This epic story about the life and wanderings of King Ithaca impressed me greatly and made me reevaluate some aspects of my own personality. First, it was easier for me to associate myself with Odysseus. Since he goes through severe development, Odysseus overcomes himself and fights, becoming a true hero. I liked that he did not initially possess divine-level supremacy, making me believe in my abilities. Now I think I should overcome my weaknesses and never give up. Odysseus could not know that he would achieve all his goals and return as a winner and king, but he kept fighting. I suppose that this story teaches that people do not always have the required skills and qualities, but it is in their power to develop them.
Heracles
Heracles is also not a typical mythological hero because, from childhood, he is placed in a vulnerable state of mortality, although he is the son of Zeus. This is why I enjoyed reading about him – he needs to pass the test as a mortal, showing his strength and ingenuity, similar to modern people having to pass tests, overcome obstacles, and prove that they are worthy of the best. Some gods favor Heracles, and others are against him, which kept me on my toes. What I also noticed is that the myths about Heracles reflect the realities of ancient Greece, where homosexual relationships between men were the norm. Therefore, a connection I can make is that Iolaus could be the lover of Hercules. This is reflected in the language and descriptions of Plutarch and Aristotle, who called the tomb of Iolaus the place of the oath of allegiance of lovers (Saltman, 2011).
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary character who has always inspired me. It is interesting that the names Arthur and Odysseus mean ‘farmer’ but are given to kings in the early periods of the formation of statehood. I also noticed that Arthur, similar to Heracles, has problems with the legitimacy of birth and power and must prove his right by a heroic deed. This fact may allow many readers to relate themselves to these two characters because it often happens that one is deprived of some opportunity available for others and has to fight in order to receive it. The Story of King Arthur is similar to other works in its dynamics, when the hero, initially in an unfair and disadvantageous position, shows heroism, courage, and ingenuity.
Sigurd’s Youth
A connection I noticed here is that just as Merlin influences Arthur’s fate, the swordmaster Regin teaches Sigurd the various arts. The protagonist embarks on a journey to face difficulties and become a hero and king. Again, this is what many people face daily, and one may question whether their stakes are higher. When overcoming these challenges and obstacles, I personally need guidance and motivation, as well as someone to simply believe in me. I noticed that Sigurd received such support when the wanderer encouraged him, seeing in him the potential of a hero.
Fafnir, the Dragon
For some reason, I had difficulty reading the text, notwithstanding the fact that some themes it includes are interesting to me. I noticed that Siegfried is a dragon-slayer hero typical of familiar Indo-European mythology. His origin is not worked out and not described, while Sigurd is already overgrown with a distinguished pedigree and descends from outstanding ancestors. Otherwise, both have all the features of an ideal epic hero – strength, courage, nobility, and courtesy (Saltman, 2011).
What also seemed noticeable to me was the difference in the characters’ motives. For example, Sigurd in “Sigurd’s Youth” only rushes to kill the dragon Fafnir under the negative influence of his teacher. Siegfried, on the other hand, is motivated in his quest by the goal of rescuing the princess and getting the treasure. This prompts me to always evaluate and review my motives when making serious decisions.
Reference
Saltman, J. (2011). The Wadsworth anthology of children’s literature. Cengage.