...A Hero of Epic Proportions A true hero does not fear death itself, but will risk everything for what he believes to be right, moral and just. Epic heroes are defined as a person who has superhuman qualities and embodies the values of a society. Epic heroes possess a strong love for their community, fearless of death, and they are loyal to an individual or a cause. The epic poem Beowulf, written by Burton Raffel, depicts the life of Beowulf, the most heroic person during Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is fearful of no monster and seems to conquer every obstacle as if he were immortal. He possess many of the characteristics that make up an epic hero including: courage,physical strength, loyalty,confidence, and wisdom. During Anglo-Saxon times, tales were often told about epic heroes who put their own lives in danger for the greater good. These stories about fearless and honorable warriors provided the common people with a sense of security and provided lessons to young men that they should display honor in every act. Beowulf willingly put himself in danger when he accepted the challenge of fighting the monster, Grendel. He did this only to help the Geats and out of loyalty to the Danes. His actions defined his life and are recounted throughout the epic poem. Beowulf was never afraid of death. Before every battle he would explain his death wishes and request that his assets be delivered to his people. "And if death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Hilgar"...
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...What makes a poem epic? By mere definition, something epic is stated to be significant/impactful ancient history, passed down for generations. Such poems that completely fulfill this conception are, “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” by N. K Sandars and “Homer, The Odyssey” by Robert Fitzgerald. Both can be found primarily written in the form of ancient characters and even inscribed on old tablets! Both extensive, drawn out poems of godlike heroes people can easily look up to with extremely high regard. Such long drawn out poems are rare, for most poems we come across in our lives are very brief. A prolonged poem that can actually tell a grand story as good as a novel can, and is legendary in time can only be described as an epic poem. In addition, awesome themes can be pointed out that give poems that much...
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...Title: The Two Ancient Titan Warriors Samurai and knights, going man to man, stabbing and slashing, ripping and tearing. Though this battle sounds of epic proportions, it never took place. But, what if this event actually did take place? More importantly though, what are samurai and knights? Samurai were fierce, agile warriors from Feudal Japan. Knights, on the contrary, are bulky, strong warriors from Medieval Europe. Though these two protectors lived far away from each other, they were both created around the same time. However, if these two titans were to engage in a duel, the samurai would win because of his great armor, physical training, and mental training. Samurai are superior to knights because of their specialized armor. Some pieces...
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...2012 The Anatomy of an Epic When it comes to the art of storytelling, one has to think of the great storyteller known as Homer. There are other great story tellers and epics that stand out in history such as Vergil and his epic The Aeneid. Though there is no duplicate to the epic poems of Homer. Homer of Greece was a blind bard known for a sensational memory and his ability to entertain an audience with the portrayal of his words. Two well known epic poems he told were The Odyssey and The Iliad. Both of these poems are very different from any story or poem written in ancient Greece. The structure, development, and the art of how each epic was told is the reason why each work is different and why each is called an epic. Especially the Odyssey it is the pentacle of an epic poem and contains everything needed to be considered so. The Odyssey is the great story of Odysseus and the sequel to Homer’s other epic the Iliad. The main character Odysseus is put through a lengthy journey on his return home to Ithaca from the battlefield of Troy. Over the span of 24 detailed books Homer tells Odysseus’ path and what he must face to get home. From the raging seas created by Poseidon, Odysseus’ lengthy stay with calypso, and his travels through the underworld. These and other conflicts that Odysseus faces are part of the elements to which make the odyssey and epic poem. In the first book of the Odyssey, Homer introduces a very important element of his Epic poems, the Muse. According...
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...The plots of Beowulf reveal how society changes culturally as time progresses. The epic poem initially begins as a story symbolizing Pagan ideas and beliefs. As time advances, the epic poem gradually evolves into a story involving Christianity. The latest variation of Beowulf tackled various issues society encounters in our modern world. Overall, Beowulf is an ever-changing epic. Elements of Paganism is seen numerous times throughout the epic poem. Many examples of Paganism is seen in Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s character is written as a hero. In Pagan society, heroes fight or go to war for fame or to be remembered when they meet their death. This was Beowulf’s purpose for volunteering to leave Geatland to venture to Denmark to end evil. Many characters possess superhuman strength. Beowulf and Grendel are prime examples of characters with superhuman strength. Beowulf displays his abilities when he swims underwater for hours without gasping or oxygen. Grendel displays his superhuman abilities with his incredible strength as he murders Danish soldiers. The symbolism of Good vs Evil displays with Grendel and Beowulf’s gruesome duel. Within the many examples of Paganism, Christian aspects also appear in Beowulf. An example of Christian faith in the poem is when Beowulf and his troops arrive in Denmark to battle Grendel, the group thank God for the safe ride to Denmark. A major example is Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s heroic personality and decisions consider him to be a God-like...
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...Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh is epic poetry from Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literature. Scholars believe that it originated as a series of Sumerian legends and poems about the protagonist of the story,Gilgamesh, which were fashioned into a longer Akkadian epic much later. The most complete version existing today is preserved on 12 clay tablets from the library collection of 7th-century BC Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. It was originally titled He who Saw the Deep (Sha naqba īmuru) or Surpassing All Other Kings (Shūtur eli sharrī). The story revolves around a relationship between Gilgamesh (probably a real ruler in the late Early Dynastic II period ca. 27th century BC)[1] and his close companion, Enkidu. Enkidu is a wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh's equal to distract him from oppressing the citizens of Uruk. Together they undertake dangerous quests that incur the displeasure of the gods. Firstly, they journey to the Cedar Mountain to defeat Humbaba, its monstrous guardian. Later they kill the Bull of Heaven that the goddess Ishtar has sent to punish Gilgamesh for spurning her advances. The latter part of the epic focuses on Gilgamesh's distressed reaction to Enkidu's death, which takes the form of a quest for immortality. Gilgamesh attempts to learn the secret of eternal life by undertaking a long and perilous journey to meet the immortal flood hero, Utnapishtim. Ultimately the poignant words addressed to Gilgamesh in the midst...
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...Deck plans and information subject to change. (14 (746*'4 +0(14/#6+10 10 174 (.''6 5'' 2#)'5 SYMBOLS ■ With facilities for the disabled ↔ Connecting staterooms ▲ 3rd guest occupancy avail. + 3rd/4th guest occupancy avail. ★ 3rd/4th/5th guest occupancy avail. ✩ Up to 6th guest occupancy avail. Enclosed balcony ✕ Elevator RR Restroom 10000 La Cucina Italian Restaurant 12000 12001 12002 12006 12010 12003 12007 12011 12005 12009 12013 12015 12017 12018 12022 12026 12030 12034 12038 12042 12046 12050 12054 12058 12062 12019 + 12021 12025 12029 12033 12037 12041 12045 12049 12053 12057 12061 12023 12027 + 12031 12035 + 12039 12043 + 12047 12051 + 12055 12059 + 12063 12065 + 12067 12069 + 12071 12073 12075 12077 + 11000 11004 11008 11012 11016 11018 11020 11024 11028 + 11032 11036 + 11040 11044 + 11048 11052 + 11056 11060 + 11064 11068 + 11070 11072 + 11074 11076 + 11078 11080 11082 11084 11086 11088 11090 11092 11096 11100 11104 11108 11112 11116 11120 11124 11128 11132 11136 11140 11144 11148 11152 11156 11160 11164 11168 11172 11174 11176 11178 11180 11182 11184 11186 11188 11192 11196 11200 11204 11208 11212 11216 11220 11224 11226 11228 11230 11232 11234 11236 11238 11242 11246 11250 11254 11256 11258 11260 11262 11264 11266 11268 11270 11272 11274 11002 11006 11010 11014 11003 11007 11011 11015 11001 11005 11009 11013 11017 11019 11021 11023 + 10004 10008 10012 10016 10020 10022 10024 10028 10032 10036 10040 10044 10048 10052 10056 10060 10064 10068 10072...
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...The return to your own lives In modern society, there are still many people don’t know how we best should live our lives. I think The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Matrix both have the similarity of people get learned from mistakes in their lives. At also, the difference of their life is Gilgamesh was afraid of death but in The Matrix, the main character was not afraid of death in his life. First of all, Gilgamesh was afraid of death and he was trying to find immortality. After his friend Enkidu was dead, he could not imagine what death is. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh said, “Despair is in my heart. What my brother is now, that shall I be when I am dead. Because I am afraid of death I will go as best I can to find Utnapishitim whom they call the Faraway, for he as entered the assembly of the gods.”(The Epic of Gilgamesh P97) So he started his journey and tried to find immortality. Unfortunately, Gilgamesh could not find the immortality in the end of his life. In contrast, the main character was not afraid of death in his life. There are two worlds in the main character’s life, one is The Matrix which is a computer program and another world is the real one which is controlled by artificial intelligence. When his friend Mopheus was captured by agents, he decided to come back to The Matrix to save his friend. When Trinity which is his comrade said to him if he is going back to that dangerous area, he probably is not going to come back to the real world again because those...
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...Lord of the Rings and Modern Day Epic? Epic adventures are one of the oldest and most celebrated works of literature. These adventures paint pictures of larger-than-life heroes, terrifying battle scenes, and heroic triumphs. Most epics served the purpose of transmitting culture and history, as well as entertaining readers. Among classical epics are the well-known Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. However, is the epic adventure a dying breed of literature? Is it possible that epic stories have sustained the test of time and evolved over the centuries? The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is one of the greatest examples of a modern day epic. What do The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Lord of the Rings all have in common? They all share typical characteristics of epic adventures in some form or another. Though the motives and reasons may differ, the theme of journeying is common to all epic adventures. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, King Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous adventure with his closest friend Enkidu in order to find enduring fame and glory. In The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus embarks on a 10 year-long journey through trials and tests to find his way back home to his wife and son. Epic hero Achilles, of The Iliad, sets out to fight in the legendary Trojan War. Similarly, Frodo Baggins, unassuming hero of The Lord of the Rings, sets out from his home and...
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...Gilgamesh the King of Flaws An unbalanced make up of two parts god and one part man, Gilgamesh suffers most from arrogance. He is the greatest of all men, and both his virtues and his flaws are massive. He is the uncompromising of warriors and the most determined of builders. Yet until Enkidu, his near equal, arrives to serve as a balance to Gilgamesh’s restless energies, he exhausts his subjects with continual battle, forced labor, and unselective exercises of power. Beautiful to see, Gilgamesh selfishly indulges his cravings, raping whatever woman he desires, whether she is the wife of a warrior or the daughter of a noble, or even a bride on her wedding night. One particular night when Enkidu, the wild beast of the steppes comes to find Gilgamesh, he is infuriated by the inconsiderate behavior and attacks Gilgamesh. The men fight and Gilgamesh realizes that Enkidu is a lot like him. Enkidu and Gilgamesh spoke after their fight, and Gilgamesh wants Enkidu to help him fight the beast of the Cedar forest Humbaba. Enkidu agrees after telling Gilgamesh about his experience within the same forest. My friend, I knew that country When I roamed with the wild beasts. The forest is sixty double leagues in every direction, Who can go into it? Humbaba’s cry is the roar of a deluge, His maw is fire, his breath is death. Why do you want to do this? The haunt of Humbaba is a hopeless quest. (Unknown) The two heroes stand before the forest’s gate, and they see that Humbaba’s footsteps...
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...Characteristics of the Epic Hero The form of the poem suggests that the material dealt with should be "events which have a certain grandeur and importance, and come from a life of action, especially of violent action such as war" (see C. M. Bowra, From Virgil to Milton, p. 1). 1. The hero is not only a warrior and a leader, but also a polished speaker who can address councils of chieftains or elders with eloquence and confidence. (Beowulf, 258-259) 2. The hero possesses distinctive weapons of great size and power, often heirlooms or presents from the gods. (Grendel, 102-125) 3. The hero must undertake a long, perilous journey, often involving a descent into the Underworld (Greek, "Neukeia"), which tests his endurance, courage, and cunning. (Beowulf, 539-541) 4. Although his fellows may be great warriors (like Achilles and Beowulf, he may have a comitatus, or group of noble followers with whom he grew up), he undertakes a task that no one else dare attempt. (Beowulf’s fellows 206-209) 5. Whatever virtues his race most prizes, these the epic hero as a cultural exemplar possesses in abundance. (Beowulf, 415-418) 6. The concept of arete (Greek for "bringing virtue to perfection") is crucial to understanding the epic protagonist. (Beowulf 340-347) 7. The hero establishes his nobility through single combat. A hero gains little honour by slaying a lesser mortal, but only by challenging heroes like himself or adversaries of superhuman power. (Beowulf removing his...
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...older than the Iliad or the Bible. Its hero was a historical king who reigned in the Mesopotamian city of Uruk in about 2750 BCE. In the epic, he has an intimate friend, Enkidu, a naked wild man who has been civilized through the erotic arts of a temple priestess. With him Gilgamesh battles monsters, and when Enkidu dies, he is inconsolable. He sets out on a desperate journey to find the one man who can tell him how to escape death. Part of the fascination of Gilgamesh is that, like any great work of literature, it has much to tell us about ourselves. In giving voice to grief and the fear of death, perhaps more powerfully than any book written after it, in portraying love and vulnerability and the quest for wisdom, it has become a personal testimony for millions of readers in dozens of languages. But it also has a particular relevance in today's world, with its polarized fundamentalisms, each side fervently believing in its own righteousness, each on a crusade, or jihad, against what it perceives as an evil enemy. The hero of this epic is an antihero, a superman (a superpower, one might say) who doesn't know the difference between strength and arrogance. By preemptively attacking a monster, he brings on himself a disaster that can only be overcome by an agonizing journey, a quest that results in wisdom by proving its own futility. The epic has an extraordinarily sophisticated moral intelligence. In its emphasis on balance and in its refusal to side with either hero or...
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...Enkidu: The Greater Hero of the Epic What makes a hero a hero? This is what I thought when I first encountered the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and found Enkidu far better than Gilgamesh. Strangely, his character outshone the main protagonist because of some reasons that may only be my own. He captured my attention because of his strong will and because of some things I can relate him with. Am I too vague or narrow to think such? Well this is an opinion worth valuing since it may steer away from the supposed preference of many to Gilgamesh' character. Apologies to fanatics or to those who oppose my arguments. I'd like to share what I think is right, and why it's right for me. INNOCENT ENKIDU “So the goddess conceived an image in her mind, and it was of the stuff of Anu of the firmament. She dipped her hands in water and pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness, and noble Enkidu was created. There was virtue in him of the god of war, of Ninurta himself. His body was rough, he had long hair like a woman's; it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn. His body was covered with matted hair like Samugan's, the god of cattle. He was innocent of mankind; he knew nothing of the cultivated land.” (Assyrian International Books) Enkidu was first introduced in the epic of Gilgamesh as an innocent man, one with nature and though strong, he never used his strength to harm others. Son of a wild ass and gazelle, he is very primitive and eats with the animals. His encounter...
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...called "El Omran", he introduced the concept of Assabyah – a kind of social solidarity. Explain the role of Assabyah in politics and in the evolution of societies, especially when it comes to the transmission of power from one generation to another. D- Is there a “heroic code” that guides the decisions of the characters in The Iliad? Discuss the values of the Homeric hero, paying particular attention to contrasting characters such as Achilles, Odysseus, Paris, and Hector. Does one character emerge as more heroic than the rest? Does one character emerge as less heroic? E- Does Achilles ultimately emerge as a sympathetic character? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to explain your answer. F- Reading literature, and especially epic literature, is like looking through a window at the culture...
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...The Role of the Gods in the Iliad In the era of Homer, divine intervention was thought to be typical, and one of his foremost works, The Iliad, reflects this. Nearly all of the Greek gods are involved in the outcome of the Trojan War, which happens to be the background story of this epic poem. The gods are used by Homer to add twists on an otherwise standard plot of war. Evidently, the gods will be a powerful source of divine intervention and their actions certainly have significant outcomes on the Trojan War, and more importantly, the story of The Iliad. Zeus, very untypical of a Greek god in his lack of involvement in the Trojan War for selfish reasons, was portrayed as the father figure, being impartial and fair to both sides of the war. He remains this way to serve as a check for the other god's involvement in the war. Without the presence of fate controlling the inner circle of Olympus, it is likely that the activity of the Trojan War would have become chaotic, possibly even becoming a playground of war for the gods. The power of fate, above all of the other gods combined, is a power that not even divine intervention can prevent. This theme of fate and how it controls the god’s actions is quite befitting to the storyline of The Iliad. The Iliad, in essence, recounts the story of part of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It recounts of the anger of Achilles, the greatest warrior present at Troy, and of the background battle that is ensuing. The reoccurring theme in the Iliad...
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