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The Iliad as heroic poetry
lurk in the portrayal of Agamemnon who is represented as blatantly unjust
in his attitudes towards his colleagues, was prepared to abandon their
common enterprise, and even rejoiced (Od. 8.76-8) at their disputes.
Heroic poetry is often on the side of the vassal.
(c) Force and will
Heroes cannot be, they must do; courage in war, generosity in peace, not idle
strength or wealth, are admired. The simplest form of heroism is the successful
accomplishment of a mighty deed, seen most clearly when the hero is
an isolated figure who does battle with monsters. Beowulf, Perseus, and
Herakles are obvious examples. 11 Perhaps such heroes symbolize the success
of the tribe over a hostile environment; at any rate they are common among
peoples whose survival is precarious and it is typical of them that they win
(Beowulf s last fight is an exception) and that their exploits are enhanced
beyond reasonable probability. The point of these tales is the victory and
the force exerted in winning it. Where the hero's antagonists are other
humans there is more realism, more scope for victory in fair fight, and
more risk of defeat. Even then he may fall with honour usyoc pe£as TI KCU
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