Epic of Gilgamesh and Hero
The definition of a "hero" People have been attempting to define the word "hero" for as long has man has existed on this planet. To define a hero one must first appreciate that there are many different types of hero 's. For example, a hero could be an epic hero such as King Gilgamesh, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, or a hero may a simple individual that serves his/her country or even a school teacher that devotes his/her life to the development of the youth. Hero 's come and hero 's go. Some hero 's even lose "hero status" over time; Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden were hero 's to followers during their lifetime. Hero 's come in many forms, a hero can be someone we look up to (father, mother, teacher). They can be a unique character passed down for thousands of years such as Odysseus, in The Odyssey. They can be someone we 've never interacted with or someone by our side every day. They might be brave, courageous, truthful or dishonest. A hero could be male or female, black or white. A hero may be someone that simply affected a life in a positive way. One thing hero 's all have in common is that they provide drive and purpose for those the believe in them, they help some focus on dreams and they might provide a path when no path exists. In this paper will be defining a hero and the qualities an epic hero has with my definition. I will be using epic hero 's in, The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey to help shape my explanation. As noted before, there is no easy way to define what a hero truly is, as hero 's are often defined in the eyes of the beholder. Being a king or someone of status alone does not make a hero; nor does intellect, strength, or bravery. In short, a hero (as well as an epic hero) connect multiple heroic qualities . The Epic of Gilgamesh accurately defines this definition of a hero as he has numerous heroic traits. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a true hero through his abilities, intelligence, willingness to die for his quest, admiration, and his
Cited: Connelly, Owen (2002), On War and Leadership: The Words of Combat Commanders from Frederick the Great to Norman Schwarzkopf, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, Print Bomkamp, Samantha.(2010) " 'Miracle on the Hudson ' pilot Sullenberger retires", Associated Press, accessed May 2, 2013. Web Homer. "The Odyssey." Trans. Stanley Lombardo. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. 3rd ed. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2012. 332-622. Print " The Epic of Gilgamesh." Trans. B. R. Foster. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. 3rd ed. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2012. 99-151. Print. .