Odysseus An Epic Hero Research Paper

     Is Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey, really an epic hero? An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca after ten years of war in Troy. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. Odysseus surmounts

Odysseus Can be a good leader because he gets his crew out of some bad situations, To start off Odysseus got his crew out of the cyclops’s cave. “So, we seized our stake with its fiery tip and bored it round and round in the giant's eye” (9.435). This quote shows how Odysseus use a stick (more like a pole) and stuck it in the fire and when the cyclops fell asleep Odysseus took the stick and jabbed it into the giant's eye and escaped with most of his crew. Another way that Odysseus can be a good leader is that he got his crew out of Circe’s palace, even after she turned all of the crew into pigs. “Flinging open the pens, drove forth my men, who looked like full-grown swine” (10.429). This quote is showing that Circe is letting Odysseus’s crew out of the pen and releasing them, but in exchange Odysseus would have to sleep with Circe and stay

¨Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.¨ (Jim Rohn) Everyone is a leader in one way or another. Leadership takes many qualities such as commitment, because if the leader is not committed he's not a good leader. In the book the Odyssey, odysseus is one of the most committed leaders that never gives up. In the book, Odysseus's goal is to make it home, and he has to fight obstacles on the way allowing him to be a committed leader.

One of the reasons why Odysseus is a good leader is because he saves his men on multiple occasions. A good example was when he saved his men from the Cyclops. In the Odyssey it states “Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men… He seized and drained the bowl, and it went down so fiery and smooth he called for more” (hom. 904). He used his wisdom to get the cyclops drunk so it would be easier to escape. He could have said something that could have made the Cyclops enraged wich could have made his men die. Instead, he used his wisdom to get out of his men and his situation.

Odysseus was very brave, almost to the point of throwing away his men 's lives to take a risk. While Odysseus was on the island of the Cyclopes, he explored more than most men would have when he walked into the cave of Polyphemus. He did find lots of cheese and milk, but the result of this was death for some of his men when Polyphemus returned and found them there.

“An epic hero is someone who has a long journey, supernatural powers, possesses Greek virtues, and is a strong warrior. ”(“The Hero: Some Definitions”). Odysseus possesses those features; he is strong cunning, strong, and confident. However, in today’s society we would not consider Odysseus a hero.

This specific statement highlights his strength and refusal to submit to anything less than victory. In addition to his spirit, he was significantly clever especially in his notable confrontation with the monster, Cyclops. He escaped from Cyclops’ stronghold by using available resources and a creative idea to intoxicate and subdue him. Subsequently, he was forced to travel along “rough, deadly winds on the fish-infested sea” and “land of the Lotus-eaters” (Homer, 173). Odysseus was truly “never at a loss” or backed in a corner for a prolonged time (Homer, 157). It was his responses to consecutive strenuous experiences that enabled his comrades to respect, admire, and trust him. Odysseus was the ultimate standard due to optimistic disposition during harsh times.

Another trait that Odysseus demonstrates repeatedly throughout the story is his loyalty. In various situations he never gives up on his crew, even when he has reason to. During an episode in the epic, Odysseus travels to the underworld to receive a prophecy. He meets his great friend Elpenor, who has died earlier in Circe’s hall. Because he is unburied and unmourned he asks Odysseus to build a cairn in his honor. Odysseus replies, “Unhappy spirit, / I promise you the barrow and the burial.” (Homer, lines 609-610). Although Odysseus is preoccupied with finding Tiresias, he shows loyalty to his crew mate by spending time with his spirit, and carrying out the spirit’s request. It could have been easy for Odysseus to ignore the spirit of Elpenor, but Odysseus shows a real emotional reply to this meeting. Not only does he show loyalty to his crew but his homeland as well. Although he could have given up during the ten year span Odysseus wandered from home, he persisted even though giving up would have been easier. At one point Odysseus is detained by the enchantress, Circe, but remains determined to reach home:

The epic hero is a figure of great stature and may be a character from history or legend. Epic heroes’ most remarkable traits are usually the ones most valued by the society from which the epic came. The main character in this epic is Odysseus. Odysseus is on a quest to find his home after a war. Odysseus is an epic hero.

In the epic poem, The Odyssey of Homer translated by Allen Mandelbaum, the epic hero Odysseus displays many aspects of being a great leader. Odysseus shows leadership through his tackling of trials and through his ability to effectively lead his comrades. Although, he is quick to use his cunning intelligence to devise plans to overcome the difficult trials the gods set before him, he could not have overcome many of them without leading his subordinates for the better. Odysseus has proven himself to be an invaluable leader in the many obstacles that he and his men face on his ten year journey home to Ithaca.

The first attribute that makes Odysseus a great leader is the previously mentioned resolve. It is the key for motivating team members, and producing results. Without “solid faith in [their] ideals” (Gavril qtd. in Gleeson 7), no leader can accomplish their goals. Only when both leader and followers believe in the cause, can the group take action. Odysseus has this steadfast determination. He never strayed from his mission of bringing everyone home, even “though he find a house of gold” (Homer 37). Many times his will was challenged when he was offered a safe, happy place to live, but he did not succumb to those temptations. He

Many think being a hero is having super powers, but on the contrary it's more than that. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus earns the title of a true hero by conveying many qualities such as: determination, courage and leadership.

Odysseus is one of the greatest epic heros in the history of literature. The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic poem, which depicts the journey home of Odysseus. Angering many gods, this voyage takes him through multiple obstacles, and ends up taking almost twenty years longer than it should've. Throughout his journey, “The Son of Laertes” must get his crew out of trouble multiple times. He uses his intellect and other strengths to do so, and never gives up, no matter the circumstance. Even after losing everything he needs in a storm worthy of the gods, Odysseus still never gives up, and gets himself out of trouble yet again. Throughout his entire journey, coming home from the Trojan War, Odysseus repeatedly uses many heroic traits to get himself and his crew out of many unfortunate situations. These heroic traits, how Odysseus uses them, and the steps of his journey all come together to illustrate that he is an epic hero. Odysseus characterizes himself as an epic hero based on how he almost perfectly follows the characteristics of an epic hero, gets his crew out of trouble multiple times, and follows the Hero's Journey.

Odysseus is a courageous leader because he saves his crew in combat many times. One way Odysseus shows he is a courageous leader is by proving his worth in combat. Odysseus is obviously a good fighter because he survived the Trojan War, if he had not have been a

Alexander the Great, George Washington, Julius Caesar, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. are all people that have one thing in common. They are considered great leaders by most people. But what is a great leader? Is it simply perspective? Some still believe Adolf Hitler was one while others resent that idea. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, where does Odysseus fall on this spectrum? Odysseus’ traits in the poem say to me that he was, in fact, a great leader despite the losses he faced throughout his journey. Odysseus displays dedication to leading his troops. Every trait most would use to define a leader, Odysseus has. Also, he did his best to lead his team out of every dangerous situation they got in. All characteristics of a good leader.