Many of the literary works in world literature deal with the idea of ​​heroes and gods. Even though each story comes from different time periods, they all have a central theme that is similar in some way. Whatever the hero endures on his journey, we as readers can identify with it. The lesson taught to heroes leads us to reevaluate our opinions on certain aspects of life. Each hero is brave, intelligent, self-confident and has great physical strength. Every hero also has a downfall. Many times their pride or the fact that they are disloyal and sometimes deceitful gets in the way. The lessons experienced by these heroes have taught me to always be determined to finish whatever I decide to start, whatever the situation. By comparing and contrasting different aspects of two stories from different periods, I notice that the views on hospitality are different. Hospitality is the generous welcoming and entertaining of guests, visitors, and strangers. The way people handle hospitality in the Odyssey and Beowulf are totally divergent. People in my society can identify with each view of hospitality depending on how that particular person was raised. In the Odyssey, hospitality is the relationship between guest and host. It focuses on sharing wealth, knowledge and hospitality. Being kind was a big thing in the Odyssey. Pleasing the gods, guests and spreading a good reputation was very important. When strangers connect with someone, they feel like they know the individual as soon as they meet them. They make sure to make the stranger feel comfortable before business is handled. When Telemachus saw Athena he went straight to the porch, indignant that she had to wait so long as his guest. When... in the center of the paper... personal space. When it comes to my view of hospitality, I am similar to the people in Beowulf. I was raised to ask questions before doing anything for anyone. Yes, that particular individual may seem kind and sweet, but you never know someone's true intentions, so take precautions. After reading these two stories and comparing and contrasting them, I understood the true meaning of hospitality and believe that it is okay to be kind to people. Works Cited Alvesteffer, Steve. "Hospitality in the Odyssey." StormShock. Network. 25 April 2012. .“Beowulf”. The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume B. Ed. Martin Puchner et al. New York: Norton, 2012. 107-182. PrintHomer. “The Odyssey”. The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume A. Ed. Martin Puchner et al. New York: Norton, 2012. 332-622. Press