Athena lent him beauty head to foot" (Homer 807). The goddess, Athena, intervenes multiple times in the epic, the Odyssey. This separates epic heroes from modern heroes and heroines. An epic hero is characterized by a god or goddess interfering with the plot to aid the hero, also known as deus ex machina in poetry.

In today's society, it is rare for Gods and goddesses to intervene and assist our heroes with their challenges. While religious faith still exists, in epic poetry, the influence of a god or goddess is typically more tangible, unlike the stories of contemporary heroes. "From all directions, they approached and searched for the pit with noisy cries; and I became overcome with fear. However, I soon ordered my officers to skin the sheep that were killed by the bronze sword, and to offer their flesh as burnt sacrifices to the deities of the underworld — to the powerful Death and the pale Persephone.

Meanwhile, I held my drawn sword in a crouched position to ward off the surging phantoms at the bloody pit until I could ascertain the presence of Tiresias (Homer 776). A common attribute of heroes in epic poems is their tendency to undergo a figurative death or embark on a journey to the underworld. In the Odyssey, Odysseus ventures into the

underworld and offers sacrifices to Persephone, Hades' wife, and Tiresias, the deceased blind prophet. Contemporary paladins do not typically venture into the underworld. Epic demigods often possess mythological qualities that are distinct from those of avant-garde heroes.

Despite the differences in mythological qualities that set apart past epic heroes from present-day heroes, the heroes throughout history share numerous similarities. These heroes are revered and celebrated, embark on quests, and possess exceptional strength, intelligence, and/or courage. Moreover, they are considered ethical individuals who willingly take risks for the sake of glory or the greater good of society. Furthermore, they exhibit strong leadership qualities and are responsible leaders. Many men and women qualify as heroes, including those in the armed forces and figures like Martin Luther King Jr., displaying attributes akin to epic heroes such as Odysseus while also being distinct.