Epic Passages of The Epic of Gilgamesh and Homers Odyssey

The definition of a hero has evolved over time through both written word and human experiences, so what is a hero? In the two epic passages The Epic of Gilgamesh and Homers Odyssey, heroism appears to be a clear distinction with the literature, and has the same basic framework as today’s definition of a hero. Historically, in the texts, heroes such as Gilgamesh and Odysseus are protagonists viewed and credited with great bravery and most certainly heroism. Nearly all of the heroic figures throughout time, both fictitious and living and are viewed as a protagonist in their own epic challenge or struggle when looked back upon. Though many core elements of histories hero are found in today’s and it is epic passages such as Odysseus and Gilgamesh that have played a part in shaping the characteristics and actions that shape today’s qualities of a modern hero. Gilgamesh is considered a hero because of his skill, intelligence, and willingness to die, not to mention his feeling of reverence and respect for death. Throughout the entire epic, Gilgamesh demonstrates outrageous skill as a warrior and leader. While Gilgamesh was respected, many people felt disdain for him. Gilgamesh was born two-thirds god, and one-third man, giving him supernatural abilities. Because of this, the gods challenged Gilgamesh. These abilities made him arrogant, and although it is not now, back then it was respected. Gilgamesh used to do whatever he wanted. When Enkidu, a wild man who first livedShow MoreRelatedThe Afterlife Of Egypt And Early Greece934 Words   |  4 PagesElaborate funeral rituals were held for the deceased for judgment by the gods. A series of sacred texts known as the Book of the Dead held the funeral rites, which was intended as a â€Å"manual of spells, incantations, and declarations† that would ease passage through the underworld and t he afterlife (21). In the ritual, each spirit had to approach the Hall of Two Truths where the gods challenged the dead’s virtues, while they (the dead) proclaimed the sins they did not commit. Once satisfying all godsRead MoreBiblical Vs. Classical Phenomenon2078 Words   |  9 Pagesoral-based stories, texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh have given humankind a sense of emergence in the old times of script and literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh was one of the many classical publications that were printed, including the epistles of the Old Testament and Gospels of the New Testament in the Bible. Both sets of arts spoke about famous stories that were very known to readers. Other classical texts, such as The Odyssey, similarly to The Epic of Gilgamesh, show readers the idea of connectingRead MoreOdysseus Vs. Epic Of Gilgamesh1772 Words   |  8 PagesMadison Aycock HST 328 Dr. Chang 20 Oct. 2017 Paper Topic One: Odysseus vs. Gilgamesh Sometimes it only takes a few seemingly small flaws to determine if one will live a lifetime of adversity, and this appears to be the case for both Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey and Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Unlike what their grand titles may suggest, these ‘ancient heroes’ were by no means perfect people, and, if anything, it would be more realistic to attribute the conceptRead MoreMy Name is Nobody: Postmodernism in Derek Walcotts The Schooner Flight1389 Words   |  6 PagesTales of journeys appear repeatedly throughout the expanse of literature; these sagas include the stories of Gilgamesh, King Arthur, and, more recently, The Lord of the Rings. Derek Walcott’s poem â€Å"The Schooner Flight† initially seems out of place amongst these surging legends of heroics and danger, yet through closer examination the poem flourishes as a postmodern retelling then deconstruction of the age-old heroic journey. The poem is a celebration of Greek myth ology, a disruptive force againstRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 PagesThe Odyssey Set in ancient Greece, The Odyssey is about the hero Odysseus long-awaited return from the Trojan War to his homeland, Ithaca, after ten years of wandering. The current action of The Odyssey occupies the last six weeks of the ten years, and the narrative includes many places - Olympus, Ithaca, Pylos, Pherae, Sparta, Ogygia, and Scheria. In Books 9-12, Odysseus narrates the story of his travels in the years after the fall of Troy, and this narrative includes other far-flung