Rolands Heroic Hero - 1443 Words

The loss of his men deeply troubles Roland into portraying the heroic quality of honoring the dead. As the battle against the Saracens slowly diminishes the French forces, Roland scans the mountains pass and cries out, â€Å"Barons, my lords, may God give you his grace, may he grant Paradise to all your souls, make them lie down among the holy flowers. I never saw better vassals than you. All the years you’ve served me, and all the times, the mighty lands you conquered for Charles our King!† (140. 1854-59) The feeling of despair in Roland is evident in these lines. None of the rearguard ran away when they saw a fierce battle approaching. Instead, they followed orders and fought honorably under the command of Roland. At the sight of all†¦show more content†¦It is notable to realize that Roland is physically about to die, yet the obligation of blessing his companions is his top-priority. Roland returns, lays the brave men down according to their rank, and watches as the Archbishop blesses each one. Roland shows particular emotion when he sees Oliver lying on the plain When Roland fixes his eyes on Oliver’s cold body, he â€Å"felt such grief and pity, he begins to weep; and his face lost its color with what he felt: a pain so great he cannot keep on standing, he has no choice, falls fainting to the ground.† (164. 2215-20) Roland and Oliver’s relationship is much more meaningful than friendship. Although the two arguments between Oliver and Roland seem like they pit each vassal against each other, they still resemble brothers-in-arms (Ailes). No matter how different they may seem, Roland honors Oliver in the end. In addition, the Twelve Peers that fought so bravely by Roland’s side. Through the excruciating loss of twenty thousand French soldiers, including his dear companions, Roland’s final words still bless his Heavenly Lord. Just hours before this moment, Roland was so caught up in his pride that he didn’t even realize how he had endangered the lives of his troops and disobeyed his feudal relationship with Charlemagne. His pride distorted his motivation behind attacking the Saracens without warning the rest of the army, yet he keptShow MoreRelatedSong of Roland Essay595 Words   |  3 PagesRoland is not depicted as a hero in every way. In what particular way does his h eroism cause him to fail himself and others, and what does that tell us about the culture out of which the poem emerges? The Song of Roland is a heroic epic that depicts the tragic defeat of Roland, the courageous leader of Charlemagne’s army. Within the epic Roland is not depicted as a hero in every way. I believe that Roland’s pride eventually becomes the root cause of his failure to himself and to others. It is thisRead MoreEssay on Chanson de Roland Commentary1076 Words   |  5 PagesSeen by most as the birthmark of French Literature, as well as perhaps the greatest and oldest chanson de geste (epically heroic poems that began to appear in the late eleventh century), La Chanson de Roland is undoubtedly a landmark in Medieval Literature. It celebrates the heroic feats of count Roland, Charlemagne’s nephew and right-hand, in serving his country, his king and his faith. A large variety of themes, including religion, faith, loyalty, bravery and heroism, amongst others, recur throughoutRead MoreThe Hero : The Word Hero1122 Words   |  5 PagesThe word hero holds significance for many. A hero is usually someone who is idolized or admired for the brave and courageous things that they have accomplished. Roland was a very brave and skillful individual who accomplished many heroic tasks in his life including his loyalty to King Charlemagne, but his bold personality also got him into trouble and ultimately led him to death. He maintained an honor and loyalty that led him to a martyr’s death, though. Although he was disliked by many, includingRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf And The Song Of Roland1590 Words   |  7 Pagesexploits of the hero Beowulf and his life as he grows from a thane of Geatland to a king of his people. The events of Beowulf span many years and entail his fighting of several different creatures. Throughout the epic, Beowulf and ma ny of the characters around him exhibit a heroic code that details the standard of behavior and thoughts one should have in order to be a hero in that world. Similarly, The Song of Roland, which is set in the late 700s, revolves around another exemplary hero in Count RolandRead MoreRoland Truly a Hero in The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three1051 Words   |  5 PagesRoland Truly a Hero in The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three Throughout history on science fiction and fantasy novels, the hero has always been portrayed as someone who is more than just your regular human. Someone who has no flaw in their qualities other than compassion, which often causes their downfall. Always, in the end, the hero triumphs over great evil, to the dismay of the villain, and the applause of those he saved. What happens when the hero is superhumanRead MoreSummaries of Indapatra and Sulayaman, the Song of Roland and Iliad2416 Words   |  10 Pagesmonsters and at last only one left * Kurayan, Sulayman slashed its wings but it covered him with a great impact from the air * The plant withered and it means that Sulayman died * He removed the wings and he prayed to Bathala. * And the hero ressurected The Song of Roland A French Epic Author * Since the song of Roland is the oldest surviving major work of French Literature, there is no evidence about the author * It is written from 12th to 14th Century The song of Roland is attributed