Odysseus Heroism

"If I play a hero or a good guy, I'll try to find his darkness or his flaws." -J. Kinnaman. (Brainyqoute.com) As Kinnaman mentioned, there are almost always flaws in a hero, and these defects usually make the story more interesting. (Knowing a protagonist's defects is helpful to follow the story, because they usually propel the tension the story.) (-- removed HTML --) , an ancient Greek epic poem written by Homer, the protagonist attracts readers by showing not only his heroic qualities but also his shortcomings. The poem is mainly about Odysseus, a victorious general of the Trojan War, going back to his beloved homeland Ithaca after the brutal battle. However, he suffers through a 20-year-voyage to get home, which is caused by his own flaws. Indeed, he has plenty of heroic qualities, yet they are closely connected to his defects.

In Greek literature of mythology, we have examined Odysseus. Students and scholars alike have held debates about Odysseus. The discussion is whether Odysseus was a true hero, as read in The Odyssey. There is abundant supportive evidence to verify all sides of the debate and opinions held about Odysseus. Odysseus had encompassed many qualities that I believe make him a hero. The qualities he embodied were mental strength, physical strength, and spiritual strength. I would like to advocate for why Odysseus was a hero.

Throughout the epic Homeric poem, The Odyssey of Homer, Odysseus is a hero known for his cunningness, vigilance, and overall attainment of homecoming. Odysseus’ journey home is one of many mental and physical tests that which involve numerous encounters with others whose characters are in opposition with his. It is important to understand that through his encounters with certain opposing characters, Odysseus’ qualities of possessing heroism and cleverness are vividly portrayed. In this instance, the characterization of Odysseus will be discussed in terms of how Agamemnon’s, Odysseus’ companions’, and the suitors’ characters reinforce Odysseus’ cleverness, prudence and heroism, as well as his avoidance of self-destruction and attainment of homecoming.

Nearly every story in Greek mythology revolves around a character with a certain outstanding attribute, be it strength, intellect, or even musical talent. Heroes such as this might spend their lives questing for kleos, or the myth might simply be a tale in which the hero was trying to accomplish a certain task, such as returning home or rescuing a lover from Hades. In every case, these heroic tales would always end with tragedy; the hero would be killed by a jealous lover, go mad, or have a loved one taken away from him. However, one Greek hero existed whose story did not end with tragedy: Odysseus. Homer's The Odyssey is unique among all other Greek myths in that it is the only story in which the hero does not meet a tragic end; why

The overall point of Homer’s Odyssey is to teach Greek morals and social behaviors through heroic tales featuring the main character, Odysseus, and the struggles he must go through to return to, and defend, his wife and family. Ancient Greek culture idolized strong, fearless warriors, an idea that is prevalent among most Greek mythology, especially the Odyssey. If it had not have been for Odysseus’ bravery he would not have been able to overcome the obstacles that stood in his path towards home. While Odysseus is exercising his bravery, his wife, Penelope, and son are trapped in their home with men who hope to marry Penelope. Homer preys on the suitors’ disrespectful behavior to teach humility and respect. Conversely, Homer’s teaching of hospitality illustrates the ideal host. Even when their guests are unwanted, Telemachus and Penelope play the role of hosts and offer food, drink, and a place to sleep for all of their guests. Nearly everywhere Odysseus goes, the practice of hospitality is held in utmost reverence. Through teachings of bravery, respect, and hospitality, Homer is able to weave a series of epic tales, and create the image of quintessential Greek morality.

Have you ever wondered what is a hero and what makes them? What actually makes them a hero in the eyes of the world? Many people may disagree with some people on what makes a hero. This report is about Odysseus was and wasn't a hero in his stories and others. Many people may agree and disagree that this report shows how Odysseus was and wasn't a hero in my way upon reading the stories.

When you think of a hero do you think of someone that can fly or that can lift a bus full of people? That is not the answer to all cases of heros. Some heros are just normal people that go throughout their day working or cooking. Other heroes are written in Greek Mythology, or even more specific, the Odyssey. Odysseus is the main character in the Odyssey, and he is labeled as a “hero”. But is that true? Would a hero tie his men to the mass of a ship just because they did not follow the certain task they were given? I would think a hero would give graciousness to any and all of his men. I believe that this act that Odysseus put forth was a minor act of heroicness. This deed was not an act of all things heroic.

Many beings refuse to admit that Adolf Hitler, although having unethical beliefs, was in fact a hero to his German citizens. As seen in that example, not all heroes are perfect; but they can certainly possess qualities that can qualify them to be. In Greek mythology, every man has their downfall and some warriors are more heroic than others. A superior hero that exceeds all benchmarks of heroism is Odysseus. Odysseus is a hero because he has numerous traits that deem him heroic, such as: intelligence, determination, and loyalty, especially when being compared to the renowned greek hero Hercules.

An epic hero is someone who is admired for their great achievements and selfless acts in times of despair. Heroes are also effective leaders, as their guidance is important in the face of danger. The story, The Odyssey, follows the epic hero, Odysseus, and his strong men on their adventure sailing the Mediterranean Sea with the objective of returning home to Ithaca. As they sailed, the curious men crossed paths with misfortune, leading all but Odysseus to their deaths. Odysseus used his leadership by strategically planning escapes during dangerous situations, making him a heroic figure. However, his imperfections weaken his reputation as a strong, epic hero. Although he had good intentions in using his intelligence to try to ensure the safety of others, his character flaws, such as his arrogance and unfaithfulness, cost his crew their lives and caused chaos in the lives of his loved ones.

An ancient Greek epic sung by Homer, The Odyssey translates Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War. Throughout his journey, the reader notices many aspects of heroism, power, and leadership. According to Google, a hero portrays an admired person, idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. One does not need to inherit wealth or power to display heroism.  Instead, a person must obtain kindness and care, support, and think about each other. Additional qualities many heroes depict include selflessness and humbleness. Furthermore, heroes master the art of persuasion, make necessary sacrifices, and act accordingly for the betterment of society and life. Eumaios and Antínoos convey the claim that every person has the potential to portray heroism; though both illuminate two contrasting characters, they display actions of heroism in their own way.

A hero is someone who has outstanding courage and recognized by others. In the Odyssey, Homer talks about the difficulties the character Odysseus faces on his way back home from Ithaca. Homer appropriately depicts Odysseus as an epic Greek hero because he is clever, wise, loyal and his helped by Athena throughout his difficulties.

Hero or superhero, superhero or hero? What’s the difference between Batman, Spiderman, Supergirl, Flash, Thor or Odysseus, Hercules, Achilles, Perseus, Zeus? A superhero is a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers, a hero on the other hand is a person admired for bravery, great achievements, or good qualities. In the epic The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus struggles to return home after the Trojan war hitting many obstacles on his way home. He is a true hero, exemplified bravery, masters the art of strategy, all while serving as an role model of righteousness for his crew.

Many modern day stories feature brave, mighty heroes who go on great adventures to complete a daunting task. How can we spot which characters are considered heroes? Odysseus traits that qualify him to be a hero can be identified using Maria Gavilan’s article, “The Hero’s Journey”, that summarizes the ideas from Joseph Campbell’s book, A Hero with a Thousand Faces. The story that will be analyzed is the Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer which tells the story of Odysseus trying to get back to his home in Ithaca. Odysseus qualifies as a hero because he meets the following components based on Joseph Campbell's Model because he has traits or abilities that match up with Joseph Campbell’s model, is tested many times along his journey and is given a main quest to complete

In the Odyssey, Odysseus was faced with multiple obstacles in which he had to use his bravery to fight through them. In one part, he had to go to the Land of the Dead to hear a blind prophet, Teiresias. He tells Odysseus what is to come, and what he heard was not in his favor. “ But if you raid the beeves, I see destruction for ship and crew… shall you come home, to find your own house filled with trouble: insolent men eating your livestock as they court your lady. Aye, you shall make the men atone in blood!” (539-545). This was the prophecy given to Odysseus, telling him know his journey is far from over. “Her legs- and there are twelve- are like great tentacles, unjointed, and upon serpent necks, are borne six heads like nightmares of ferocity, with triple serrated rows of fangs and deep gullets of black death.” (589-594). This was one of the monsters he had to use his bravery, and good fighting skills

During the time Ancient Greece there was a author named Homer, he created a popular epic poem called the odyssey. In this poem the main character odysseus is considered a hero, but is he really? If he was real and in today's world would he be considered a hero? To do this we must use another fictional character, DC’s scarlet speedster Barry Allen, A.K.A The Flash. We’ll compare their greatest feats, motives, and ways to control certain situations to see if odysseus really is a hero homer made him to be.