Achilles A Classical Hero Essay example - 1091 Words

Across the world, ordinary people find heroes that they aspire to imitate. Comic books portray heroes as super strong men in spandex suits, and although a three-year-old child might aspire to be superman, more mature audiences hopefully find more realistic figures to idolize. Take Barack Obama, the President of the United States; he worked his entire life to attain the highest position in our government, President. Obama was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth but to a single mother in Hawaii. Through hard work and motivation, he went to college and received an education at Columbia University. He later obtained a law degree from Harvard University and began working with the Democratic Party. In 1996 he was elected to the Illinois†¦show more content†¦In order to determine whom the true hero is, a basic understanding of the term is necessary. The Greeks believed that their epic heroes bear certain qualities that represent their value of arà ªte, or the use of values to be the best possible. They usually are stronger, smarter, and braver than a normal men and sometimes are sons of gods or of kings. A Greek hero’s birth can be somewhat abnormal and they are usually on a quest to contribute greatly to their people. Today, some of the Greek’s values are still applicable, but as culture has evolved so has society’s outlook on heroes. A Modern day hero is not usually royal or an offspring of a god, and he may not be as physically robust as the Greek warriors, but he still must be superior in character, motivation, intelligence, and altruism to be admired. Modern heroes are characters that are uncompromising in their beliefs, motivated to make a difference in humanity, certain of their actions, and unmoved by detriments to their character. Modern heroes are people like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Susan B. Anthony; they all are ordinary on the exterior, but their actions and insight changed the modern world forever. A modern interpretation of heroism cannot always relate to characters created almost 3000 years ago, so a hybrid of the ancient and modern values is necessary in order to be applicable to an ancient character. A character from ancientShow MoreRelatedThe Ili ad Vs. Troy1692 Words   |  7 PagesMadison Slater Poem vs Film The Iliad vs â€Å"Troy† Achilles and Hector fighting with Athena and Apollo on both sides of the Warriors Introduction Written by the ancient Greek poet, Homer, The Iliad was an epic documented on the nearly 10-year long war between the Trojans and the Greeks. Although the epic had occurred in 1194–1184 BC, the epic was passed down through generations, orally, until Homer wrote the Iliad 500 years after the Trojan war in 750 BC. An adaptation of the Homers’ Iliad is DavidRead MoreThe Greek Concept of the Epic Hero Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pages In classical Greek literature, the epic hero is usually defined in terms of the contrasting characters of Achilles and Odysseus, the most important figures in Homers great epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Greeks in the Trojan war, is actually a demi-god rather than a human hero, having been dipped in charmed waters by his mother and given the gift of invulnerability. Odysseus, on the other hand, is a fully human character, and his heroism consists moreRead MoreHeroic in Paradise Lost by John Lost Es say1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe theme of the heroic in John Miltons Paradise Lost is one that has often been the focus of critical debate, namely in the debate surrounding which character is the true hero of the poem. Most critics of the subject have, however, noted that the difficultly in defining the hero of Miltons work is mainly due to our â€Å"vague understanding of what constitutes heroism†1 and the fact that â€Å"the term itself is equivocal†2. The vague terming of what heroism can be defined as it what draws criticsRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece963 Words   |  4 Pagesthe temperament of the weather. A famous wine-jar that was made during this time period was â€Å"Achilles killing the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, 540-530 BCE, black-figured amphora†. (Khan Academy) The civilization that they lived in grew around their worship and achievements. The classical period was a time of war and conflict, and showed â€Å"an era of unprecedented political and cultural achievement,† (â€Å"Classical Greece†), during this time period, the Persians began to invade the mainlands and Greek IslandsRead MoreThe Heroes Of Classical Mythology1738 Words   |  7 PagesHeroes in classical mythology are often compared with gods and are seen to be more akin to gods than mortal men. They are famously known for the quests or the deeds carried out by them. These quests usually do not take place near where they originate from. They need to travel long distances and usually transgress geographical, cosmological and physical boundaries. During these quests, they come across and have to interact with a range of divine and supernatural creatures, objects, and people. InRead MoreComparison Between The Odyssey And The Iliad1068 Words   |  5 PagesSeige of Troy and eventually the odyssey had begun a couple years after that(Classical Lit) . When Homer had written these novels it is clear that they have numerous lines, and Homer had written both. In the novel The Iliad it consists of fifteen thousand, six – hundred and ninety – three lines; whereas in the novel The Odyssey, it has fewer lines, which is approximately twelve thousand, one – hundred and ten(Classical Lit). Even though The Odyssey had an outcry against death; whereas the IliadRead More Essay on Achilles as the Hero of Homer’s Iliad1592 Words   |  7 PagesAchilles as the Hero of Homer’s Iliad      Ã‚  Ã‚   When Homer lived, the stature of a hero was measured by the yardstick of fighting ability. In Homers Iliad, the character of Achilles represents the epitome of the Greek heroic code. Only Achilles fights for pure heroics, while the characters of Diomedes and Hector provide good contrasts. Prowess on the battlefield was ranked supreme, high above any considerations of morality(Martin 26). Nestor, for example, tells Agamemnon and Achilles thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Odysseus1716 Words   |  7 PagesKyle Hoffmann CPLT 2010 Paper 3 Odysseus from Hero to Villain One of the more famous characters of the ancient Greeks, Odysseus, has been written about for millennia. Homer composed an epic poem entirely about him. Dante wrote about Odysseus while describing his journey through the afterlife in Inferno. These two writers, though describing the same man, portray him in different lights – Homer lauding him as a valiant hero and Dante condemning him to burn for eternity. Each portrayal is a productRead MoreSocrates And Achilles1466 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Socrates and Achilles: the Martyr Heroes Madelyn Vogel ILS 205 By comparing himself to the Greek hero Achilles before the jury in Plato’s Apology, Socrates attempts to portray himself as a hero of equal merit to Achilles and others of similar standing. By selecting the greatest of the Classical Greeks to compare and contrast himself to in his argument, Socrates surreptitiously urges his audience to view him as being of the same caliber as Achilles. This not only authenticates Socrates’ claims,Read MoreHow Does Homer Use The Effectiveness Of Ajax s Speech1723 Words   |  7 PagesAjax’s speech, specifically Ajax’s similarities to Achilles and the speech’s focus on the Greek value of timÄ“ (one’s honor or how one is perceived by others), to reveal the motivations and nature of Achilles. In book IX of the Iliad, Ajax, known primarily for his brute strength and martial prowess, delivers the speech Achilles finds most compelling. Conversely, Odysseus, although the most adept orator sent, is the least effe ctive in convincing Achilles to rejoin the war. In my opinion, this is because