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.