What makes hector an epic hero

Instead of feeling dutiful like Hector, Achilles was driven by grief and madness when he made this choice. What drives Achilles to fight is more personal. For an example, he refuses to fight in the war after Briseis, his symbol of pride, was taken from him because his pride had been tarnished.

Beowulf is high above Achilles on the heroic scale with his determination and his brave feats. During the beginning of The Iliad, it was told that Achilles had a confrontation with the general of the Greek army and refused to go into battle so he gave his best friend, Patroclus, his armor and they went to war without him. Achilles let his best friend die while he lounged in his tent. How the themes of Fame and Ambition appear in The Iliad and Beowulf Do heroes and warriors truly crave the attention they gain, for showing acts of bravery and heroism?

In The Iliad and Beowulf, there are several moments we see how elated the warriors get from fighting and winning battles. Both Beowulf and Achilles describes how powerful they are.

From slaying many in the Trojan War, or by defeating sea monsters and dragons, we can tell both men are the greatest warriors of all time. Both of them were brave Greek warriors who fought in the Trojan war seeking glory. Where Odysseus was just a common man, Achilles was a God among men. His wrath knew no bounds as illustrated in the Illiad. Odysseus on the other hand was cunning and could defeat his enemies or escape danger merely using his intellect.

We could say that the fact that Achilles knew his fate beforehand makes him capable of less emotions as he had only glory in mind. Beowulf is even tempered and is willing to sacrifice his men to win any battle that comes his way. While Achilles has a short temper, and is offended by the losses of his men during battle. For example, Beowulf is not effected by the loss of all the men that Grendel has killed over the past twelve years, while Achilles cries for his men who are lost in battle.

Achilles has a short temper, therefore when Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles is heartbroken, but it also very angry and wants revenge. Both men were mighty and honorable warriors of their generation and country. Indeed, Hector is the ideal hero, even compared to Achilles or the Gods. Achilles made a huge scarifies by going into a battle knowing he may not come out alive but still going. While Beowulf and Achilles were alike, they also had differences. He is a family guy, he has no care for shame it's not something he really cares about.

He sometimes gets emotionally carried away, treating his victims with cruelty. Hercules is the Most Heroic The view was blocked by shrubs and trees alike. The snorts of the great Erymanthian Boar echo through the forests of Mount Erymanthos. Its stomping caused the mountain to tremor from the heavy impacts of its colossal hooves on the cold earth as it searched for sustenance. Hercules roams the mountain, searching for the beast, intending to capture it and return it to his cousin. An epic hero is someone in history as being brave, courage, and heroic.

The book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. In the Trojan war the best epic hero between Achilles and Hector is Hector. Some of Hector epic hero characteristics are ethically and morally noble, performs courageous deeds, and faces enormous obstacles. The first characteristic he is ethically and morally noble. Hector is strong and brave to fight for his people. Andromache cried,"you who are father and mother and brother unto me as well as husband, stay here with us.

Do not make me a widow and your child an orphan Hamilton Next characteristic is that he performs courageous deeds. Hector risked his life to fight in war. Hector thoughts,"I led the Trojans. Their defeat is my fault. Then am I to spare myself? Hamilton In conclusion Hector is the best epic hero than Achilles. The need for glory, honor, and eternal remembrance is mentioned numerous times from beginning to end in this composition.

Glory and honor comes with great responsibility and wisdom. A good basileus was a leader who strived to be the best through usage of language and combat prowess. The government of a basileus was principally based on recognized power and strength rather than acclaimed wisdom and proven judgement.

For this analysis of Achilles as a Homeric hero the source. Hector is the True Hero of Iliad In today's society, a man's mind is his most important tool. In the past, however, a man's courage and strength is all that he had to keep him alive. In Homer's Iliad, courage is valued over honesty and even faithfulness to one's wife. If a hero is the most courageous man in the bunch , then Hector is more heroic than Achilles and King of the Myrmidons.

Hector is the true hero of Homer's Iliad. Although Achilles and Hector are both leaders of men, Hector leads with a mature sense that gives his men reason to respect him. In turn, Hector respects his men which gives fulfillment to both parties. Hector is not a man to sit around and mull over strategies and ideas - Hector is a man of action.

As the book progresses, Achilles seems to drift as far away from the definition of "god-like" as a beneficent being as one can get. His ability to kill effortlessly and watch people die without mercy is in keeping with many of Olympus' inhabitants.

His fickle disposition is very "god-like" as well. The introduction to the Fagles translation describes a god as someone who is completely wrapped up in their own power, who sees other's natures as obstacles to be overcome, and someone who is unable to question or criticize themselves.

This is Achilles in a nutshell. Killing seems associated with being similar to a god. Hector is referred to as "godlike" only when he is triumphing over the corpse of a fallen Greek soldier. I found it interesting that the gods assist both Achilles and Hector in their respective battles.