Parallelism In Beowulf

An epic is a long, exalted narrative poem, usually on a serious subject, centered on a heroic figure. The earliest epics, known as primary, or original, epics, were shaped from the legends of an age when a nation was conquering and expanding; such is the foundation of Gilgamesh, of Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey, and of the Beowulf. Literary, or secondary, epics, written in conscious imitation of earlier forms, are most notably represented by Vergil's Aeneid and Milton's Paradise Lost. (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2008)

The Aenid is, if not the greatest, one of the greatest Latin poems ever written. Vergil wrote this in the time of political reforms in Rome. He was determined to make a glorified foundation of the start of the Roman Empire …show more content…
They are either helpers or hindrances in the hero’s quest. It is noticeable though, that the gods and goddess are more involved in Aenid as compared to the gods and goddesses of Gilgamesh.

Another parallelism in both stories is the presence of symbolic rivers and ferrymen. In Aenid, Charon, is in charge of ferrying the dead across the River Styx in order for their souls to rest in peace. In Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has to cross the Waters of Death whose waters are deadly to the touch. He gets help from Urshanabi to get across. Urshanabi is in the company of stone-giants, unlike Charon who does his work alone.

Aenid and Gilgamesh both touch on the topic of life, death and fate. The journeys of the heroes are journeys towards life. In the case of Aeneas, the establishment of Rome meant a new life for his people and a chance to start over. Gilgamesh also seeks life; specifically, immortality. However, the goal of Gilgamesh is more inclined for …show more content…
It is a fixed order of events and a fixed outcome. Although the former can, at times, be adjusted by gods and men, the latter is something they cannot change. Of the two epics, Aenid better exemplifies this. Juno continually tries to stop or to distract Aeneaas from reaching Rome, but Jupiter reveals that whatever is destined to happen, will happen. Aenid, on his part, follows without question because he trusts what fate has destined for him. Now, unlike Aeneas, Gilgamesh tries to cheat death by going to Utnapishtim and asking him the secret to immortal life. But Utnapishtim says that eternal life was granted to him and his wife only, and that it was something that will never be repeated by the