Frame stories and male heroism in Beowulf and Gilgamesh

Epics

Frame stories are those which contain several sub-plots arranged together and organized into a whole, like a soap opera. Each of the subplots share thematic elements in common. Beowulf is a frame story, composed of several interlocking but thematically connected sub-plots. The various funerals and battles depicted in the epic could stand alone but when pieced together are part of the cohesive text. In contrast, the Epic of Gilgamesh is not a frame story even though like Beowulf the Sumerian text is also an epic. Gilgmesh is composed as a traditional story with one central plot and only a few characters, and the story is also told mainly in chronological order.

In both Beowulf and in the Epic of Gilgamesh, however, the male hero is the predominant archetype. Forming the titles of the two tales, Beowulf and Gilgamesh fight formidable foes and mostly succeed. Yet their heroism is tempered by their humanity. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh are powerful and almost godlike in their brute physical force and their ability to serve in positions of leadership. However, neither is invincible. Beowulf meets a heroic demise when he fights the final dragon at the end of the epic. His death in no way diminishes the grandeur of his heroism. Another feature of the classic hero is their tendency to embark on lengthy journeys and quests to prove their merits, and Beowulf is no exception.