Doubtless, the Greek epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, composed in the 8th century BC, are two of the most renowned epics of Western culture. Dealing with the Greek struggle against Troy, the works depict the deeds of legendary heroes like Hector, Achilles or Ulysses. Be it for the defence of their country or for the acquisition of fame, these men battle, always teeming with power, strength, courage and bravery. Later on, the influences of these primary epics range from Virgil to Milton or Fielding and Dryden, above all culminating in the Homeric impact on the heroic poetry of the Renaissance period. In Britain, the mythological Celtic work about The Legend of King Arthur and his Round Table from the 5th century BC upholds the tradition of the male warrior hero. The episodes concentrate on various heroic deeds, particularly on the conquest of the Holy Grail. Fascinated by the deeds of King Arthur and his knights, innumerable writers of various periods derive their own stories from this topic as for instance Sir Thomas Malory in Le Morte Darthur or the Arthurian cycle of Tennyson. Lately, with Troy and King Arthur Hollywood screened two blockbusters, substantiating the motif of the male warrior hero. These top-sellers prove that men still goes in for the epic stories about heroes and their heroic actions. Indeed, people always have been attracted and nearly obsessed by the stories about outstanding figures, be it the Indian Mahabharata, the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf or the German Nibelungenlied. Even if the actions are not always conclusive they often foster a basis for collective identification and influence the behaviour of the community. Either society idealize the deeds of the hero, projecting their desires on him, or, as often as not, this man is rejected and feared. Nevertheless, this person sets himself against the meaningless and accepts his vices and virtues, eventually rising above the average man, due to his heroic powers. Although social connections and personal motivation have been changing continually during the last centuries, the hero still embodies universal characteristics and men like Paris, Agamemnon, Galahad or Lancelot reappear in literature continually, nourishing the image of the heroic warrior. This is a man’s world where masculinity is defined in the epic realm of the hero. [...]
Table of Contents
A Introduction
B 1. Masculinities and heroism
1.1 Outline of the term masculinities
1.2 Outline of the term heroism
1.3 The hero and his ambiguous relation to society
2. Carlyle’s considerations on heroism
3. Representations of masculinities and heroism in literature
3.1 The Wanderer
3.1.1 Context
3.1.2 Evaluation of The Wanderer
3.2 Coriolanus
3.2.1 Context
3.2.2 Evaluation of Coriolanus
3.3 The Man of Feeling
3.3.1 Context
3.3.2 Evaluation of The Man of Feeling
3.4 About a Boy
3.4.1 Context
3.4.2 Evaluation of About a Boy
4. Comparison of the representations of masculinities and heroism in literature
C Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to explore the evolving relationship between masculinity and heroism across various literary periods. The author examines how historical, cultural, and social contexts shape these concepts and argues that femininity often acts as an implicit, driving force behind the construction of the male heroic ideal.
- Theoretical definitions of masculinity and heroism.
- The influence of Carlyle's views on hero-worship.
- Analysis of male protagonists in The Wanderer, Coriolanus, The Man of Feeling, and About a Boy.
- The impact of gender roles and the perceived importance of femininity.
- The transition from traditional, action-oriented heroism to modern, introspective models.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2 Evaluation of The Wanderer
The poem describes the coherent theme of Christian transience from worldly aristocracy to divine Christianity, expressed in the reflections of a Christian Anglo-Saxon nobleman. Accordingly, the theme of the epic, introduced at the beginning, deals with the experiences of a solitary person in an alienating world. Confronted with the loss of his patron, this man has to go into exile. It could have been expected that the introducing lines might as well allude to a female protagonist but already the 6th line of the epic poem reveals unmistakably that it deals with the life of a male protagonist. Continually allusions to male characters like wanderer, warrior, hero or sage are made. He is clearly described as a nobleman, who has internalised the appropriate behaviour of his society and is acquainted with the system of feudalism, which defines masculinity in this period.
Summary of Chapters
A Introduction: This chapter outlines the historical and cultural significance of the hero in Western literature, setting the stage for an investigation into the link between masculinity and heroism.
1. Masculinities and heroism: This section provides a theoretical foundation by defining masculinity as an achieved social status and examining the restricted and multifaceted meanings of heroism.
2. Carlyle’s considerations on heroism: This chapter discusses Thomas Carlyle’s influence on the concept of hero-worship and the enduring nature of the hero within repetitive historical patterns.
3. Representations of masculinities and heroism in literature: This central chapter provides a detailed analysis of how masculinity and heroism are portrayed across four distinct literary works, ranging from Old English poetry to modern fiction.
4. Comparison of the representations of masculinities and heroism in literature: This chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that while surface structures of masculinity change, women remain a fundamental, often unacknowledged driving force.
C Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the evolution of the heroic ideal, suggesting that the traditional binary separation of gender is increasingly challenged in modern society.
Keywords
Masculinity, Heroism, Literature, Gender Roles, Femininity, Old English, Feudalism, Sentimentalism, Cynical Young Man, Hero-Worship, Social Construct, Patriarchy, Identity, Transformation, Narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on analyzing the relationship between masculinity and heroism within literature, investigating how these concepts are constructed and altered across different historical periods.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The central themes include the societal definition of masculinity, the archetypal nature of the hero, the role of femininity in shaping male identity, and the transition of heroism from ancient warrior ethics to modern psychological introspection.
What is the core research question?
The core inquiry seeks to understand how masculinity and heroism are linked and whether femininity, often pushed to the background, serves as a decisive driving force for the construction of the male hero.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literary-analytical approach, conducting a close reading and comparative study of selected literary texts from different eras to trace the development of gendered heroic manifestations.
What does the main body address?
The main body examines four distinct works—The Wanderer, Coriolanus, The Man of Feeling, and About a Boy—to evaluate how specific cultural and historical contexts influence the depiction of male protagonists.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
Key terms include masculinity, heroism, gender roles, femininity, social construct, hero-worship, and historical identity.
How does the role of the mother influence the character of Coriolanus?
The author argues that Volumnia acts as a 'matriarchal' influence who constructs Coriolanus's identity as a warrior, ultimately showing that his masculinity is not natural but an artificial product of her expectations.
How does Nick Hornby’s 'About a Boy' recontextualize heroism?
The novel depicts a shift toward a modern form of heroism where the 'Cynical Young Man' must overcome anti-social tendencies and isolation to embrace responsibility, aided by communal support rather than military prowess.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Wenzl (Author), 2004, Heroism and Masculinities, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/40391
