Beowulf and The Iliad
Beowulf and The Iliad themes reflection paper
When comparing the major themes of Good vs. Evil and Life and Death to find that the two themes are the biggest themes in an epic. The elements are present toward what the type of reflection and will be touched on all keys. Beowulf and The Iliad both have references to the themes of Good vs. Evil and Life and Death and will be looked at separately. Beowulf shows a very equal standing toward Good vs. Evil and Life and Death and is noted and cited all through the epic poem. In the very beginning of Beowulf the first noted themes of Good vs. Evil is become present. “Grendel, who haunted the moors- split from forms of evil.” is the first noted theme of evil in Beowulf while “In his far away home Beowulf….the strongest of the Geats” shows the first noted good in the epic poem. In Beowulf the other strong theme involved in this epic poem and many others is Life and Death. When coming upon the death aspect in the theme hearing “Grendel came, hoping to kill anyone” show that death is approaching heavily in the near future of the epic. While hearing “Then old and young rejoiced” after the death of all the creatures Beowulf killed show the Life aspect of the theme since it shows the people had valued life over death. Now the next epic poem to compare is The Iliad. Of course the epic will be still analyzed for the two major themes. However I believe that there are a stronger sense of Life and Death rather than the theme of Good vs. Evil in this epic poem. Even though one of the themes may be more obvious than the others doesn’t mean there isn’t cases of both shown. Seeing how the sense of Good vs. Evil is lacking in a review of the epic poem and more of a Life and Death I was only able to find a one noted cited that would be considered Good vs. Evil. “The angry Achilles Chose not to battle while Hector chose to only want to take Achilles on”. When reading that cite it shows Achilles being the Good aspect since he chose
When comparing the major themes of Good vs. Evil and Life and Death to find that the two themes are the biggest themes in an epic. The elements are present toward what the type of reflection and will be touched on all keys. Beowulf and The Iliad both have references to the themes of Good vs. Evil and Life and Death and will be looked at separately. Beowulf shows a very equal standing toward Good vs. Evil and Life and Death and is noted and cited all through the epic poem. In the very beginning of Beowulf the first noted themes of Good vs. Evil is become present. “Grendel, who haunted the moors- split from forms of evil.” is the first noted theme of evil in Beowulf while “In his far away home Beowulf….the strongest of the Geats” shows the first noted good in the epic poem. In Beowulf the other strong theme involved in this epic poem and many others is Life and Death. When coming upon the death aspect in the theme hearing “Grendel came, hoping to kill anyone” show that death is approaching heavily in the near future of the epic. While hearing “Then old and young rejoiced” after the death of all the creatures Beowulf killed show the Life aspect of the theme since it shows the people had valued life over death. Now the next epic poem to compare is The Iliad. Of course the epic will be still analyzed for the two major themes. However I believe that there are a stronger sense of Life and Death rather than the theme of Good vs. Evil in this epic poem. Even though one of the themes may be more obvious than the others doesn’t mean there isn’t cases of both shown. Seeing how the sense of Good vs. Evil is lacking in a review of the epic poem and more of a Life and Death I was only able to find a one noted cited that would be considered Good vs. Evil. “The angry Achilles Chose not to battle while Hector chose to only want to take Achilles on”. When reading that cite it shows Achilles being the Good aspect since he chose