Epic+Heroes+and+Epic+Poems

Picture of Beowulf 2007 movie; Picture of Hector, another Epic Hero; Picture of Gilgamesh, one more epic hero; and Dante, an epic hero media type="file" key="Beowulf Trailer [www.keepvid.com].mp4" width="360" height="360" align="left"

[|Uncyclpedia version of Beowulf (a parody of Wikipedia)] (Advised against actually reading, no education at ALL)

Trailer for Beowulf Movie or better quality trailer for [|Beowulf]

The epic hero embodies the value of ideas of a particular society. They undertake long, dangerous journeys, or quest, to achieve something of a great value to themselves or their people. An epic hero from the oldest surviving epic poem in the English Language. Beowulf, prince of Geats of Sweden, aided the Denmark King Hrothgar in slaying the monster Grendal. Beowulf also killed Grendal's mother who tried to avenge Grendal's death. Also Beowulf fought a dragon, but the dragon mortally wounded Beowulf, making him die. Hector, although not alive during the Anglo-Saxon era, was the epic hero for the trojans. Although he was a prince, he fought side by side all the other foot soldiers against the greeks. He was eventually killed because Achillies wanted revenge for killing his cousin Patroclus.
 * Beowulf**
 * Hector**

The tragic hero that is also in the Illiad. He was an enemy of Hector and fought in the trojan war, it was said his heel was his only weak point. Portrayed by Brad Pitt in the film Troy. Odysseus was an epic hero in both the Illiad and the Odyssey. The trojan horse which was used to break into the city of Troy was his idea. He continued after the war to his home of Ithaca to reunite with his wife and his son Telemachus. This journey was greatly lengthened by the god Poseidon who hated him. It was on this journey that he encountered such infamous creatures as the Sirens and the Cyclops.
 * Achilles: Troy**
 * Odysseus and The Odyssey**

Yet another epic hero, Dante, was an epic hero of the Renaissance era in Itlay. The Divine Comedy details the epic hero Dante's adventures through the spiritual universe. He travels through hell in the Inferno, Purgatorio, and heaven in the Paradiso. The Inferno was created to portray the way hell punishes sinners, it tells the story of Dante and the poet Virgil as they travel through hell. Allegorically the Divine comedy represents the soul's journey to God. Although not a Anglo-Saxon hero, his story is told through an epic poem. He also is an average, God fearing citizen who is not rightly punished in hell, so he embarks on the journey back to Earth.
 * Dante and the Divine Comedy**

The epic poem of Gilgamesh is the story of the fifth king of Uruk who is two thirds god and one third man. This story is from sumerian mythology. This is about the relationship between himself and his equal Enkidu who was created by the gods. Gilgamesh and Enkidu went on quests together to displease the gods such has killing their monstrous creations. When Enkidu dies Gilgamesh goes on a quest to learn the secrets of immortality.
 * Gilgamesh**



Edmund Ironside Gathering an Army

Edmund Ironside (actually named Edmund II) was king of the English from April 23, 1016 to November 30, 1016. He was the second son of King Æthelred II. When Edmund’s brother died in 1014, Edmund became the heir. Tensions grew between the father and son and a struggle began. It was not until 1016 that they made peace. King Æthelred II grew ill and died on April 23, 1016 leaving Edmund the throne. At the same time, Cnut the Great’s army invaded London. Edmund immediately fled to Wessex and gathered an army to repel the Danes. He and his army won repeated victories over Cnut, but Cnut defeated Edmund’s army at the Battle of Ashingdon. After the battle, the two kings negotiated a peace. Edmund was left the territory of Wessex, but Wessex was ceded to Cnut after his death on November 30, 1016. The cause of Edmund’s death is unknown. He was given the name Edmund Ironside because of his efforts to fend off the invasion led by Cnut the Great.

**__ The Wanderer __** Believed to have been written around 597, //The Wanderer// is a poem that describes the life of Eardstapa (which is translated to the wanderer). He was once a glorious warrior and a faithful servant to God. He once feasted with his fellow warriors and was content with his life. However, now he roams cold seas and walks the path of exile. The Wanderer says that he has lost his lord, kinsmen, and comrades in battle and that he was sent into exile. The epic poem, translated into English, describes his new life.


 * || Oft him anhaga || Often the solitary one ||
 * || are gebideð, || finds grace for himself ||
 * || metudes miltse, || the mercy of the Lord, ||
 * || þeah þe he modcearig || Although he, sorry-hearted, ||
 * || geond lagulade || must for a long time ||
 * || longe sceolde || move by hand [//in context// = row] ||
 * 4a || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">hreran mid hondum || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">along the waterways, ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">hrimcealde sæ || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">(along) the ice-cold sea, ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">wadan wræclastas. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">tread the paths of exile. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Wyrd bið ful aræd! || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Events always go as they must! ||

[]

__** King Arthur **__ After marrying Guinevere and recieving the kingship and the Round Table from the wizard Merlin, Arthur's most trusted knight, Lancelot, became attracted to his highness' wife. He rescued her from the hangman's noose, and took her to his land. This led King Arthur to chase him. He left Mordred in charge of Britain while he was gone, but did not expect when Mordred rebelled against him. After slaying Lancelot, Arthur returned to make work of Mordred, having their final battle in Salisbury Plain. Mordred was vanquished, but he succeeded and left Arthur mortally wounded. He soon left to venture to Avalon. Some say he never died and would return someday.

__** Epic Hero **__ An epic hero is a figure from history or legend. The hero participates in a quest and faces adversaries that try to defeat him in his journey. The epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies certain morals that are valued by the society from which the epic originates. They tend to be 'larger than life' and the ideal human. Most Epic heroes are part divine and possess recognizable human traits. An epic hero can also be a warrior of some sort who performs extraordinary tasks that most find difficult.