Beowulf vs. Gilgamesh as Epic Heroes Essay - 1025 Words

Clack! Bang! Swish! Auuuuugh! This is the sound of clanging armor, flying spears, and slicing swords. The sound of men howling in agony as their limbs are severed from a blood thirsty blow of the enemies sword can be heard from the four corners of the earth. This can only be described as the sound of great battle. Battle was a very important part of a man’s life back during the seventh and eighth centuries. Every battle has a man who stands out at the forefront and shines above the rest. During these two time periods there stood two great men: Gilgamesh, the selfish, lustful king, and Beowulf the proud and boastful warrior. These two men, both powerful and well-respected, embody the true essence of what it means to be an epic hero.†¦show more content†¦An epic hero can also be a warrior of some sort who performs extraordinary tasks that most find difficult. This hero is strong, smart, and brave. Gilgamesh, although he two thirds god and one third man, has a horrible p roblem with greed. He is the greatest of all men, and both his virtues and his flaws overshadow one another. He is the most powerful of warriors and the most driven of all builders. Enkidu, who is perfectly matched to Gilgamesh, shows up and acts as his counterpart. He exhausts his subjects with ceaseless battle, forced labor, and arbitrary exercises of power. Shaped by the god Shamash to be very beautiful to look upon, Gilgamesh selfishly indulges himself, raping whatever woman he desires. It did not matter to him whether or not she was the wife of one of his warriors or a bride on her wedding night. The wild man Enkidu’s friendship ultimately softened Gilgamesh wicked ways, thus, making him a better man all together. When his best friend Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is deeply saddened and is terrified by the thought of how he will die. Putting off every worldly possession that he once cherished, Gilgamesh journeys to learn the secret of eternal life. After the long, arduous trek, which included a nearly impossible test by the only man who was ever granted immortality by the gods, he finds instead the wisdom needed to strike harmony with his divine and mortal attributes. After realizing his proper place in the world,Show MoreRelatedBeowulf vs. Gilgamesh1212 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf Vs. Gilgamesh The two cultures I chose to compare heroic values for are the ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Anglo-Saxon cultures. The texts I used in the comparison are Gilgamesh for Mesopotamia and Beowulf for Anglo-Saxon. Although they posses many similar heroic characteristics they also differ greatly. Beowulf is the earliest surviving epic poem written in a modern European language. It was written in Old English sometime before the tenth century A.D. The poem describes the adventuresRead MoreCompare Contrast Gilgamesh and Beowulf1426 Words   |  6 PagesComparison and Contrast Essay Final Draft: Gilgamesh vs. Beowulf The epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh are about a pair of heroes who had many common characteristics as well as characteristics that contradict one another. Beowulf is a Christian epic that roots from the Anglo Saxon culture. Throughout the plot, there are numerous biblical allusions. â€Å"Grendel who haunted the moors, the wild Marshes, and made his home in a hell not hell but earth. He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair ofRead More Immortal Life vs. Immortal Name: Gilgamesh and Beowulf Essay1433 Words   |  6 PagesImmortal Life vs. Immortal Name: Gilgamesh and Beowulf Death. Fate. Immortality. Destiny. All are subjects that we tend to avoid. While most of us hope for life after death, we tend not to dwell on this subject because we are uncomfortable with the unknown. On those rare occasions when we allow ourselves to think about the fact that our days are numbered, we wonder if death can be cheated and immortality gained. Some have suggested that being remembered is just as enduring as living forever. Thoughts