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English 9
Mrs. Sharp/Ms. Edwards
name:
period:
Heroes Across Cultures
Research Presentation
Possible Choices:
 King Arthur -- a legendary king of medieval Britain. He became the main character in some of the most popular
stories in world literature. For almost 1,000 years, writers have told of Arthur's brave deeds and the adventures
of his knights of the Round Table.
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Beowulf -- a mighty warrior who has the qualities most admired by the Anglo-Saxons—strength, courage,
loyalty, and generosity. Beowulf goes to the aid of the Danish king, whose royal hall has been repeatedly raided
by a savage monster named Grendel.
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Gilgamesh -- a powerful king in ancient Sumeria who oppresses his people. When the people pray for help, the
gods create a champion, Enkidu, to meet Gilgamesh in battle. But Enkidu and Gilgamesh become friends and
share many adventures until Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh then becomes afraid of death and searches for the secret of
immortality.
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Hercules -- one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology. As a young man, Hercules had a vision. In it, he was
offered a choice of a life of ease, pleasure, and vice, or one of hardship, danger, glory, and virtue. He chose the
more difficult—but virtuous—life.
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Thor -- the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology. He was the oldest and most powerful son of Odin,
the king of the gods and goddesses. Of all the Norse gods, Thor best represented the values of the warrior class
of medieval Scandinavia. Thor's most important work was to protect the gods and goddesses from giants.
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Perseus -- was a hero in Greek mythology. He was the son of the god Zeus and a mortal woman named Danaë.
Perseus agreed to slay Medusa and he also rescued the princess Andromeda from a giant sea monster.
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Jason (and the Argonauts) -- a hero in Greek mythology who led a band of men called the Argonauts. Their
capture of the Golden Fleece—the wool of a golden ram—ranks among the most exciting adventures in
mythology.
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Rama -- a popular god in Hinduism. He is the seventh avatar (physical form) of the god Vishnu. Rama is usually
shown as a king carrying a bow and arrow.
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Siegfried -- a legendary hero in medieval German literature. As a young man, Siegfried had acquired the
fabulous treasure of the Nibelungs and a cloak that made him invisible. He also killed a dragon and bathed in its
blood, which made his body invulnerable.
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Aenas -- was a Trojan hero in Greek and Roman mythology. After the Trojan War, Aeneas gathered the few
other Trojan survivors and sailed away to found a new home. They stopped at various places and had many
adventures.
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Arjuna -- a hero of the Indian epic poem the Mahabharata, which tells of the wars between the Pandava
brothers and the Kaurava cousins. The story of his life is a constant series of battles and victories. Arjuna is
presented as the ideal hero. He is brave, handsome, noble, generous, and a romantic lover.
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Cuchulainn -- a great hero of Irish mythology and folklore. His reputation as a warrior grew in Irish folk tales
until he came to be treated as a defender of all Ireland.
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Sundiata -- also known as Mari-Diata, he founded the Mali Empire in West Africa in 1235 and ruled it until about
1260. Sundiata successfully combined Islamic and traditional African beliefs. His followers believed he had
magical powers.