Beowulf And The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1667 Words

In today’s society, a hero is viewed as someone who embodies the characteristics of selflessness, courage, honesty, and integrity. The same characteristics were essential to be thought of as a hero 3,000 years ago as well. Two of the most widely known epic poems of their time were Beowulf and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh embody traits known exclusively of a hero. The poem of Beowulf and The Epic Gilgamesh both showcase the characteristics required of being an epic, in that they include a hero on a quest performing valorous deeds in an elevated style, while being protected by supernatural forces. The epic poem, Beowulf was based in the country of Denmark, while The Epic of Gilgamesh was based in a region of Mesopotamia. Although the poems were written and discovered in two separate regions, their cultures share similarities. Beowulf was strongly influenced by the Anglo-Saxon culture, which was monotheistic. The Anglo-Saxon culture also encompasses elements of Paganism and Christianity (History.world.org). Additionally, Gilgamesh was born into a polytheistic Sumer culture. Both the Anglo-Saxon and Sumer culture was widely warrior based. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh owe most of their epic heroism to the characteristics of their cultures. They strived to be not only great leaders, but also heroic warriors (Anglo-Saxon England-UTA). The two cultures were also widely known for their adventurous storytelling. No one knows the actual age of the poem Beowulf,Show MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, And Beowulf854 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh†, â€Å"Oedipus the King†, â€Å"The Odyssey†, and â€Å"Beowulf†, the readers notice how society defines each main character by their heroic characteristics, the relationship between the humans and the divine, and the differences of how each hero’s journey ends. Gilgamesh, Oedipus, Odysseus, and Beowulf display several characteristics classifying themselves as heroes. In the story of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is â€Å"two-thirds divine and one-third human† (Gilgamesh, par 2). He displaysRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, And Beowulf1962 Words   |  8 PagesIn this argument essay, it consists of three texts: The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, and Beowulf. During each of the characters journey, they face challenges such as fighting with monsters and with that they either develop a greater sense of mortality or a greater sense of identity. Mortality and identity are common themes in an epic that portrays the importance of character development from the effects of their heroic actions. Some epics result in mortality which means they know that they liveRead MoreEssay on The Epic of Gilgamesh versus The Epic of Beowulf1147 Words   |  5 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and Beowulf contain everything we can expect from a great epic li terature. 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