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.