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
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skilled in all ways of contending…”(Beers and Odell p.751). Homer tells us right off the bat that Odysseus is physically skilled as well as mentally. Odysseus’s mental skill is shown when he is trapped by the cyclops, Polyphemus, and he tricks the cyclops into thinking his name is Nohbody. When Odysseus says “Everyone calls me Nohbody” it shows his impressive intellectual skill when dealing with Polyphemus(Beers and Odell p.765). According to Feeney, “An epic hero is defined by being superior in degree to other men, but not to his natural environment”(p.137).This further supports Odysseus being an epic hero due to his skill in contending that surpasses other men and allows him to be physically and mentally impressive. Odysseus displays these skills he possess when solving the challenges presented to him on the journey. However the challenges and Odysseus’ resolve is what helps make him and epic hero. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves to be an epic hero due to his resolve.
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
should. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves to be an epic hero due to his confidence. Odysseus shows overwhelming confidence throughout the story while completing his grand quest to return home. For example, Calypso tells Odysseus “If you could see it all, before you go-all the adversity you face at sea…”(Beers and Odell p.754). In spite of this warning Odysseus is confident that he must return home despite the danger. This puts in place another event that further proves he is an epic hero. “In the Land of the Dead, Odysseus seeks to learn his destiny” (Beers and Odell p.775). This proves that Odysseus fulfills two requirements of being and epic hero which include visiting the Land of the Dead and seeking what they are supposed to do. Furthermore, Odysseus visits the Land of the Dead with unwavering confidence in what he is supposed to do that it's almost heroic.Finally, Odysseus would not be able complete his quest if not for his confidence in the path he sets out on. In conclusion, Odysseus displays the qualities of an epic hero through his skill, resolve, and confidence almost continuously throughout the Odyssey. He shows these qualities with such vibrancy that his heroism is hard to ignore even on the grand scale he is placed. Odysseus in all his endeavors is an epic hero till the very end
In Homer’s the Odyssey, Odysseus has many different qualities that classify him as a hero. He is brave and courageous as shown when he murdered all the suitors who were disrespecting his property even though he was outmanned by them. Despite this, he is by no means all brawn and no brain as he shows his intelligence and cunning numerous times during the epic. A few example of this would be when he was able to blind the one-eyed Cyclops while the rest of his crew didn’t know what to do. Odysseus in many ways is similar to a flowing river, because whenever there is a problem (dam in the river), he would first try to go through it, but if he can’t he would then find a way ar...
The epic heroic journey of Odysseus was a story written in Greek. The story is a great example of the epic journey tale. Manny story's are based off of the epic of Odysseus. The hero Odysseus may be worthy for a hero for the Greeks by the extraordinary travels and the odds that he was up against. There is two different opinions if Odysseus was really a hero or not.
In conclusion, Odysseus’ brutal strength and cunningness is what carries him on his 20-year journey back home. However, is it his strength or brains that help him most along on his journey? This is a question that most cannot readily answer. Is Odysseus what most would call the traditional epic hero, or is there more than one type of epic hero?
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.
A person will typically think a hero as one who is equipped with great strength or ability. But a hero is more than just being brave or strong. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes through many challenges and is faced with his biggest weakness: his hubris or excessive pride. Though, Odysseus earns the title of a hero because he exhibits courage, utilizes cunning, and overcomes his hubris.
Another characteristic that Odysseus had to be an epic hero was that he was brave. Even though Eurylochos urged Odysseus to not go to Circe and leave the island without his crew Odysseus refused to. He responded to Eurylochos by saying “…as for me, go I must and go I will.';(p.117). Odysseus was a loyal leader, and even though he knew that he faced an impossible task, he went to Circe’s to bring his men back to safety.
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.
The Character Odysseus in Odyssey "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. Odysseus was one of the first Greek mythic heroes renowned for his brain as well as his muscles. Indeed he is a man with an inquiring mind, and he is also a man with outstanding prowess and bravery" (123helpme.com/assets/3603.html). "We also must not forget that he is a top-notch athlete which only adds more to this seemingly insuperable character.
The Odyssey, the main figure Odysseus has excessive pride, a lack of faith, and selfish intentions, which prevent him from earning the title of hero. These mannerisms are just several examples of his multiple derogatory traits. They completely overpower the few positive attributes Odysseus possesses. The numerous negative behaviors that he displays are not those of a hero. Being courageous, determined, growing, or courageous in any way can make a hero.
As seen throughout The Odyssey, a hero is perceived as a person who achieves great success never before seen and whose legacy lives beyond their years. Since The Odyssey was written around the eighth century BCE, the people that we view as heros in present day tend to embody different traits than the heroes of that time. Even though the word, “hero” does not have one specific definition, a hero is generally categorized as someone who is idolized for their bravery and does anything necessary to defend their people. Although Odysseus embodies the Homeric ideals of heroism in that he accomplishes triumphs that others have not, his successes are the product of divine intervention and his actions were primarily selfish; therefore, he is not a true
Odysseus: a hero in every way. He is a real man, skilled in the sports, handy with a sword and spear, and a master of war strategy. Most of the challenges and adventures in his return voyage from Troy show us this even if we had no idea of his great heroic stature and accomplishments in the Trojan war. I found in my reading of the Odyssey that most of the trials the gods place upon him are readily faced with heroic means. These challenges are not
The first characteristic that makes Odysseus an epic hero is that he answers a call to action. Odysseus answers two calls to action in The Odyssey. His first call is to go to Troy with Agamemnon and rescue Helen even though his son Telemachus has just been born and his wife Penelope doesn't want him to go. Odysseus does not have much of a choice due to the promise he and the other men made when Agamemnon won Helen's hand in marriage. Odysseus' second call to action is to get home to his family after the war in Troy despite all of his confrontations on his journey home. Odysseus does not give in to temptation and not return home, he continues on his journey so he can reclaim his wife and island.
In conclusion, Odysseus’ intelligence, loyalty, and strength are all key aspects which make Odysseus an epic hero. Besides having those characteristics, he has passed impossible tasks and could be compared to many American superheroes such as Batman. Both have relatively the same characteristics: strength, loyalty, intelligence, courage, and pride, but what makes them an epic hero is not entirely what they have been through. It is actually their ability to portray what their civilization finds most heroic in a person that makes them an epic hero.
The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. For example, when Odysseus and his men find themselves on Polyphemus's island, Odysseus's actions are self-centered and at the expense of his men. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero.
The main character of the Odyssey, Odysseus the King of Ithaca is given a complex personality to an extent where it is hard to identify whether he is a true hero or not. True heroism is only achieved when a person achieves certain qualities that portray heroism. Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle because of his actions of sacrificing his men, killing the suitors and being ruthless throughout the Odyssey. Along with many others qualities these three are helpful and necessary in a hero. A hero must be willing to do service for others and put the needs of others safety and protection before his own. Odysseus does not even come close to matching these qualities because he is a person, who only serves of himself, and he sacrifices his allies to achieve his goals and often he takes action ruthlessly.