From the Paper
"The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the reader as much about the society in which the work was written as it does about the life of the hero-king Gilgamesh himself. Gilgamesh's story began to take shape some four thousand years ago , and the result of succeeding additions and revisions is a portrait of a larger-than-life epic hero whose character and exploits embody the highest ideals and values of the pagan (pre-Christian) culture he represents. The Mesopotamia of more than two thousand years ago (Sumer was a region in southern Mesopotamia) consisted of harsh and dangerous societies in which bold and courageous action was required from heroes, especially kings. "Gilgamesh" lived in a time of great trouble and strife, when history was in its early stages and society was just beginning to develop. His amazing physical exploits answer the call of the time for blatant..."

Abstract
The paper examines five works of ancient literature, "Beowulf",
Homer's "The Iliad", "Gilgamesh", Homer's "The Odyssey" and "Tale of the Heike" in order to determine the meaning of the hero concept as advocated by their authors. The paper relates that Beowulf, Achilles and Odysseus battle against physical monsters, while the Samurai fights a symbolically spiritual battle, although spirituality does play a vitally important role in the lives of all heroes. The paper also shows how society determines the main qualities of the heroes as they manifest themselves in the particular literature of a specific time and a specific region.

Outline:
Beowulf
The Iliad
Gilgamesh
The Odyssey
Tale of the Heike
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The word "hero" today entails a variety of meanings, depending upon the situation, the person referred to, and the mindset of the person speaking. Generally, the connotation of the word refers to somebody who performs a brave action regardless of the danger to him or herself. When examining the ancient literature from different cultures, the meaning of the word "hero" can be estimated and compared with others of its time, and also more modern meanings attached to the word. To this end, five works of ancient literature are examined in order to determine the meaning of the hero concept as advocated by their authors."

Tags:spirituality, monsters, qualities

Abstract
The paper discusses how the fundamental structure of the world within "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is that of symmetry; the world must be balanced by equal forces on each side and when this balance is somehow thrown-off chaos and despair are the result. The paper then explains that this latter situation is the one in which the reader is introduced to the story of Gilgamesh. The paper describes how he is a ruler who is completely out of control in his actions, and is emotionally distraught. The paper further describes how Gilgamesh is stronger and more powerful than any other man, yet his power is not balanced by any other forces in the world until Enkidu is created.

From the Paper
"The fundamental structure of the world within "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is that of symmetry; the world must be balanced by equal forces on each side, when this balance is somehow thrown-off chaos and despair are the result. This latter situation is the one in which the reader is introduced to the story of Gilgamesh. He is a ruler who is completely out of control in his actions, and is emotionally distraught. He is, without a doubt, already the greatest individual in all of the land. Gilgamesh is stronger and more powerful than any other man; yet his power is not balanced by any other forces in the world. This, of course, until Enkidu is created."

Tags:gilgamesh, sadness, enkidu

Abstract
The paper looks at how within the "Epic of Gilgamesh", women are viewed in somewhat different terms than they are today. The paper describes how Gilgamesh's change is most centrally associated with his treatment of women and how he views them, and, Enkidu is directly transformed from a wild woodsman into a more civilized and morally aware individual through his contact with a woman. Overall, the paper demonstrates how within the tale, women are used as a way in which men become linked to the mortal world. The paper also shows how Gilgamesh initially abuses them, but then comes to appreciate them more for their inherent value.

From the Paper
"Within the "Epic of Gilgamesh", women are viewed in somewhat different terms than they are today. Ultimately, the tale is a story of transformation of the title character primarily through his relationship to Enkidu; yet, the way in which Gilgamesh is changed is most centrally associated with his treatment of women and how he views them. Additionally, Enkidu is directly transformed from a wild woodsman into a more civilized and morally aware individual through his contact with a woman. Overall, within the tale, women are used as a way in which men become linked to the mortal world. Gilgamesh initially abuses them, but then comes to appreciate them more..."

Tags:gilgamesh, women, enkidu

Abstract
The paper details how Beowulf's followers revere him and follow him without fail when his strength is at its apogee, but desert him when he is confronted with his deadliest test near the end of his long reign as King of the Geats. The paper suggests that Beowulf's loyalty to others is astounding and fueled, in large measure, by a profound sense of honor, while his warriors, lacking his courage and sense of honor, are occasionally weak-willed and turn away from him when he needs them most. Nonetheless, the paper asserts that the poem is a celebration of Beowulf's fidelity to the Geats - even after they mocked and dismissed him as a child - and a testament to the extraordinary faithfulness of Beowulf in others and in the warrior's code by which he lives and, ultimately, dies.

From the Paper
"The following paper will look at loyalty in Beowulf, one of the great epic poems in all English. The paper will detail how Beowulf's followers revere him and follow him without fail when his strength is at its apogee, but desert him when he is confronted with his deadliest test near the end of his long reign as King of the Geats - the grim dragon tormenting his people and land. In the end, only Wiglaf stays behind to offer any sort of assistance to Beowulf in the final, desperate moments of his life. The paper will suggest that Beowulf's loyalty to others is astounding and fueled, in large measure, by a profound sense of honor. At the same time,..."

Tags:loyalty, beowulf, unfaithfulness

Abstract
This paper identifies the heroic and elegiac elements in "Beowulf," and compares the two. The author gives many examples of the poem referring to "Beowulf" as a hero, and then shows several examples of the sad, elegiac mood of the story of "Beowulf."

From the Paper
"With detailed celebrations of weaponry, the praising of heroism and prowess in battle, eloquent speech, and an emphasis on vengeance, "Beowulf" is an epic poem of clear heroic capacity. Considered the first post-classical English epic, "Beowulf" also has many elegiac elements, including imagery of suffering and a sense of sorrow for the passing of worldly things. These elements are developed in the characters' longing for a better past, the value ascribed to treasure, and the importance of fame as the only lasting thing in a decaying world."

Tags:beowulf, elegaic, elements, heroic, term

Abstract
The review explores the work of Seamus Heaney (1999) in translating the epic Anglo-Saxon document, "Beowulf." This translation is compared to the digital restoration work being done with the original documents found in the British Library. Both Heaney and the Beowulf restoration group (at the University of Kentucky) are working with identical documents; however, Heamus has translated the text into a more accessible story, and restoration experts such as Keirnan (1984) have worked to preserve the original document for study. This paper evaluates whether Beowulf is a "story" or an artifact of Anglo-Saxon history, and the significance of the difference between translation and restoration.

Tags:beowulf, book, review

From the Paper
"All writers draws from their own experience and from the social milieu in which they live. Some may convey the social values of their society better than others, but in some degree all writers reflect those values, however subliminally. An examination of certain classical texts will show how the ancient writers of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Antigone, the Platonic dialogues, and Beowulf reflected certain values and attitudes prevalent in the society of their era.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a cycle of poems preserved on 12 incomplete Akkadian-language tablets found at Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal, with the tablets being found in the nineteenth century. The tablets date from the seventh century B.C. The time of the tale is one in which human beings felt close to the gods and felt that the gods intervened ... "

Abstract
This paper analyzes three well-known epics, "Gilgamesh", "Beowulf" and the "Odyssey" and compares the elements of these stories to elements common in all epics.

Abstract
This paper examines heroic quest themes and compares the books of "Genesis" and "Job", "The Epic of Gilgamesh"," Beowulf", "The Tale of the Wife of Bath", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and "Tristan and Isolde".