Heroes of the Ages - 1130 Words

Throughout the ages, there have been many epic heroes in which we hear about through stories. However, there is a rather common question of what makes them an epic hero. Not only do humans look for the bravery and good deeds in a hero, but they go deeper than that. They wish to know what lies beneath the skin. Literally, what makes them act the way they do. Psychologically speaking, there is no sure way to tell why each person acts the way they do. However, what people can analyze is the actions within a story. Of the numerous heroes in which one could extrapolate upon, there are a few who are ideal for finding the true characteristics that make a hero, those being: Achilles, Odysseus, Aeneas, Socrates, Gilgamesh, Beowulf and of course†¦show more content†¦Ironically, he is quoted as saying, â€Å"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.† (Plato). As it is found that Robert Eisner says, â€Å"Hence many of the traditional trai ts of the Homeric warrior are found in the Platonic Socrates, but they have been substantially modified to sustain the new philosophic content of the hero’s role.† (Eisner). Socrates never fights in epic battles or goes to far off places. However, Socrates does develop the top thoughts in philosophy for ages to come. He is still remembered today as the greatest philosophy. Socrates is aptly named the Father of Philosophy because he is still remembered even to this day. Next in line in the search for characteristics is a sort of obscured man named Gilgamesh. Though he seems a bit selfish in that he wishes to live forever, it is in fact simply fear that drives him to such an act. However, he does show tremendous appreciation for his friend and is extremely sad when he does. As the poems relate, â€Å"How can I rest when Enkidu whom I love is dust and I shall too die and be laid in the earth for ever?† (Gilgamesh). As also seen here, Gilgamesh has the fundamental fear that makes him seem almost human, that he will someday die. Gilgamesh learns to overcome this fear and accept that he is human, thus he shows the trait of acceptance. As N. Sandars says, â€Å"At the end, it (fame) turns to mockery with lost opportunity and wasted hopes; till the final scene of theShow MoreRelatedThe Age Of Fables Or Stories Of Gods And Heroes1676 Words   |  7 Pagesfriendly with others. Our parents of course, dealt with it quite differently and found the will to keep going due to our dependence of them, and of the hope that we’d finally settle down. For this and many of the reasons that the â€Å"The Age of Fables or Stories of Gods and Heroes† by Thomas Bulfinch, â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† by Albert Camus, â€Å"Matthew 26 and 27 of the New King James Version of the Bible†, and â€Å"The Crisis† by Thomas Paine express, the human soul is designed to continue struggling despite despairRead MoreEra of Heroes in the Golden Age of Sports1729 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920’s was an era of role models and great heroes. This period was known as â€Å"The Golden Age† of sports. This was a time where Americans wanted to put the memory of the World War I in the past and appreciate life. It began with the Black Sox scandal of 1919 continuing with historic record breaking athletes. The introduction of radio made is easier for fans to follow their favorite teams. The economy of the United States w as strong for most of the time. New and bigger stadiums were built and forRead MoreThe Iliad, A Homeric Epic That Depicted The Age Of Heroes987 Words   |  4 Pages The Iliad, a Homeric epic that depicted the Age of Heroes in Archaic Greece. An age of giant, god-like, men, and a time of true heroism. The themes of the Iliad encompass a realm consisting of the principles of justice, vengeance, and honour in Achaean society. A monumental theme that Homer brought through the Iliad was the idea of Greek Shame culture, which Involved public praise and blame, to honor and shame one before others in one s society. The assemblies, called by the Achaean commandersRead MoreThe Iliad, A Homeric Epic That Depicted The Age Of Heroes925 Words   |  4 PagesThe Iliad, a Homeric epic that depicted the age of heroes in Archaic Greece. An age of giant, god-like, men, and a time of true heroism. The themes of the Iliad encompass a realm consisting of the principles of justice, vengeance, and honour in Greek society. A monumental theme that Homer brought through the Iliad was the idea of Greek Shame culture, which Involved public praise and blame, to honor and sh ame one before others in one s society. The assemblies, called by the Achaean commanders, whereRead MoreThe Many Heroes of Our Day963 Words   |  4 PagesThe Many Heroes Of our Day Heroes, since the time they were first written and recorded heroes have been the ones to set the example and uphold the morals and beliefs of the people. There have been, in general, three key ages of heroes: Anglo-Saxon Age, Middle age, and Modern age. They all have changed throughout time to fit the ways of the culture in each of their time period. The different characters that were written about, all went through different journeys and different quests according toRead MoreA Hero Can Have a Flaw707 Words   |  3 PagesThese flaws give us a chance of becoming heroes ourselves. We are all humans and make mistakes, so their are no chances of a perfect hero. However, if a perfect hero does exist, his or her good qualities may become a flaw in a certain situation. Like a person who sees all good in people is naive and tended to be taken advantage of. So, it is incorrect to conclude that a hero can only be a hero if he or she is without a flaw. In addition, one of the heroes major ach ievements are overcoming or tryingRead MoreThe Role Of Women In Literature1587 Words   |  7 Pageslook for a way to express or find something that relates to the feelings that they have. Majority of the time these feelings are expressed through literature. An example is the archetypes that can be found throughout literature. In the British Middle Ages, the people were grouped into different social classes using the feudal system. Society was mainly broken into two separate groups, the nobles, and the peasants. However, there was also a subset group, which maintained the women. Women were the lowestRead MoreMahatma Gandhi’s Nonviolent Movement Against the British Occupation of India892 Words   |  4 PagesA hero is a man or woman that sets an admirable example for people around them. There are heroes in every field, every region and every walk of life that demonstrated these traits and qualities. Countless examples prove the same principle in every case. There are many ex amples throughout history of heroes who lived their message, made sacrifices and served their people well. The timeless examples of modern history include Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent movement against the British occupation of IndiaRead MoreThe Heroes Of A Hero1021 Words   |  5 PagesThe Heroes of Fearless A hero can be many different types of people and have many different qualities. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero as a person admired for achievements and noble qualities. Tom Hanks said â€Å"A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown†. Heroes are strong and courageous, but they can also be quite and work behind the scenes. Eleanor Roosevelt once said â€Å"We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes upRead MoreThe Hero Archetype : An Exploration Into The Common Traits Of Fictitious Heroes1719 Words   |  7 PagesThe Hero Archetype: An Exploration into the Common Traits of Fictitious Heroes through the Analysis of J.K. Rowling s Harry Potter and the Philosopher s Stone There is a common belief that all fictional heroes are different. After all, different situations require different methods and skill sets. Despite their differences, many heroes in works of fiction have three specific similarities: mysterious parentages, difficult childhoods, and the discovery of their destinies. These three traits make