《荷马史诗》和《东方叙事诗》中英雄主义的对比研究

A Comparative Study of Heroism in Homer Epics and Oriental Tales

By Ba Yunfan

In partial fulfillment of the requirement

For the B. A. degree

Department of English

School of Liberal Arts

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

April, 2018

Contents

1. Introductions to the two poems2

1.1 Homer Epics2

1.2 Oriental Tales3

2. Definition of heroism4

3. Comparison between heroism in Homer Epics and Oriental Tales4

3.1Differences 4

3.2Similiarties 11

4. Conclusion12

References13

A Comparative Study of Heroism in Homer Epics and Oriental Tales

By Ba Yunfan

Department of English

School of Liberal Arts

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

Abstract: Heroism is an important concept in the history of Western literature. It is usually based on different backgrounds of the times and reflects the author's thoughts. Heroism can often make people have a strong resonance, encouraging people to pursue freedom and dignity. Homer's Epic and Oriental Tales, as representative literary works of the ancient Greek and the bourgeois revolutionary period, have created a number of distinctive hero images. This article compares the similarities and differences between heroism in the two works, and summarizes the changes in heroism. The results show that the heroic images in the two works have changed in terms of external factors: the classes of hero, the appearance of hero, and the way to realize the heroic deeds. Heroism tends towards the popularization and separates the influence of God from the heroic behavior. However, it still maintains the hero's secular nature and strong personal pursuit consciousness.

Key Words: hero; Homer; Byron; heroism; Homer Epics; Oriental Tales

摘要：英雄主义是西方文学史上的一个重要概念。它通常基于不同的时代背景, 反映作者的思想。英雄主义往往会使人有强烈的共鸣, 鼓励人们追求自由和尊严。《荷马史诗》和《东方叙事诗》, 分别作为古希腊和资产阶级革命时期的代表性文学作品, 创造了鲜明的英雄形象。本文比较了两部作品中英雄主义的异同, 总结英雄主义的变化。结果表明, 两部作品中的英雄形象在阶级、外表、英雄事迹的实现方式等方面发生了变化。英雄主义倾向于大众化, 神的影响也从英雄行为中脱离，但仍保持着世俗本性和强烈的个人追求意识。

关键词： 英雄;荷马;拜伦;英雄主义；《荷马史诗》；《东方叙事诗》

Literature often originates from myths. These myths stem from the struggle between mankind and nature. People use imagination to conquer nature, dominate the natural forces, and visualize the natural forces in order to express their awe and respect for nature. The desire to conquer nature has also created a series of unforgettable artistic images. Ancient Greek literature also originated in mythology and began in Homer Epics. The epic reveals myths to us and allows us to pry into the magical world. Homer Epics includes Iliad and Odyssey. The Trojan War in the 12th century BC has described many classic artistic images for us, including heroic images, goddess images, women images, slave images, and monster images. In the Iliad, there are all-powerful and brave heroes. Among the Odyssey, there are intelligent, courageous warriors. These images are the characters of the transitional period from the clan society to the slave society. Homer reflects the noble heroism and collectivism ideals of the ancient Greek people through characteristics of rich personality and times.

At the end of the 18th century, Europe entered a period of intense social turmoil. The bourgeois revolution, represented by French, turbulently shocked the feudal monarchy in Europe. Social turmoil made people no longer obey the oppression of theocracy and monarchy, and pursued the freedom of the soul. With the liberation of individuality, many new cultural trends have emerged. These ideological trends have prompted artists to think about the society, the environment and even the entire world in which they live. The romantic poet Byron created six poems at the beginning of the 19th century, shaping the image of a group of unsuccessful rebel insurgents. It is not only the poet's personal will to respond, but also his resistance to society, embodying the human dignity and self-respect.

This article concentrates on the comparison between heroism in these two poems. On the one hand, they have same heroic characteristics, which are concluded as four points from the view of consciousness. On the other hand, obvious differences between them would be analyzed from the aspects of the classes, appearance, pursuit, the relations between God and hero, the place to achieve honor and the nature of heroism.

1. Introductions to the two poems

1.1 Homer Epics

Homer Epics are a combination of the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is both the most important literary classic encyclopedia of spiritual morality and social life in ancient Greece. Homer Epics are about the story of Greece attacking Troy and the postwar period in the 12th century BC. The records of epic have almost gone through the entire process of the formation of slavery. After the Trojan War ended, there were many short songs chanting war heroes in Asia Minor, and these short songs were circulated in the process of mingling with the stories of God and enhancing the myth of the heroes of the war. After Homer's ordering, by the 8th and 7th century BC, it gradually became a grand war legend, which was formally recorded in the form of letters in the 6th century BC. The book has gone through centuries of history and has been doped with the historical factors of various eras. It can be seen as the ancient creation of all ancient Greeks. Because of the underdevelopment of the productive forces, it is a free theology of the human and god, which removes the mysterious fear from the spiritual world.

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