Revela Agbokou Mr. Giles Honors 9th Lit. 4th block 30th April 2015 With its life changing and gut twisting plot, Homer’s the Odyssey sets the standards for all epic poems. By embodying ideas, cultural values and fearlessly defeating obstacles that attempt to hinder him in his quest, Odysseus is portrayed as the original epic hero. He is headstrong and wants to be known by everyone and changes from a pompous, egoistical man to a considerate leader who, as his journey went on realizes family is more important than fame. Odysseus who is cunning and egoistical goes on trials that negatively affect the beginning of his journey. While intoxicating Polyphemus, Odysseus tells him “my name is nobody” (Homer). The fact that Odysseus uses an alias proves he is clever because it makes the cyclops look foolish when he calls to the neighboring giants for help. Through his decision and use of an alias, we can infer Odysseus “learns to be more crafty” (Heatherington). Additionally, when he was deserting the cyclops’ island, Odysseus stops and “yell[s] out and mock[s] them” (Homer). Based on his actions we must conclude he is injudicious because he provokes the giants and brings Poseidon’s anger upon himself and his crew. Also, in …show more content…
This quality is demonstrated by Odysseus when he agrees to being a beggar when Telemachus tells the swineherd to “lead this poor man down to beg” (Homer). By choosing not to reveal himself he proves himself resourceful and gains information on the behavior of his household during his absence. Additionally, Odysseus further proves his ingenuity by asking his servants if they “would defend him”(Homer). By confirming he has allies to defend him in his vengeance against the suitors in his home, we can determine Odysseus is astute. Including, when he “hit[s] [Irus] with less force” so as not to be
Odysseus?s cunning is cardinal to his survival and that of his men. He uses his cunning to get them out of several unpleasant situations. When they are captured by the Cyclops, he can not use the strength of his men to escape, so he must use his cunning to free them. He lies and tricks the Cyclops to get out, ??My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy?? (9.397-99). This clever deception stops the other Cyclops from helping Polyphemos helping them to escape. Odysseus also shows his cleverness when he returns to Ithaca.
There are numerous heroes throughout “The Odyssey,” but none of them are as significant as Odysseus. “The Odyssey” is a narrative poem written by Homer (around 800 and 600 BCE) to show the numerous adventures and experiences Odysseus goes through. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus a prominent Greek epic hero is on a quest to return back to his home in Ithaca; to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Just like real life, not all heroes are picture-perfect; they all have imperfections. In this case, Odysseus is sometimes insolent, and discourteous; but he is still considered an epic hero because of the many heroic qualities he endures. Odysseus proves himself to be an outstanding hero in various ways such as showing loyalty, intelligence, bravery, strength, and courage which are all some of the most momentous qualities found in a hero. If a true hero can prove they are a true hero, makes them a true hero.
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.
The question has been raised as to whether or not Odysseus, the hero of Homers The Odyssey, is an epic hero. An epic Hero portrays many classic properties, including being very strong and courageous. Odysseus is an epic hero, because he portrays many of these and other traits, such as having a goal that is foremost in his mind, and having descended into the underworld.
A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a valiant king who embarks on a life-changing voyage. While traveling from Troy back to his home in Ithaka, King Odysseus overcomes daunting obstacles, and in doing so discovers his place in the world. Odysseus is truly a heroic figure because he demonstrates courage, improves his character, and wins the support of the gods.
"Odyssey" is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come. One of the reasons it has been so is because of the hero, Odysseus.
My quiet Penelope...would seem a shade before your majesty...Yet it is true each day I long for home,’”(104-115, 117-118). Homer uses the scene with Calypso to show how Odysseus is already recognized as a strategists, and how that important trait benefitted him. It is used in a positive connotation, and if it were not admirable it would have probably not been used at all. Secondly, Odysseus tells Polyphemus, “‘My name is Nohbdy...Nohbdy’s ruined me...they made a sage reply...if nobody has played you foul...we are no use...I was filled with laughter to see how like a charm the name had deceived them,’”(360, 404-406, 409-410). This encounter with Polyphemus further shows the extent of his strategic and clever abilities. He used trickery, which is common in many myths, to escape his enemy. Lastly, Odysseus decided to, “hug the cliff on Scylla...Better to mourn six men than to lose them all, and the ship...as I sent them on toward
People are heroes in different ways for different reasons. American soldiers are heroes because they fight boldly for their country. Corrie Ten Boom is also a hero because she took risks and saved hundreds of Jews. Abraham Lincoln is another example of a hero because he fought for what he thought was right and helped free all slaves. Similarly, Odysseus, the main character in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, possesses all of these characteristics and many more, making him a true epic hero.
Picture this: a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that is exactly what makes Odysseus all the more fascinating. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet who wrote The Iliad, had to contain some variety of attributes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. An epic hero is a protagonist of a story that represents the most important attributes of a civilization. Odysseus, being based in ancient Greece, is the embodiment of intelligence, loyalty, and strength.
The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem written by Homer. The epic revolves around the King of Ithaca, Odysseus, who has just finished fighting in the Trojan War and makes his way back home. Odysseus faces many obstacles and struggles throughout his journey. Both Telemachus and Penelope also face multiple obstacles while they wait for the return of Odysseus. Telemachus, Odysseus’s son ventures off to find his beloved father without informing his mother. Penelope, Odysseus’s wife was alone with the suitors who are all dying to marry her. Odysseus displays leadership through his journey similar to Tupac Amura Shakur and shows intelligence like Steve Jobs. Heros are seen as more than just warriors but as someone who society
Odysseus is very wise; he is able to get out of any situation he finds himself in and can also deceive anyone he finds the need to. Odysseus has the sort of cunning that one may expect to find in an action hero. However, Odysseus is able to do almost anything he wants with these skills of his. He is able to make up stories on the spot, such as when he told Athena that he was in fact not Odysseus but instead a weary traveler from Krete. Said he, “Far away in Krete I learned of Ithaka- in that broad island over the great ocean” (XIII, 327-328), and Athena knew it was Odysseus only because she was a goddess. Odysseus is very resourceful: he uses the things that are available to him. One instance of this trait is when he devises a plan to escape Polyphemos’s cave alive. Using the sheep as escape mechanisms is very clever. If he was not with his men in the cave, there would have been no way for them to get out. Also calling himself Nohbdy to trick Polyphemos into saying that no one hurt him is an ingenious idea. No one else would be able to execute his plan the way he did- with swiftness and bravery. O...
To begin with, Odysseus is an intelligent and clever man. He is a hero because he has the capacity to understand the situations and think through the struggles they are going to face. Odysseus is put against all the odds possible, and at times it seems like the gods are against him. Odysseus tricks the Cyclops, Polyphemus, in a very strategic way and handled the situation effectively. “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, / everyone calls me Nohbdy (Homer 498). Odysseus’ cleverness is brought out because he conceived an idea that would be adequate enough to trick a Cyclops. Later when Polyphemus is stabbed, he screams, “Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked
Can you imagine fighting in the Trojan war and trying to return home, but the god will not let you return for 20 years. Well that's what Odysseus had to go threw in the book The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus was trying to return to his home Ithaca, where his wife Penelope was. Right before he had to leave for the war he had his first son Telemachus, but then right after he was born Odysseus had to leave for the war. The moral is that Homer way trying to show in the book is to never give up, he explores the epic hero inside Odysseus and how he cared for his men more than him. The mythological story The Odyssey explores many main points, but we are gonna focus on how Odysseus was an epic hero by how brave he, how he never gives up, and how he was
Odysseus isn’t one of the best epic heroes in Greek literature but he is a good one. Sometimes he does the right thing and sometimes he does not, but he has never been clueless as to what to do. When Odysseus is sent home on a raft by Calypso to head home and Poseidon seems a storm he listens to the sea goddess Ino that jumps on his boat and tells him to swim to the island that was off in the distance (69). So Odysseus is a pretty good listener when it comes to the gods.
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The