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Heroes of the Illiad

 

            The term hero has a strong definition. A definition that for many years has been interpreted in numerous ways. A hero, according to the oxford English dictionary, is defined to be "a person, typically a man, who is admired for his courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. " In the Iliad, written by Homer, there are three main characters that can be considered to be heroes and possess heroic qualities. These characters include the Greek leader and warrior Achilles, the Greek king Agamemnon, and Hector, the prince of Troy. Whether it be from past events entering into the Iliad or over the course of the book, these men earn their title of being a hero, or even become a false hero. After analyzing the text from the Iliad we can find just what makes these men heroes or frauds.
             A typical hero is usually described as somebody who does something dangerous to help somebody else and putting their needs secondary. The heroes of the Iliad and even Greek mythology do not really fit this role as well as you may think. In actuality they were a pretty selfish, and riddled with flaws that wouldn't exactly make them role models for the younger generation of today. But that doesn't mean they aren't still considered heroes, they are just a hero of a different time period. These old heroes often have characteristics such as having very important ancestry, incredible courage and strength, a certain character flaw, and finally a strong connection to the gods. It is important to note that these qualities are represented over a time of war. In this scenario the story occurs throughout the Trojan War. .
             Achilles leader of the Myrmidons and central character of the Iliad, sets the stage right from the start of book. He is the son of the goddess, Thetis, and the warrior, Peleus. Being the son of a divine couple such as Thetis and Peleus gives reason right away that he is heroic in nature. Next is his reputation.


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