Beowulf and Odysseus a Comparison - 1165 Words

Beowulf and Odysseus: A Comparison What is more important to the hero than his men? Both Beowulf of â€Å"Beowulf† and Odysseus of The Odyssey of Homer have the all important asset of men at their disposal, Men who follow them as leaders and accompany them on their travels. While Odysseus greatly values his men and treats them very loyally and emotionally, his men, in turn, give him the same loyalty and respect back. Beowulf is far more self-driven. While his men are mostly present throughout, they often take more of a spectator role due to the fact that Beowulf’s actions and decisions often don’t require the assistance of his men. He has a very neutral personality when it comes to his men, and only really has passion for himself and his†¦show more content†¦When Eurylochus returns and tells Odysseus of the fate of his men who ventured into Circe’s house, instead of fleeing as Eurylochus advises he goes in to rescue his men. While inside, though Circe tempts him with great feasts and tries to charm him, he keeps his men foremost in his mind â€Å"what man with justice in his mind would think of food and drink before he freed his comrades and could see them with his own eyes? If indeed you would have me drink and eat, release my men: bring back my faithful friends†. He refers to his comrades as friends, and friends they seem, though with Beowulf is it is much more of a leader to an underling type of relationship. The men return all of this compassion and loyalty with matched or greater loyalty and affection for Odysseus. For when they are rescued they are tearful with joy and gratitude for his returning to save them. Their loyalty is unbroken by Eurylochus’ attempts to undermine Odysseus and cause his men to question him. When Odysseus considers striking down Eurylochus they hold him back with assurances that they are loyal to him and will follow him wherever he may take them â€Å"If you-one sprung from Zeus-prefer it so he can stay here and watch the ship. We’ll go with you, lead us to Circe’s sacred house†. It’s defining moments like these that separate Odysseus’ men from Beowulf’s; where Beowulf’s men clearlyShow MoreRelated Comparing Two Heros - Beowulf and Odysseus Essays618 Words   |  3 PagesHeros - Beowulf and Odysseus Reading through Beowulf I began to compare it to the last great epic I read, Homer’s Odyssey. While the Odyssey and Beowulf are each examples of both historic and modern ideas of heroism, the acts of Beowulf’s hero seem to fit better within its context. Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These along with more subtle diplomatic actions serve to define him as both a great warrior and leader. Beowulf showsRead MoreHero Archetypes and Epic Conventions in the Odyssey and Beowulf3110 Words   |  13 Pagesand Epic Conventions in The Odyssey and Beowulf It is remarkable how closely one can compare two epics that have such diverse and unique historical and cultural backgrounds. A Greek poet named Homer wrote The Odyssey sometime from BC 1400-900 during the Mycenaean Period. The epic preceding The Odyssey, called The Iliad, revolves around Achilles, the hero of the commonly known Trojan Wars. The Odyssey is a continuation of The Iliad and deals with Odysseus, another hero of the Trojan Wars, who hasRead MoreLiterary Vs. Real Life Heroes1618 Words   |  7 Pagesin everyday life that people see as heroic. Both literary and real life heros have some similarities and differences. Which strikes the question What makes a hero different in literature compared to a real life hero? A modern real life hero in comparison to a literary hero, which date back centuries, are going to have many differences and similarities. The definition of a hero according to a literary point of view is, â€Å"hero- defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstandingRead MoreThe Epic Of Epic Heroes2181 Words   |  9 PagesFrom King Arthur, to Beowulf, to even Achilles, characters that embody the traits of epic heroes represent an integral part of ancient literature. In fact, what would literature be without epic heroes? How different would The Odyssey be if Odysseus never went on his epic journey? Would the epic poem Beowulf still be read today if the character Beowulf never challenged Grendel and Grendel’s mother? In the story, The Epic of Gilgamesh, characters, both men and women, exhibit characteristics that could