Gilgamesh

Similarities and differences between Beowulf and Gilgamesh

I decided to talk about Beowulf and Gilgamesh because I think they have many similar heroic characteristics butthey are also different in some other aspects.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh were warriors, heroes that fought for their people and defeat evil with their extraordinaryabilities and skills. They brought peace and justice. Both of them had amazing physical strength that couldn't be compare to any other man on their times. They also had insuperablecourage and fought many battles, some of them were considered impossible to win.

Beowulf was not afraid to die. He was asked by the Danes for help to kill some evil monstersthat were terrifying their city. Beowulf risked his own life to protect the Danes from Grendal, Grendal’s mother and on the final battle he fought against a dragon, hekilled the dragon but he lost his own life in the process. It is said that he used to put his people’s welfare before his own, before going to the battles he always wished for thesafety of his people and and requested to have all his wealth and belongings distributed equal between his people.

On the other hand Gilgamesh was two-thirds god andone-third man. Gilgamesh did not put his people before him. He was a tyrant who became a great hero his quest was looking for inmortality, he feared death. After his friend, Enkidudied Gigamesh became obsessed with death and everlasting life. He left his city to learn how to avoid death and went on a great journey.

They both were considered heroesbecause they lived a heroic life and they felt it was their duty as heroes to defeat any evil or die trying. In life or in death they were glorified for their actions.