Achilles In The Odyssey

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Throughout history, legends and heros have been recalled through poems, stories, and books. These stories have covered people famous for saving cities, obeying the gods, and being strong, fierce leaders. Achilles, know as the greatest warrior in the Trojan War, appears in Homer’s poem The Iliad. Odysseus, a legendary hero, is exploited in Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. The Green Knight, a fierce and complex character explained in the poem Sir Gawain, by Pearl Poet. These three men, along with many others, our parts of literature and history, solely for their emphasis on morality and freedom. After nine years at war, Achilles encounters a new kind of conflict. As a war hero, Achilles is not one to give up easily, but when Agamemnon, leader of …show more content…
The gods in The Odyssey are responsible for holding Odysseus from going home to his wife for over eight years. They were responsible for his capture, and refused to let him go for almost a decade. Finally, though, they decided he should be allowed to find his way home, they made it known to his captor, Kalypso. However, Odysseus still had to choose to leave. Kalypso tried to keep him by offering immortality. She said this to him "You would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal". Even when knowing he could have immortality, Odysseus still chose to go home. From all of this Odysseus shows free will to chose, go home, back to his wife, who he hadn’t seen in years. In the world of Odysseus, one's most treasured possession is his good reputation. One's reputation is determined by how others view him, his character, values, and behavior according to the prevailing social standards and mores. Zeus, himself, affirms Odysseus' character. Apparently all the gods, except for vengeful Poseidon, hold Odysseus in high …show more content…
As the poem goes loyalty to King Arthur is crucial. Gaiwan accepted the challenge to show his loyalty to the king, as the others did not. The conflict was that one person must cut off the head of this creature, and in a day and a year, the creature would come back and cut off his head. Gaiwan went on the journey, accepting his fate. Gaiwan found a castle home to Lord Bertilak, who invited Gaiwan in. They made a bargain, Bertilak would bring back is hunt and would give to Gaiwan, and in return Gaiwan would share his as well. This continued for three days. On the third day Gaiwan did not share what the lady gave him. He did not share, in fear of death. Gaiwan shows independent freedom, being afraid of death and choosing a way to, maybe, survive the challenge, he went on. Gaiwan was happy to survive, but was disappointed that he didn't hold up his part of the bargain, by not keeping his promise of sharing everything he
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