...mountains of Helicon. He got his inspiration to write epic poetry from an experience he had on the mountain where he met the Muses that appeared before him in a mist after the death of his father. Two of his most famous works were Theogony and Works and Days. Theogony is the story of the creation of the Greek gods and their evolution. His second story, Works and Days, was about the struggle between him and his brother over the property of his father Greek mythology is the passed down stories by bards about Greek gods and the creation and trials of the human race (“Hesiod”). In Greek myths there are a lot of connections between the gods and mankind. In Greek mythology the god’s manipulation over mankind was both beneficial and detrimental to the heroes. Demigods are one of the many centerpieces of Greek mythology. Demigods...
Words: 2242 - Pages: 9
...“Heroes of Aeneid” The struggle between good and evil have been the focus of countless works of literature through out history. No matter where one’s from, stories of heroism are present in every culture. In The Aeneid, Virgil tells the stories of Aeneas, a Trojan’s travels to Italy in a quest to rebuild his empire. One of these stories is one of Hercules, an adventurous hero and his battle against Casus. In order to effectively deliver the epic tale, Virgil uses many literary devices such as characterization, imagery and vividness to fully engulf the readers in his tales. Through the utilization of literary devices, Virgil effectively establishes the divide between good and evil, capturing the full attention of his audiences. Virgil first accomplishes this through the introduction of the hero Hercules, and the villain Casus. Virgil uses characterization to make characters seem more real and relatable for audiences and readers, giving audiences a clear picture of good versus evil. Take Hercules for example, Virgil uses Hercules’ bravery to coerce the audience into liking him and siding with him. The author shows Hercules’ bravery in many ways. One of these ways is by up playing the viciousness of his enemy Cacus. By doing so, the readers can compare the evil of Cacus with the heroism of Hercules. In this passage, “here, deep in the vast recesses of the rock, was once a cave which the rays of the sun never reached. This was the home a of foul-featured, half-human monster by...
Words: 1548 - Pages: 7
...Villains are the road block on the heroes’ path to righteousness. These heroes must first grow emotionally before they can achieve their goals. In Disney’s adaptation of the Greek legend Hercules, Hercules must become a true hero before Zeus allows him into Mt. Olympus. Hades, on the contrary, wants to leave the underworld and destroy Mt. Olympus and all the gods with it. Only Hercules stands in the way of Hades’ plans. In the process of weakening Hercules, Hades kills Megara and Hercules makes a wager to save her—Hades thinks Hercules will lose that bet and be stuck in the underworld forever, but Hercules pulls through and rescues Megara’s soul. Incidentally, Hercules becomes a true hero for his selfless act that Hades indirectly caused. Had Hades not killed Meg, Hercules would not have ever gone to Mt. Olympus. Hades unconscious actions are similar to my own willing behaviors. I absolutely adore helping others achieve their goals and this indirect kind of aiding is what I desire. I want to help people without even having to think about; one small action of mine can be the breaking point of success for someone. Even though villains don’t mean to help heroes, they are a crucial part of a hero’s emotional...
Words: 481 - Pages: 2
...Hercules Mulligan was one of the secret heroes during the Revolutionary War. He was born on September 25 1740. Hercules Mulligan served this country as an undercover spy for George Washington.. In the course of this time, he left an everlasting impression for the country. He was a representative for the Sons of Liberty, which was an organization of a secret society that worked on getting information about the British and stood up for the independence for america. He also used his undercover job to get more information which led to him saving George Washington's life twice. He made a big impact in the Revolutionary War. He sabotaged the British by taking information and messaging it to General Washington. This helped Washington plan his army with the insight of what the British were planning on doing, to defeat them, which eventually lead to victory. Originally born in ireland but moved to North America, Hercules Mulligan lived his life as a undercover spy during the American Revolutionary...
Words: 1142 - Pages: 5
...Heracles to Hercules: From Greek God to Disney Hero As children many of us grow up watching Disney movies such as Hercules. As children however, we do not always completely understand where these stories are coming from, and we simply watch them for the entertainment. With Greek mythology not being as viewer friendly for young children, Disney had to change some details from the original myth of Heracles. With changes in stories comes changes in outcome. So how did these changes in the Disney version of Hercules impact our view of Heracles? While both the Greek and Disney version present Heracles in different ways, we see that it is the changes that Disney has made makes the character of Heracles to be more relatable. The biggest change in the story may be Heracles birth parents. In the film Hercules we see that Hera is Hercules’ mother. Anyone who has read the myth would be able to tell you that this was not the case. In fact, Hera hated Heracles for Zeus cheated on Hera with a mortal women named Alcmene who birthed Heracles. In the myth Zeus gives Heracles his name to honor Hera because of its meaning, Glory of Hera. The significance of Hera despising Heracles shows in Greek mythology the nature of the Gods. It shows us how Hera reacted when she was jealous or enraged with Zeus for having a child with another women. In Disney though, the significance of changing was to show that Zeus was not promiscuous and remained loyal to his wife which is the opposite of what he is presented...
Words: 1479 - Pages: 6
...themselves to belong to a common Greek genos their first and foremost loyalty was to their city and country and didn’t see anything wrong with fighting with other Greek city states. The most famous of these was the Peloponnesian war. Which was a civil war between Sparta and Athens. Many variations of this great civil war have been told. From history books to movies, cartoons and children’s storybooks. Through these movies, cartoons and children’s story books gods and heroes have been highlighted and praised. Same way the Greeks praised their gods and heroes. This was called the Heroic Age. Some scholars believe that certain Greek heroes and gods were based on a real men and women living in that time. One hero that stands out would be Hercules. Throughout his complicated mythology perhaps Hercules really existed as a chieftain of the kingdom of Argos. Traditionally Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. He has been represented in several variations. But the most common variation would be Hercules being represented as an enormously strong individual of normal height. Sometimes he is portrayed with a bow or a club. The most popular image that was portrayed or highlighted in ancient Greek times would be him in a constant battle...
Words: 972 - Pages: 4
...Name Course Tutor Date Ancient Greek Heroes vs. Modern Heroes Introduction The word hero brings to mind different things to different people, since people tend to have different concepts of heroism. This is particularly the case with regard to the concept of heroes in ancient and modern societies. As times have changed, the definition of heroes has also changed, in keeping with the changes in the modern society. However, ancient and modern heroes do share some similarities, which act as the basis of heroism regardless of one’s perspective. In view of this, a hero can be described as a courageous person, who deliberately sets out to conquer obstacles for the benefit others or one who performs extra ordinary feats. The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast ancient Greek heroes with modern heroes, for the purpose of understanding both concepts of heroism. Differences There a few differences between modern and ancient Greek heroes, one of them being the religious background of the ancient Greek heroes. In Greek mythology, heroes were usually religious figures, specifically demigods. They were usually born from liaisons between mortal and immortal parents. These heroes were favored by the gods, hence were able to accomplish supernatural tasks, which were beyond the abilities of normal men. Hercules’ mother for instance was a mortal, while his father Zeus was a Greek god, who disguised himself as her husband. As a result, Hercules was a demigod, and was able to accomplish...
Words: 1860 - Pages: 8
... Hero’s Journey Paper 2 The Hero’s Journey Paper What is a hero in your opinion? A hero in my opinion is someone who saves life while risking their owns. In this paper I will be telling you how the book Hercules & the movie the Matrix relate in the 17 Stages of the Monomyth (Hero’s Journey). -The Call of Adventure (Stage 1) In the movie the Matrix Neo gets mail on his computer telling him to follow the white rabbit. The white rabbit was a tattoo that a girl had on their back. Although he didn’t know that until he saw it. As to in the book Hercules tried to kill two snakes. You probably are thinking what do this have to have to do with each other. It’s the call to leave his or her normal life and face adventure. -Refusal Call (Stage 2) In the movie the Matrix Neo haves to go to work with a hangover & he gets a call from mophans about not going on the leader and getting back he isn’t ready to be a leader. As to in Hercules tries to kill himself. To try to escape Hera’s wrath. Often the hero will initially reject the call to adventure due to the changes it would cause in his or her life. -Supernatural Aid (Stage 3) Ampaitryoe – Tells Hercules he is a hero, he told Hercules what he did in the book Hercules. Can’t be hero if bad guys chase him so tracking Deuce gets suck up. In both of these examples a mentor will present the...
Words: 910 - Pages: 4
...which expresses what Hercules did throughout his journey.“Hercules possessed the strength the world has never seen. A strength surpassed only by the power of his heart. He journeyed the earth battled the wicked minions of his stepmother, Hera, the all powerful queen of the gods. But wherever there was evil, wherever an innocent would suffer, there would be Hercules.” Hercules from the television series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” has shown to be a witty, smart, selfless man with the willpower of a football player. He has no prejudices, he tries to help anybody, and believes in having a fair government with a justice system that allows people to defend themselves in the court...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
...A hero, is told to be someone strong, bold to the core, always ready for action. Heroes people think of such as Hercules, or Superman. Hero’s aren’t always strong or impeccable, people such as Martin Luther, or Abraham Lincoln who weren’t exactly physically strong but, had the fortitude to speak out against the vile things in this world, risking their lives to achieve their goals. A hero isn’t always popular either, every hero has ahead thousands of humans that dreamed of their demise very night. What makes a hero’s isn’t their look, or their strength, but their willpower and want for righteousness. A hero is someone whom is selfless, facing fears openly, and is willing to sacrifice part of themselves for the greater prosper of humanity....
Words: 542 - Pages: 3
...What is a Myth? Before defining the term "mythology" one needs to define the meaning of the word "myth". The word itself comes from the Greek "mythos" which originally meant "speech" or "discourse" but which later came to mean "fable" or "legend". So the word "myth" is defined as a story of forgotten or vague origin, basically religious or supernatural in nature, which seeks to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society. Furthermore, all myths are, at some stage, actually believed to be true by the peoples of the societies that used or originated the myth. The definition is thus clearly distinguished from the use of the word myth in everyday speech which basically refers to any unreal or imaginary story. A myth is also distinctly different from an allegory or parable which is a story deliberately made up to illustrate some moral point but which has never been assumed to be true by anyone. Some myths describe some actual historical event, but have been embellished and refashioned by various story tellers over time so that it is impossible to tell what really happened. In this last aspect myths have a legendary and historical nature. Definitions of Mythology The word mythology has two related meanings. Firstly it refers to a collection of myths that together form a mythological system. Thus one can speak of "Egyptian Mythology", "Indian Mythology", "Maori Mythology" or "Greek Mythology". In this sense one is describing a system of myths which were...
Words: 2019 - Pages: 9
...In order to put it more simply, if Odysseus was not one of the greatest heroes, he would not be able to accomplish this voyage. Odysseus is shown by Homer as belonging to the very highest respectable heroes. Odysseus proves his mettle when faced with the opposition of the gods. Odysseus is shrewd, tough, clear-sighted, experienced, a man very well equipped to brave adversity. Just the fact that Odysseus accomplishes the trip to Hades and comes back on earth alive is something that proves Odysseus to be exceptionally heroic. I think Odysseus is a hero because he displays the most exemplary traits I feel encompass a true hero. He shows mental strength, physical strength, and spiritual strength. I...
Words: 1203 - Pages: 5
...Jorge 10/03/2013 How’s your Hero? What is your definition of a hero? Someone you look up to? Someone that does heroic acts? Or just someone that is fictional? These are the questions to consider when trying to define a hero. People today have their own unique definition of a hero as we do not live in ancient times. In ancient times heroes were suppose to be of divine ancestries, who were endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for their bold exploits, and who were favored by the gods. According to Merriam-Webster today, a hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. Throughout history tall tales have been told of ancient heroes like Hercules, Beowulf, and Moses of how they helped their people overcome difficulties in their society. Although most of these ancient heroes are fictional, many may be regarded as great and heroic in literature. In the last 300 years or so there have been influential that have change the world or contributed to make the world a better place, and therefore earning the right to be called heroes in their society. Many tend to look up and define as a hero who they think are worthy of such a title. Parents may be consider as such as they always support and do their outmost to help their children succeed. This is the case in “The Train from Hate” were the mother consoles her son while teaching him a valuable lesson about after being kicked out of the train. Teachers, policemen, or even friends can be considered...
Words: 1016 - Pages: 5
...journeys, victories and skill. As with all Homer created heroes, Odysseus possesses pride which causes him to do very unwise things. The Iliad is another epic poem written by Homer entertaining us with a story about Achilles. Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Achaean army. The most significant flaw of Achilles is his excessive pride. He is willing to subvert the good of the whole army and to endanger the lives of those who are closest to him to achieve emotional blackmail. The plot of the Odyssey is Odysseus’ 10 year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mythical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus fight off suitors or fakers trying to steal Penelope's hand from Odysseus and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends with Odysseus winning a contest to prove his identity, killing the suitors, and retaking the throne of Ithaca for himself. The plot of the Iliad is about the final year of the Trojan War, a conflict in which Greek warriors sailed the Aegean (Turkey) and surrounded the fortress of Troy for ten years, three millennia ago. The plot also includes the greek hero...
Words: 444 - Pages: 2
...identify Odysseus as an epic hero, you first need to know what an epic hero is. An epic hero possesses traits such as strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence. He values his crew and has a longing to get home, even after spending life in plenty with Calypso. He is nothing short of a genius, his intellect showing in situations such as with the Cyclops and the lotus eaters. However, not all of Odysseus’s traits are favourable. Odysseus’s longing for glory and recognition is a major part of his flaws. Odysseus’s jealously over Penelope also led to a loss of lives; with Odysseus killing each of Penelope’s suitors after her little challenge with the bow. He also has issues with giving into temptation, but his character grows and learns from those mistakes. (Such as having his crew tie him to the mast pole to keep him from falling victim to the Sirens.) Odysseus is an archetypal hero for characters in future epics. An archetypal character is the first of its kind; the foundation for others to be built off of. Odysseus was a well-structured character with many traits and flaws that shaped who he was. Later writers of epics used Odysseus as a basis for their main characters, and many epic stories and poems have characters relatable to Odysseus. However, Odysseus wasn’t just an archetypal hero for epic poems, he also set the foundation for heroes of other stories, ranging from other myths like Hercules and Perseus to our...
Words: 328 - Pages: 2
