The Role Of Odysseus As An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

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What attributes make up the heroes of myth? Is it due to their struggles and challenges or maybe the skills they possess? Either way Odysseus, Son of Laertes, embodies these qualities on his quest home. After defeating Troy Odysseus is lost from home for seventeen long and hard years. On this voyage he is met with supernatural adversity thrown at him by the gods and mythical monsters. However, Odysseus pushes through these challenges driven by his will to return home as an epic hero. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves to be an epic hero due to his skill, resolve, and confidence.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves to be an epic hero due to his skill. By his skill I am referring to Homer’s mention of Odysseus being “skilled in all ways of contending”(p.751). Homer foreshadows this in his invocation. “Sing in me, and through me tell the story of a man …show more content…

Every epic hero is faced with with challenges when venturing on their journey or quest. However the hero is able to overcome these challenges with their quick resolve and intelligence. Homer presents Odysseus with many challenges that he is able to solve using his strong resolve like an epic hero should. “Two dozen four-wheeled wagons, with heaving wagon teams, could not have stirred the tonnage of that rock…”(Beers and Odell p.761). Odysseus is faced with a huge problem, but being and epic hero he is able to come up with a grand plan to escape the cyclops. “Three abreast I tied them silently together, twinning cords of willow from the ogre’s bed”(Beers and Odell p.767). Odysseus uses his strong resolve to figure out an escape by using Polyphemus’s sheep. His ability to plan this escape in such a massive way and complete this challenge extremely well further proves Odysseus is and epic hero. Furthermore, his confidence allows his resolve to never waver no matter how grand the challenge may be just like an epic hero

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