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Odysseus And Amari And Epic Hero Journeys In The Odyssey And Copper Sun

Decent Essays

Every now and then we read different stories, but we see the same things. In the Odyssey and Copper Sun, the two main characters, Odysseus and Amari, shared the same qualities and Epic Hero journeys. They had many obstacles and tribulations, but they worked through them to make it to their destination. Odysseus and Amari have many similarities as well as differences. When an epic hero, like Amari and Odysseus, has the opportunity to face the unknown, or has a crisis, and has something to gain, this starts the beginning of their journey called “The Call.” During this period, the heroes go through things, in their eyes, that is unimaginable or wasn’t expected. Odysseus’s call was more voluntary and exciting than Amari’s call because his “Call” was when he won the Trojan War and could return home after ten years. Amari’s “Call” was when she and a few others from her tribe were captured and taken as slaves after her family was killed and her village destroyed. Odysseus had a choice but Amari did not. Before “The Call”, Amari and Odysseus characteristics affected and predestined their journey. Two epic hero qualities, Noble Birth and Cultural Legend, set up Amari and Odysseus path. Odysseus Noble Birth quality was that he was the son of Laertes, a hero, and his Cultural Legend was being a war hero and the King of Ithaca. Amari’s Noble Birth quality was that her family was considered royalty because her father was an elder of her tribe, Ewe, he was a favored storyteller, and her family was skilled weavers. Her Cultural Legend couldn’t be fulfilled because she was to inherit the family business of weaving. Although Amari didn’t become a Cultural Legend, they both had purpose due to their family’s high-rank in their culture. The next stage in an epic hero’s journey is “The Threshold.” This is where the hero takes off and meets helpers and mentors along the way. Odysseus threshold was when Zeus guards and guides him, blessing him or punishing him for his actions. Amari’s “Threshold” was when she got on the slave ships to sail to America, meeting a mentor named Afi, who encourages her and helps her through their long journey across the seas. She also meets a man named Bill who helped her escape nights from abuse and

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