The traditional
role of
epic hero, one which was made prominent by the ancient Greeks, has been transformed in the Song of Roland through the actions of the main character, Roland. His careful planning, which pinpoints the
time and place of his
death, is the crucial element of this transformation. In contrast, Achilles, a traditional representation of epic hero in Homer’s The Iliad, simply cements his fate to occur at an unspecified future time when he chooses personal glory through war as opposed to happiness and longevity at home. Roland’s choice to guard the rear and his refusal to blow the
horn in time for reinforcements
bring about his demise, and his directions to Charlamyne, which indicate the expected final resting place and body position (on a mountain top with sword and horn in hand), reveal to the reader the acknowledgement, acceptance, and arrangement of death. While Achilles dies among many, Roland, due to his precision, is able to appear to be the last and most courageous to die. Furthermore, this arrangement makes possible the future depiction of Roland by French intellectuals (especially those in power) as a leader who dies a glorious death to bring a Christian victory over a foreign force. Thus, Roland, who assumes this transformed role of epic hero, became a model for knights in the First Crusade as well as hero for French school children during the Franco-Prussian war. Achilles, as a representation of the original characterization of epic hero, could never have assumed such a role.
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