The Contrasting of Gilgamesh and Grendel

In the epic tale Beowulf the main villain is a monster called Grendel,in the story Grendel is making village life for the citizens under King Hrothgars reign. When Beowulf and Grendel meet in battle Grendel fights for his life and Boewulf actually had a reason for killing him. But in the epic tale  Gilgamesh the villain of this story is called Humbaba,and the Heroes only reasoning for killing him is that he wanted the trees he protected.

The Contrasting of Gilgamesh and Grendel

In the epic tale Beowulf the main villain is a monster called Grendel,in the story Grendel is making village life for the citizens under King Hrothgars reign. When Beowulf and Grendel meet in battle Grendel fights for his life and Boewulf actually had a reason for killing him. But in the epic tale  Gilgamesh the villain of this story is called Humbaba,and the Heroes only reasoning for killing him is that he wanted the trees he protected.

What I Learned

In the epic Beowulf, Beowulf said he would kill Grendel that night and he did, and I realized how interactive literature could be as well. Beowulf lived up the the very famous quote we all use today "Actions speak louder than words." Technology is an important part of sharing thoughts of literature characters. Everytime Beowulf said he was going to do something, he meant what he said, and then he did it just like he said he would. Beowulf was such an epic hero that did what he said he was going to do, and helped us write what we thought about him in more ways than one.

What I've Learned

 I have learned that the mix between poetic epics and a blog is a difficult combination. Even though this has been a giant task it has been a highly educational,the usage of a blog has helped me to learn how to put my thoughts down in a better fashion. I think the mix between the historic epics and the modern technology shows that the world as a whole is advancing.

What I've Learned

Throughout our blogging experience I have learned numerous things. The first, and most important is the fact that I learned about blogging itself. This was the first blog I had ever participated in, so I was not too familiar with the technology at first. Now I feel quite comfortable with blogging. Also, this presented to me many different outlooks on the three epics in the discussion. It helped me tremendously having many different points and opinions.

What I Learned

I have learned a lot the past couple of weeks between reading the three epics and creating a blog. In the epics, I have learned that throughout your life you should be like Beowulf because he is not selfish and is willing to help anyone that needs it; unlike Gilgamesh, who only does things for himself. Also my classmates and I have been learning how to use a blog which is extremely helpful for our futures in college. We have learned how to interact and communicate on the blog by means of post and reply. All in all, I am glad I have learned this information about the three epics and the technology of a blog that will help me in my future.

Here, Beowulf is killing Grendel which ensures the safety of Herot and a great example of his selflessness.

What I Learned

The Iliad is based around the Trojan war, which was a war between Troy and Greece. While reading a section of this
epic, I have leaned the real reason behind the war. The Trojan war was simply started over a beauty contest between three Goddesses. The three goddesses were Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera, and the winner would receive a golden apple that was inscribed "to the fairest". The judge of this contest was Paris, prince of Troy, a young and naïve mortal. The goddesses bribed Paris in order to win, but Aphrodite offered the most appealing bribe of all. She promised him the marriage of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, who was also the wife of King Menelaus of Greece. Paris took Helen from Menelaus, which outraged Greece, starting the Trojan war. Also through out the past weeks I have come to relies how useful blogs can be when it comes to sharing information between my peers.

 

What I Have Learned...

I have learned a great deal of knowledge throughout the process of reading the epics and creating the blog. In Beowulf, I learned of an epic hero named, Beowulf who defeats the monster Grendel, and he receives his immortality for killing the hideous monster who had been killing people in his village. I also learned of different ways to use technology, such as creating a blog to explain epic poems instead of talking about day to day life. The past few weeks my classmates and I have discussed and distributed twenty-first century ideas for our blog. Our posts, replies, and graphic designs have put the blog on a grand scale of excellence that we were all striving for.

 

What I Have Learned

Reading the epics of Gilgamesh, Beowulf and the Iliad; I discovered through these poems that being a hero does not always mean that you are a great leader; however, to be a great leader these heroes need to show courage, loyalty, and fearlessness. In the epic Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh, battling Humbaba for immortality, shows his courage to the old men in his city; however, Gilgamesh displays disloyalty for younger generations when he still goes to the Cedar Forest because his foil Enkidu explains his terrible dream regarding the forest. In a comparable situation, Achilles, in the Iliad, displays his horrible leadership skills by taking revenge on Hector to the extreme by dragging his body by a horse drawn chariot, for killing his cousin Patroclus. The actions he chose were intense and shows unethical reasoning for his extreme punishments to Hector. Although the previous heroes have given poor examples of heroism, Beowulf, in the epic Beowulf, displays all the characteristics of loyalty, integrity, boldness and courage when he fights Grendel to save the Danes from danger. Beowulf reflects the quote "Great leaders inspire greatness in others", when Wiglaf steps up and helps Beowulf as the dragon breathes his fiery breathe at them. The moral of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and the Iliad, is to embody greatness by becoming a tremendous leader with courage, loyalty, and, fearlessness instead of, being a coward.
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                                                        The battle of Achilles and Hector

What I Learned

While working on the blog I learned more about technology, and more details about the epics we read. Technology is always useful, but it can also take a lot of getting use to. Anytime you start a new online project there are commonly many problems, however discussing these problems in class can resolve the problem. I also learned that the idea and characteristics of a hero have changed over time. Fighting monsters isn't a main ideal of the heroes in todays society, but courageous and heroic acts of kindness can also allow a character to be a hero. I think over the past weeks the Blog project has taught not only me but my classmates many new things about technology and online projects.

What I Learned

Writing for the blog required an in-depth study into what makes an epic hero and I also learned how beneficial technology can be. I learned that all epic heroes have some common traits like strength and courage, but what makes one different from the other is the way they handle themselves under stress like Beowulf charging head first into battle to win without a second thought about dying. I also learned that my phone can be used for more than watching funny cat videos on YouTube, like being able to research and even write and post to the blog from it. This project was quite the learning experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What I Learned

While working on this blog, I have learned numerous facts about epics and technology. First of all, with the help of my classmates, I realized how to pull out the important details in a story or poem. For example, I falied to see how Achilles's rmor maginificentally protected him from harm, but after reading some of my peers' posts, i realized how Achilles's armor was very strong and sentimental. Also, I figured out how to set up a blog and send invitations to others. This blogging experience have been simply amazing because I realized that, with a little help, I can look deeper into a piece of Literature and blog about what I have read.

What I Learned

I have learned a great deal of knowledge from reading the three epics Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and the Iliad, and participating in the blogging experience. I've learned from Beowulf  that if someone has enough confidence and morals then they can overcome great challenges. From Gilgamesh, I learned that sometimes the real hero is not always the obvious hero. In the Iliad I learned that it's amazing to have friends on your side and help you win in all aspects of life. Lastly, I learned that a blog can be confusing to navigate around, but if you explore some it can be really easy and fun.

What I Learned

              Throughout this blog experience I have learned many fascinating facts about the epics Beowulf, Gilgamesh and, The Iliad; I also picked up points about the technology used to produce this blog. After reading my fellow classmate's posts, I realized out of all three epics Beowulf was a much better example of an epic hero than Gilgamesh and Achilles. Beowulf shown emasculate strength, bravery and, loyalty. Although I favor Beowulf the most, Gilgamesh and Achilles were excellent heroes; In the end, all three go the epic heroes achieved what they were after. The blog has helped me see that even outside of the classroom students can connect and share using technology.

Beowulf after he ripped Grendel's arm off.

What I Learned

Numerous things come to mind whenever I think about how much I have learned while doing the challenging assignment of posting and commenting on our blog. Throughout the blog I have learned that the heroes armor is not just for protection but also for the point of wearing it in honor of the past elders that have passed it down. Next, I have learned more about the similarities and differences between the three heroes and their different cultures based on their time periods. I also have learned more about the importance of technology and how numerous advancements have allowed me to discuss different topics about the three epics with my classmates that I would never have learned through regular discussion in class. Learning these things throughout the experience of doing a blog has helped me gain a better understanding of the three epics of Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Iliad.

What I Learned

Although fully comprehending the epics proved to be demanding, resolving the meaning behind the stories was rewarding, and I will not forget them anytime soon. I learned that not all epic heroes are morally conscious. For example, Gilgamesh dared to kill a harmless monster for personal gain; however, Beowulf selflessly attacked Grendel for the Dane's protection. Despite not talking about this much in class, using technology such as the blog expanded my knowledge on this subject. While conversing with other students on the blog, I began to recognize different angles and points of view. Understanding different concepts of the stories alleviated my own ideas, and I formed better opinions on the different epics.

What I Learned

I have learned so much from working on this blog. Having to use my brain and think deeper about topics that we discussed in class in order to compile my thoughts into a post was an extremely difficult task, however I believe I have been able to learn more throughout this experience. I have gained knowledge about an assortment of things, including the true definition of an epic hero. Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and Achilles are all examples of epic heroes because they have supernatural strength, they risk death for the greater good, and most importantly they are courageous. Not only have I learned about epic heroes, but also the importance of technology in our society today. Without technology, this learning experience could not have been possible.

What I Learned

During my time of reading about epic heroes and blogging I have learned quite a lot. I have learned that heroes during this time had to be extremely strong, courageous, smart, and loyal. They also fought to gain fame and immortality so they could be remembered and spoken of for years after their death. Blogging about the epics of Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and, The Iliad has helped me to understand more about the heroes than just reading about them. This experience will also help me to be a better blogger in the future.

What I Learned

Through the journey of epics and the blog, I have learned quite a few things. The first thing I learned is that being a true hero does not exactly mean carrying a huge sword and killing monsters, but by having heroic characteristics such as: courage, leadership, loyalty and many more. In Gilgamesh, Enkidu represents those characteristics by leading Gilgamesh to Humbaba. The second thing I learned is how to create a blog and how to post and reply on it, which will help me in the future. In all, I think the epics and the blog have helped me realize what it is to be a true hero and how to be a blogger.

This quote represents a true hero. 

This is a picture of Enkidu and Gilgamesh.

What I Learned

Although proving to be quite challenging, working on the Battle of the Royal Epics blog also turned out to be quite a learning experience in terms of both the epic heroes and the technology used to input and manage the information on the blog. I learned, most of all, about the attributes of a true hero, and which hero out of the three, proved to be the truest. I decided that the true hero, who showed the greatest loyalty, bravery, honor, and willingness to help out his fellow man makes him the greater in comparison to the other two "heroes". Other learning experiences included figuring out how to access the blog and and how to post our opinions and reply to others. Working on this blog provided a great deal of knowledge on both the three epic heroes, and the technology used to function the blog.

What I Learned

During my study of the ancient epic heroes in Mrs. Dunivant's class, I learned there are many different kinds of heroes in the world, and that heroes have changed over the course of many centuries in the reasons why they fight and the technology the heroes used to defeat enemies. Heroes today are similar to Beowulf because they believe that it is their rightful duty to come to the aid of others and that it would place them in history forever. However, Gilgamesh and Achilles may not be viewed as heroes today since their deeds would oppose what heroic acts are today. Heroes today wouldnot risk the lifes of others over something so pointless like Gilgamesh, or go seeking revenge over a life lost in battle like Achilles, which could result in the death of one person or more. Of course, technology has advanced much over many centuries and the way heroes conduct themselves and how they resolve their obstacles. Centuries ago, during Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and Achilles' era, riding among a horse, wielding a sword, spear, or bow was the common weapon used in battle, and that plates of armor was the suit of a warrior. Fast forward to present day 2013, heroes ride in vehicles, aircraft, or submarines, carrying loaded guns or knives while wearing bullet proof vests instead of metal armor. Over the course of many days in Mrs. Dunivant's class, I learned the difference in heroes from ancient ages and presetn day heroes, and was able to distinguish the different meanings of what made a hero.

What I Learned

By doing this blog, I feel like it helped teach me how to be an active member of a blog. It also really helped me understand the three epics that we have read in class. My favorite thing that I learned about the stories by doing this blog was, how significant the armor was in Beowulf and The Iliad. In both of these stories, we talked about how the armor is very important because it is passed down through family members. In Beowulf ,we read how his mail shirt, or armor, saved his life in numerous battles and in The Iliad, we learned that since Achilles new the armor that Hector was wearing, it gave an advantage and he was able to kill Hector. So by doing this blog I feel that there were several things that I realized about the these three stories that I had not realized when we talked about it in class.

Achilles killing Hector

An example of Beowulf's Mail Shirt

What I Learned

Throughout this class project I learned many different aspects about the epics we read and the technology we had to use. During this process we had to describe the epics Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Iliad. We had to post our opinions about them on a blog we created. After reading some of the other students post, I realized that these epics had many similarities and differences that I had not previously realized. For example, I learned that every hero had assistance during their battles in some way. I also learned that not every hero necessarily had to fight a monster to gain fame, as in the story The Iliad, where Achilles had to fight a fellow human. I learned that even through we all read the same stories everyone interprets them differently as shown in our posts.

Here is Achilles with the help of Athena, battling their rival Hector.

What I learned

During the adventure of learning about the royal epics and creating a blog I have not only learned historically but also learned new things technologicaly. Historically, I have learned a great deal of material towards the royal epics but what I found most interesting between Beowulf, The Illiad, and Gilgamesh, is that Beowulf's ancestors were the founders of the swastika, which is a twisted cross. Technologically, I learned how to create a blog, set up templates, and insert pictures, which I thought was a useful thing to learn for my college future. During the adventure of learning about the royal epics and creating a blog I have not only learned historically but also learned new things technologically, which were great for me to learn for my later educational life.

The Real Story of Gilgamesh

The epic Gilgamesh is not only an epic hero destroying Humbaba with his foil Enkidu, but in fact the character is based on eleven clay tablets containing cuneiform script in the 600's B.C. Cuneiform scripts are wedge-shaped characters used as a writing system by the Mesopotamian's. There were about 25,000 tablets found close to present day Jerusalem, at Nineveh in buried ruins of an Assyrian library, including the eleven clay tablets used to construct the epic of Gilgamesh. Scholars believe Gilgamesh was an actual king who rules over Uruk between 2700 and 2500 B.C. In addition, he becomes a legendary figure for centuries to scholars; however, to younger generations Gilgamesh is not a real hero nor friend to Enkidu throughout the poem. The epic of Gilgamesh helps scholars reveal a great deal about the Mesopotamian's, including their pessimistic views on existence and their behavior in their surroundings.

Comparing Achilles and Hector

Comparing Achilles and Hector, both are princes in ancient times, and loyal to their people. Although they are enemies, both are similar in many ways; for example, both men are fighting to protect their homes and people of their great cities. Achilles is the prince of Greece, and fights for the loss of his dearest friend, Patroclus. Hector is the prince of Troy, and fights for the safety of himself, and his people. Even though the two are enemies, both have the same ethics and family values.

Grendel vs Humbaba

There are several differences between Grendel and Humbaba. Grendel was eating everyone in Herrot. Humbaba had his forest attacked, and destroyed by Gilgamesh. Grendel had every right to die, whereas Humbaba had no right to be killed, because he never started anything. I think Humbaba was a better character than Grendel, because Grendel kept going into Herrot where he had no business being, and he ate innocent people of the meadhall. Humbaba stayed in the Cedar Forest minding his own business, until Gilgamesh started wrecking his territory.  

More Than Just a Head

In the epics Beowulf  and Gilgamesh, both of their adversaries had their heads cut off. Beowulf cut off Grendel's head, and Gilgamesh cut off Humbaba's. Afterwards they both picked up the heads and carried them around. Some people may ask why these epic heroes chose the head rather than any other part of their body. Back in those times they didnt have any other way to prove, or show off their victory, so they cut off their heads and carried them as trophies. Both Gilgamesh and Beowulf were victorious in their epic battles,  therefore they gained the right to cut off their heads and honorably carry them around, and hang it up in rememberence of their victories. 

Beowulf and Gilgamesh Motives

I think in Gilgamesh and Beowulf, both characters fight their monster for something in return. Gilgamesh wants to gain immortality, and the only way to achieve that is to impress the gods. In Beowulf, Beowulf wants to achieve fame and glory for being a war hero and great leader. Although Beowulf has good intentions of fighting to save Herot from Grendel, I believe a part of him wants to be recognized as a hero, and he wants to gain treasure. Whether it is immortality or fame, Gilgamesh and Beowulf are somewhat similar through their motives of killing their monster.

Fear and Friendship

I think it is very interesting, in the epic Gilgamesh, how the fear is presented. In the beginning, Gilgamesh is telling Enkidu that he will go first because he is not afraid and nothing can discourage him. Gilgamesh is very impatient and wants to get to the woods immediately to begin the fight with Humbaba but as they approach the gate Gilgamesh is overcome by fear. So Enkidu steps up and tries to encourage Gilgamesh even though he is paralyzed by fear.  Enkidu is encouraging and supportive of Gilgamesh throughout the entire story. I think that this is an accurate representation of how fear and friendship works.

Gilgamesh VS Hector

I think Gilgamesh and Hector have one very interesting point in common. Gilgamesh went to fight Humbaba with Enkidu, and he did not decide to fight until after Humbaba fought Enkidu and fell to the ground. Hector, from The Iliad, avoided face to face combat with Achilles until he thought his brother, who was really Athena in disguise, would stand by his side and fight. Both characters were too afraid to go into battle unless they had someone with them, or they did not have to do anything but kill the enemy. I personally think Hector and Gilgamesh are cowardly to a point.

Armor : A Great Protector

Through the extensive reading I have done on Beowulf and the Iliad, I have come to the conclusion that armor during this time was extremely important. In Beowulf we read that throughout the many wars he fought with monsters, his mail shirt, or armor, was the one thing that kept him alive. For instance, in lines 624 and 625, it discusses the fact that if it weren't for his mail armor protecting him, the blade that Grendel's mother tried to stab into him would have killed him. We see this same importance of armor in the Iliad. Had it not been for Achilles knowing the armor that Hector was wearing, he might not have been able to kill him. Armor was important in many ways, and these were just a few.

A True Friend

 In the epic The Iliad a Greek warrior by the name of Achilles is out to seek revenge on a Trojan warrior named Hector, who killed his best friend and wears his armor.  Achilles does what a true friend should do, when Hector wears the armor of Achilles friend that shows great disrespect. As the chase continues even the gods turn to help Achilles seek revenge. Suddenly Hector has no where to go and knows his time has come, and he choses to stand and fight, but Achilles will-power is to extreme for Hector. In Hectors last words he is pleading and begging for mercy, but Achilles takes it to the extreme of dragging him around the walls of  Troy by a chariot . I think that standing up for your friends is ways a good thing, but maybe he took it a little to far , but ways of life change as well as punishment do too.

Achilles: True Hero?

In the Iliad, an epic poem by Homer, Achilles is well-known as the hero for avenging his friend Patroclus' death. After he killed Patroclus, Hector committed a vile act and did not properly bury him. Although Achilles has a good reason to kill Hector for what he has done, I believe he goes too far. A good hero is supposed to be a role model, and Achilles let his feelings get the best of him. First, he and the Greeks repeatedly stabbed the body of Hector. Then, Achilles openly defiled the body by dragging it behind his chariot. Achilles may have had a good reason for doing this, but I believe it was not the right way to handle the situation. For this reason, I believe Achilles is not a true hero, just a willful friend bent on revenge.

Similarities

I think there are some similarities between Beowulf and The Iliad. They had similar goals. Both Beowulf and Achilles killed for good reasons.  Beowulf killed Grendel to defend Herot and to stop him from harming more people. Achilles killed Hector to avenge the death of his best friend, Patrolus. Beowulf and Achilles ruthlessly killed their enemies who were weaker. They then proudly show that they had won the battles.

Beowulf

I believe Beowulf is the perfect example of an epic hero. Not only is he courageous and strong, but he possesses a quality that all great hero's should have, which is leadership. You can tell that Beowulf is a leader in part one when he voluntary goes to Denmark to kill Grendel. But this quality really shines in part two when Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. Beowulf ,an old man at that time, goes to fight the dragon alone instead of sending his warriors.

The Heroes' Challenges

The challenges each hero faces vary in several different way. Although Beowulf's and Gilgamesh's enemies are supernatural beings, Achilles' nemsis is the human Trojan hero Hector. Grendel, Beowulf's inevitable challenge, is considered a monster from hell and is a threat to the people of Herot and must be killed in order to bring peace. Gilgamesh's enemy is the forest giant Humbaba, but he never does threaten Gilgamesh. Therefore Gilgamesh's battle with Humbaba is a self caused conflict and could have been avoided. Achilles' fight with Hector is to avenge the death of Patroclus. Achilles' challenge was neither an unavoidable deed nor a self caused conflict. He reacted to Hector's murder of Patroclus which set of Achilles to duel Hector.

Small Scale Battle vs. Total War

Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Iliad all involve epic battles. Beowulf fights the monster Grendel. Gilgamesh defeats the beast Humbaba. Finally, Achilles avenges his friend Patroclus by defeating Hector. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh fight their fight and the battle is over. However, Achilles' battle, on the other hand, is only a small part of a large scale war known as the Trojan War.

A Look Into the Monsters

I found the monsters of the epics Gilgamesh and Beowulf  to be the more interesting characters. For them both to be monsters, they both are pretty different from the other. Humbaba, for example, was a servant to the gods, while Grendel hated them and was even referred to as a son of Caine. In Gilgamesh, Humbaba does not do anything to provoke the attack from Gilgamesh and Enkidu, but Grendel simply attacks and kills without remorse. Even though both are monsters, it does not mean that they both deserved the same end.

Epic Poem

The definition of a Epic Poem is " a long  narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds". The three that we have discussed have been remembered and cherished because they exemplify this definition superbly. Not only does the epics, Beowulf, Gilgamesh and the Iliad all give extraordinary heroes who portray wonderful traits it also gives you incite to a few of their flaws  such as selfishness, greed, and self control. These flaws are what have allowed the poems to stand above others throughout the years.Readers get the since of the perfect hero but feel they can relate to him when they are revealed he isn't completely perfect.

Grendel: The Superior Villian

I think most of you would agree that Grendel was the superior villain. He came to Herot every night for twelve years without anyone stopping him; he clearly had no fear (that is, until Beowulf came along). I mean, he is certainly a better monster than Humbaba because Humbaba begged and pleaded for mercy. If Grendel and Hector were in a battle together I would probably bet on Grendel to win, after all, Hector was just a mere human. Grendel, through my eyes, was stronger and defiantly more fearful than the cowardly Humbaba and Hector, the mortal.

Not Just Battling Monsters

Not every epic hero necessarily has to battle a monster, as seen in the Iliad. Unlike Beowulf and Gilgamesh, the brave prince of Greece Achilles must fight a fellow warrior like himself. After learning his best friend Patroclus was killed by his rival Hector, Achilles seeks to take revenge on him. As seen in the other two epics Beowulf and Gilgamesh seek to win a battle against an evil monster. Even though all three of these heroes had to engage in battle, Achilles proved that not every epic hero has to fight a monster to earn glory.

Beowulf

The epic, Beowulf, uses a couple of literary terms including alliteration and kennings. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in words close to one another. For example, in line thirty-one there is the repeated "w" sound in went, wondering, and warriors. Also this epic uses kennings which are hyphenated words. For example, the words razor-sharp and strong-hearted are kennings. There are many other examples of alliteration and kennings throughout the epic Beowulf, but these are just a few examples.

Gilgamesh is not a real hero.

Gilgamesh who is the hero of the epic tale with the same name had no reason to kill the villain the story Humbaba.He only killed Humbaba for his own selfish gain.This is not usually a trait or characteristic of an epic hero,most epic heroes are selfless and only want to help other. As is the story for the another story we read called "Beowulf". Beowulf went to go help out King Hrothgar,who was having a problem with a monster called Grendel killing his people.

Worthy of Praise

In part two of the epic Beowulf, Wiglaf, one of Beowulf's many warriors, deserves all the praise. Beowulf has to fight a gruesome dragon at a very old age, not to mention he is also a king. Beowulf has many younger warriors that he brings to the battle only to make them stand and watch the fight atop a hill. Beowulf suffers a mortal injury, and Wiglaf is the only warrior who stays to help Beowulf.  In my opinion all the other warriors acted cowardly, and Wiglaf is the only one besides Beowulf who deserves praise.

The Quest for Full Immortality

In comparison of Gilgamesh and Beowulf, they both are in search of full immortality. Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third human, and he ventures on a quest for full immortality by killing Humbaba the guardian of the cedar forest. Beowulf is full human and travels on a journey to fulfill immortality by becoming an epic hero for his people and killing Grendel the monster of the village. Both epic heroes ultimately succeed in attaining immortality, despite their differences and struggles. In the end, both heroes conquer their fears and defeat the monsters that stand in the way of their immortal power.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh Contrast

In the epic poems Beowulf and Gilgamesh, the characters show some differences to the fact of why they are fighting who they are fighting. In Beowulf, Beowulf hears of Grendel and what he has done to all of the Danes and thinks of it not only as a challenge but also as a responsibility to kill the demon. In Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh sees his situation quite differently than Beowulf; Gilgamesh hears of Humbaba, guardian of the Cedar Forest, and wants to find and kill him only because he wants fame and immortality. The heroes show some differences as to why they are fighting their enemies in the epic poems.

Achilles and Gilgamesh: A Different Type of Hero.

The two epic heroes, Gilgamesh and Achilles, while from different time periods and locations, have certain similarities that are usually uncommon when referring to heroes. These two heroes are both concerned with fame over anything else, Gilgamesh choosing to fight Humbaba without being provoked, and Achilles wanting to make sure that his name is remembered throughout history. Another point that could be made is that Gilgamesh and Achilles give into their anger unlike most epic heroes, Gilgamesh being driven to kill Humbaba when Enkidu is put into danger and Achilles kills Hector as revenge for his cousin Patroclus. These two characters intrigue me because they're so unlike the usual heroes found in epics. They at first come across as selfish but the more you look into them you find out they're really layered characters with some conflicting traits.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh Comparison

In the epic poems Beowulf and Gilgamesh, Beowulf and Gilgamesh can be compared due to their increase in selfishness during their battles. In Beowulf, Beowulf is selfish because he brought his companions with him to fight Grendel knowing not all of them would make it through the battle alive. Gilgamesh shows his selfishness during his fight against Humbaba by bringing his Best friend Enkidu into the deadly situation. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh can be compared due to the selfishness they portrayed during their battles.

Selfish Similarities

These extraordinary epics are similar because of the common element of selfishness that flows throughout the stories. Beowulf seems to be selfless by arriving at Herot to fight Grendel, when in reality he is only after the fame and glory that victory will bring him. Gilgamesh carries out the selfish act of traveling to the Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba, but only for the satisfaction of being his slayer. This lead to the death of Gilgamesh's dearest friend Enkidu. Achilles seems to be the least selfish of the three  because he seeks Hector's death out of vengeance for his friend Patroclus. The selfish act of Achilles seems to be the fact that he doesn't fight Hector until after Zeus has determined their faith. The heroes had many similarities but their selfishness was one of the more prominent ones.

Background

Choosing to explain the background of The Iliad, this epic is essentially a war story about heroic warriors, like Achilles, who do their best to achieve arête, or personal honor and excellence. Back then it was honorable to fight bravely for a king and his comrades and dishonorable to seek safety when threatened. Achilles strives for revenge and races to Hector, while Hector tries to run away from his problems. It was preferred to die at the hands of an enemy than to live with the dishonor of fighting and failed to give his best. Soon Hector, thinking he could actually win the battle, stops running from Achilles  and shows his honor by dying at the hands of his enemy. 

Iliad : Epic Simile

In the epic The Iliad, epic simile is used twice. This literary device is a long, elaborate comparison of two events, one unusual and heroic, and the other familiar and ordinary. The epic simile in lines one through seven is allowing the reader to imagine the scene of Achilles chasing Hector by the use of descriptive words comparing Achilles to a hound and Hector to a fawn. In lines four through six we can clearly see the image of Achilles running Hector down until he kills him, because the lines say, "the hound comes racing fast, nosing him out until he lands his kill". With the use of epic simile, we are able to visualize the words of the author in a more fascinating way, allowing the reader to fully grasp and understand  the text.

Similar Heroes

Numerous similarities are displayed throughout the two epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh. The first similarity portrayed is the point that both of the heroes contain incredible strength. Next similar point that is shown throughout the epics is that Beowulf and Gilgamesh both fight for good against evil. Another point displayed is the fact that both warriors fight against a horrifying monster. Final similarity shown is the fact that Beowulf and Gilgamesh are both victorious at the end of their epics.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh

Beowulf and Gilgamesh have many differences portrayed throughout their epics. The first difference displayed is that Beowulf fights to save a town while Gilgamesh fights to prove himself. Another difference shown is the fact that Beowulf contains honor as where Gilgamesh carries too much pride for himself. Next, Beowulf brings along 14 of his best men as for Gilgamesh who fights alongside his friend Enkidu. Final difference shown is that Beowulf battles with his hands only while Gilgamesh, on the other hand, fights with an ax.

Foil: Gilgamesh and Enkidu

In the epic,Gilgamesh, we see the use of a foil between Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu. A foil is a character who helps define another character by contrast. The biggest contrast between these two characters is there personality traits. Enkidu is wise, cowardly and thinks through every situation before making a decision. Where as Gilgamesh is courageous, strong willed, and impulsive. Enkidu is the perfect example of a foil because for what Gilgamesh lacks in personality traits Enkidu makes up for.

The Iliad, Beowulf and Gilgamesh: Differences and Similarities

In my opinion, I think The Iliad was different than Beowulf and Gilgamesh; although, they do have their similarities. Achilles wanted to achieve personal revenge on Hector for killing his best friend; whereas, Beowulf and Gilgamesh slay monsters to gain immortality. The heroes in Beowulf and Gilgamesh had extreme pride and brag frequently of themselves but, on the other hand, Achilles was too concerned with getting back at Hector to boast of himself. The three epics are also similar because the heroes were victorious at the end of their daring battles. In addition, each epic hero was royalty; Gilgamesh and Achilles were princes and Beowulf became king . All three stories had similar points but, The Iliad stood out to me.

Three Different Heroes

Beowulf, the epic hero from England, gains immortal glory by slaying Grendel and saving the people of Herot. Beowulf achieves this by killing Grendel, slaying sea monsters, and ridding the land of a dragon, but only for the aid of others. Gilgamesh, the epic hero of Mesopotamia, is a king, who like Beowulf, wants immortal glory. Unlike Beowulf, however, Gilgamesh risks the lifes of others in his selfish attempt to gain it. He foolishly seeks a battle with Humbaba, who never truly posed a threat to Gilgamesh, and it results with the death of Gilgamesh's best friend Enkidu. Achilles, the Greek hero, is very much different from Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Instead of glory, Achilles seeks revenge for the death of his friend Patroclus who was killed by the Hector. Achilles' rage drives him to defeat Hector which glorifies Achilles.

Gilgamesh

In the epic Gilgamesh, Enkido serves as a foil to Gilgamesh on their journey to the cedar forest and throughout their battle with Humbaba. Gilgamesh, who is two-thirds god and one-third human, is civilized and courageous; whereas, Enkido, a natural man, is 100% human and innocent of the ways of civilized society. Also Gilgamesh is immensely selfish and wants to fight Humbaba just so he can obtain immortality. Enkido, who was raised in the woods and is pure-hearted, is scared and knows they should not fight Humbaba. In the cedar forest the night before fighting Humbaba, Gilgamesh went right to sleep and had vivid dreams about defeating Humbaba, but for poor Enkido, he could not rest because he was scared and in pain. For these reasons and several more, Enkido serves as a foil to Gilgamesh because he helps to define him by means of contrast in the epic Gilgamesh.

Three Different Battles

Even though Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and Achilles all have intense battles, the reasoning behind these three battles are all completely different. Beowulf, a mighty hero, travels to Denmark to kill Grendel and save King Hrothgar's mead hall. Gilgamesh on the other hand, a very selfish hero,  only wants to defeat Humbaba to obtain immortality. Achilles, in his battle against Hector, is seeking revenge for the death of his dear friend Patroclus. So I feel that even though all the battles had different reasoning behind them, Gilgamesh's fight with Humbaba was the most unnecessary and the most selfish of all three battles.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh

In my opinion, Beowulf is the greater hero. Beowulf fought Grendel to help the people of Herot and stopped him from continuing to terrorize them. Gilgamesh fought Humbaba to only bring himself immortality, he didn't care about the people. Because Gilgamesh did this he lost his friend, Enkidu. Beowulf saved many people but Gilgamesh only caused unnecessary death. This proves Beowulf to be the better hero.

Beowulf: The Epic Hero

In my opinion, Beowulf is an archetype of an epic hero.  Because Beowulf portrays bravery, strength, and loyalty, he is considered an epic hero, and many people look up to him. He shows his bravery by challenging the fearsome monster, Grendel, and stepping up to Grendel's mother. He also exemplifies his strength by ripping Grendel's arm off with his bare hands. Finally, Beowulf proves his loyalty to King Hrothgar and his people by defeating Grendel, just as he had planned to. In all, Beowulf is the perfect example of an epic hero.

Gilgamesh vs. Beowulf: The Greater Hero

In my opinion, although Beowulf and Gilgamesh are both ancient epic heroes, their characters and actions prove that Beowulf was superior to Gilgamesh. Beowulf was unselfish in his works and brave in his many fights. Exemplifying core hero ideals, Beowulf presented great generosity when offering his assistance to rid all evil from Herot. While fighting the mighty Grendel, Beowulf demonstrated outstanding bravery by attacking with only his hands. However, Gilgamesh only tried to obtain immortality for himself, and this display of selfishness ultimately led to his friend's death. During the confrontation with Humbaba, Gilgamesh was frozen with fright, and his lack of bravery at that moment left Enkidu, his friend, vulnerable to the monster's attack.  These different occurrences, testing each character's actions and morals, prove Beowulf is the superior hero.

Help for the Heroes

 

           In all three epics the main character/hero receives help in some way. Beowulf, in the final battle with the dragon, defeats it with the aid of his dependable friend Wiglaf. The two-thirds god and one-third part human Gilgamesh receives guidance from his loyal companion Enkidu while in the woods looking for Humbaba. Likewise in the Iliad, the prince of Greece Achilles gets assistance from the goddess Athena and she helps him to defeat his rival Hector. As seen in all three of these epics a hero doesn't always have to fight the battle alone. 

Homework: Thursday, September 26, 2013

Seniors,

I will grade your first post and reply by Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.
The grade is 100 points, with 75 for post and 25 for reply.
Use Standard English, a variety of sentence structures, and creativity that allows all viewers to learn from the epics.

Beowulf: True Hero

I believe that Beowulf shows the greatest characteristics of a true hero more than both Gilgamesh and Achilles. Gilgamesh wishes to slay Humbaba simply for personal gain. Achilles fights for revenge against Hector for killing his companion Patroclus. The true hero, Beowulf, goes to slay Grendel with no motive other than to simply help out his common man. Although all are know as "epic heroes", I believe Beowulf personifies true heroism the greatest.

Beowulf vs Gilgamesh

  In my opinion I enjoyed the epic Beowulf more than Gilgamesh , because Beowulf's heroic action was for the people, whereas  Gilgamesh does it simply for self fame. I think that Beowulf  is a perfect example of a hero,and Gilgamesh is more like a normal towns person wanting fame. Beowulf puts his life on the line to serve and to protect the Danes from Grendel. When Gilgamesh ventures into the forest to attack Humbaba, he exposes his best friend Enkidu to the danger of the monster. Instead of taking the lead and protecting his friend he allows Humbaba to attack and kill his small friend Enkidu . If I could be like either of these heroes I would chose Beowulf, because Beowulf possesses  great bravery and courage that everyone can appreciate.

The Real Hero

Although Gilgamesh is portrayed as the hero in the epic Gilgamesh, I feel as though Enkidu could also be seen as a hero. In epics, the hero usually dies, and even though Enkidu does not die in the excerpt that our class read, he does die in the full version of the book. Most heroes possess superhuman strength, but Enkidu is not said to have these strengths; however, Enkidu's wisdom and knowledge of the wild could make up for his lack of strength. Lastly, heroes partake in acts of selflessness, and Enkidu shows this characteristic when he is willing to befriend Gilgamesh, who he does not even know, and help him on his trek to kill the giant Humbaba. Because of the points mentioned above, this I why I believe that Enkidu is more of a hero than Gilgamesh in the epic Gilgamesh.

Conflicts in the Epics

In the epics of Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Iliad, all the characters face a challenging conflict. In the epic, Beowulf, Beowulf ventures to Denmark to protect Herot from a horrifying and cold-hearted monster named Grendel. Beowulf outsmarts the dreadful beast, and he emerges victorious in battle from the monster's home in the boiling swamp. Next, Gilgamesh, a two-thirds god and one-third human mesopotamian warrior, and his best friend, Enkidu, set out on a quest to kill Humbaba, the guardian of the cedar forest, to obtain immortality. Humbaba assails Enkidu and beats Gilgamesh's best friend into the ground; however, Gilgamesh defeats Humbaba by slicing through the giant's thick neck. Finally, in The Iliad, Achilles and Hector engage in a violent fight to the death. Hector disrespectfully kills Achilles's best friend, Patroclus, and leaves the body for the animals to devour. Achilles persues Hector in an attempt to end the Prince of Troy's merciless life, and in the end, Athena assists Achilles and brings Hector's life to a sudden halt. The events that appear in Beowulf, Gilgamesh, and The Iliad display various forms of complications, and the epic heroes overcome each personal predicament.