Beowulf vs. Achilles
...e they knew if Beowulf could not penetrate the dragon they would have no chance. So they all fled except for Wiglaf. So Beowulf and Wiglaf were left to fight the Fire Dragon. A long and hard battle takes place and the dragon is killed, but Beowulf is fatally wounded in the battle. His people mourn for the death of Beowulf and praised him for his heroic deeds. They cremate his corpse and Wiglaf becomes King of the Geats. The Iliad a masterpiece of Homer is one of the greatest epics in Greek Literature. The date of The Iliad is unclear, because little is actually known about the author. Some believe Homer never existed, and some belief he did exist but was blind. The Iliad is all about war, almost everyone in the poem is involved in a battle. In Achilles, the Hero, an article from the internet gives a summary of Achilles actions. In the first line of the poem “The Rage of Achilles” is mentioned, and forms the subject of the poem. Achilles is one of the greatest Achaean’s, his motivation is violence. He lives only to fight in war, however he knows that if he remains involved in the wars his death would be eventual. So rather than tempt his life he retires from war. Later into the poem Achilles friend Patroclus is killed by Hector and Achilles is outraged by this. The death of Partroclus brings Achilles out of his retirement from the violence of war. Hector is one of the greatest of the Trojans he believes that war is only fought because it is necessary. The biggest part of The Iliad is the battle between Achilles and Hector. After the battle begins the death of Hector is only inevitable, because no person could withstand Achilles in battle. After the death of Hector, Achilles drags his body behind his chariot to show his dominance. Hectors father Priam then comes to Achilles to retrieve the body of his son. Achilles gives him the body so it could be properly buried. Achilles’ anger has finally left him since it has taken the life of both Achaeans and Trojans. Achilles then is killed by the same violence he lived for. Both Beowulf and Achilles the hero in their respective epic poem show some similarities in their actions. One of the biggest similarities between Beowulf and Achilles is that they have done things that have allowed them to become some of the greatest leaders among their people. One example of a similarity in action between Beowulf and Achilles is their longing to be in battle. Beowulf is quick to rush off to the lands of his friends to help when someone is in trouble, like in the book Beowulf by Constance B. Hieatt. In the book it tells of Beowulf’s similarity in action to Achilles. One article that shows Achilles similarity to Beowulf comes from The Britannica Student Encyclopedia, from the school online link. Achilles is like Beowulf in that he is quick to go to war, matter of fact Achilles lives and breathes for war, and it is in his blood so to say. Another similarity of Beowulf and Achilles in their actions is the way they help their friends. Beowulf goes to the Hall of Heorot to help his friend King Hrothger the King of the Danes. A monster named Grendel has killed many of Hrothgers men. Beowulf goes to eventually kill the monster and his mother who tried to seek revenge for her son. Then later in the story Beowulf once again comes to the rescue of his people when he takes on the Fire Dragon and eventually kills him. Just the same Achilles comes to help his friend, but only to late. Achilles’ friend Patroclus is killed by Hector and Achilles comes to avenge his death. Achilles battles with Hector, but only for eventual death of Hector to come from the battle. Another similarity in action between Beowulf and Achilles is their deaths. Beowulf had fought the two battles with Grendel and his mother and won them, but fifty years later in the battle with the Fire Dragon he is not quite as lucky. During this battle his sword is broken and his men leave him to fight alone, but Wiglaf stays to help. During the battle the Dragon is killed, and Beowulf is fatally wounded. Achilles himself is killed in war. Achilles knew that the war he loved would eventually take his life so he retired from it, however after the death of his friend Patroclus he is forced out of his retirement to avenge the death and eventually kill Hector. After the battle with Hector he stayed in the fight and the violence he loved so much eventually killed him. These are just a few ways that Beowulf and Achilles show similarity in their actions. Both Beowulf and Achilles did have some similarities in their actions yet the motivations for their actions are somewhat different from each other. One motivation that makes Beowulf and Achilles different comes from Old English Literature by M.W. Grose, the difference is that Beowulf is motivated by his wanting to become King of the Geats....