Epic heroes are featured in literature throughout history. Most notably, the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer is about Odysseus, an epic hero. He is the king of Ithaca who goes to fight in the Trojan War. After 20 years, Odysseus finally returns home, although through many obstacles. Once in Ithaca, Odysseus kills the suitors who plague his wife, along with all other disloyal subjects. He fits the definition of an epic hero, which is an admirable character who displays courage while working towards a noble cause. More specifically, Odysseus is an epic hero because he makes complex and important decisions, has supernatural help, and is associated with beautiful women.
Foremost, Odysseus is an epic hero because he makes many important
…show more content…
The men eat the lotus plant, which drug them and steal their memories and desires of returning home. Instead of leaving them, Odysseus “brought them back, back to the hollowed ships…forced them, hauled them under the rowing benches”(9.110-112). This decision saves the lives of those three men, and informs the rest of the crew to abandon the island and never return.
Later in the journey, Odysseus’s crew lands at the cyclops Polyphemus’s residence. After getting trapped in his cave, Odysseus devises an ingenious plan to blind Polyphemus and sneak out under the protection of rams. Much later, Odysseus chooses to sacrifice six men to the monster Scylla, which saves the rest from the whirlpool Charybdis. Additionally, Odysseus makes vital decisions in the Trojan War, which were brought up in a story by King Menelaus of Sparta, such as pulling a surprise attack from inside the Trojan Horse, and covering the mouths of his companions when they were tempted to leave. Lastly and most prominently, Odysseys makes the complex and important decision of planning and executing the massacre of all of the suitors in his palace. He knows doing this will have significant repercussions (e.g. the suitors’ families will try to exact revenge), but he decides that it is best to kill the suitors and all other disloyal subjects. In summary, Odysseus makes many consequential decisions that lead to him being an
Odysseus is an epic hero based on its definition. One, Odysseus is a hero set in an epic poem. Second, he fights with great valor. For example, he fought against the Cyclops to protect his men. He also accomplishes many great feats such as outwitting the Cyclops and Circe. In return, his deeds have won him the admiration of many people and gods.
Odysseus displays as an epic hero in the Odyssey. But what is an epic hero? Some characteristics of an epic hero is someone who is brave, strong, and intelligent. A hero was a leader who had not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Odysseus faces many obstacles and life-threatening situations, but he overcomes them all. Odysseus demonstrates a lot of heroic like qualities during the reading of the odyssey.
Throughout the book, Homer portrays Odysseus as a hero due to his ability to manipulate enemies, bravery to put himself before his crew members, and the sheer loyalty to devote to get back to his wife, Penelope. For example, when Odysseus and his crew members were trapped in the Cyclops cave, Odysseus uses his intelligence to blind Polyphemus. He then tricks the Cyclops into moving the rock and unblocking the exit. Odysseus’ intelligence is portrayed through several examples like this one. Odysseus manipulates the Cyclops by turning his strengths against him. To extend this assertion, this encounter also personifies his bravery as well as his loyalty to come home to his wife, Penelope. Through many situations, the protagonist depicts bravery, intelligence, and the strength it takes to pull himself together and try his hardest to get back to his wife.
When he is almost home, Poseidon sees him and sends a storm that destroys and sinks his raft. Ino helps Odysseus by giving him her veil, which protects him from the water. After two days of swimming, Odysseus reaches the Phaeacians and their kind king, Alcinous. The king’s daughter, Nausicaa, finds Odysseus and takes him to the king. Odysseus expalins how he and his crew first saw the Lotus-Eaters, then they docked in front of a cave to search for food. There was wine, food, and pens full of
An epic is a poem about a hero’s journey and how a hero becomes a hero. Some heroic qualities include have courage, being and leader, being brave, having patience, and being wise. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus will become a hero. He starts out with a big head and with many flaws but by the end he will become a wiser less flawed man.
The epic “The Odyssey” by Homer is a story of a man who travels far and wide on a great journey to make it home to his family. This relates to life because people go through many obstacles throughout their life. Just like Odysseus I too will encounter difficult challenges like he did throughout his journey in my life as well. Like when I go on my “journey” to become a physical therapist. I will have to work hard to achieve this goal.
Upon the tenth we came to the coastline of the Lotus Eaters, who live upon that flower”(1518). Odysseus sailed for ten days without food or water on the dangerous seas. Odysseus was willing to risk his life to be home with his family. Odysseus valued his family and Itaca above his own
A Homeric epic hero is taken into account to be senior to a standard individual. The traits of a typical epic hero are strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence. In fact, the Macmillan lexicon for students defines a hero as "one who is loved and researched to for valorousness, achievements, and noble qualities" (483). odysseus fulfills all the necessities for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, whereas his excellent displays of strength and cunnings have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His conceitedness sets him back, however, his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. within the initial few lines of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes himself as "formidable for guile in peace and war". He knows that he's a formidable opponent, and there are instances where his guile has caused both harmony and violence. regardless of what challenge Odysseus faces, he invariably clearly demonstrates the characteristics of an epic hero.
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.
Homer wrote one of the first adventure stories known as The Odyssey. The story is written in the form of an epic poem and has over 12,000 lines. It was written around 2,000 years ago, but there is only speculation on when the actual story takes place. These are well known facts, but most readers do not notice how the work exemplifies epic heroes, the use of language, or the use of foreshadowing.
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' brightness is appeared upon his boats landing on the coastline of the Lotus-Eaters. Rather than giving his whole group a chance to off of the ship to investigate this secretive range, Odysseus just permitted two picked men and a runner to realize who lived on the land. After some time, none of the three minded to report, nor to come back to the watercraft. This was on the grounds that they ate the Lotus plant, which was a medication that the Lotus-Eaters offered to the men. It made them lose all craving to achieve home once more. Without any assistance, Odysseus constrained every one of the three men back, secured them under the paddling seats, and requested the team to push away. They generally have a methodology and a plan B at whatever point something turns out badly. They obviously, when they see an issue, won't go specifically to that issue, yet check whether it is worth fighting
Six of Odysseus’ men are eaten because of his foolishness. Again, Odysseus’ arrogance came into play when Odysseus and his men escape from the cyclops, Polyphemus. He taunts the monster, despite the fact that his men tell him stop. He exclaims, “If ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home is Ithaca” (Fitzgerald 908). If Odysseus did not provoke Polyphemus, the curse laid up on his ship and crew would have never happened. If he did not mock the cyclops, his odyssey would have been non existent. Odysseus always wanted to be remembered as the grandest hero of Greece. This is object when his ship rolls past the Sirens and Odysseus demands that he listens to their song. His overly extensive hubris clouds his mind and wants the fame of being able to survived the Sirens’ song. He never once considers what might have happened if he had
A hero is someone who is admired for their noble qualities. For example Odysseus in the story has the necessary qualities to classify him as a hero. Odysseus shows determination throughout the book, his entire journey back from war is all determination to get home. He exhibits strength and great powers at many different points like, when he is killing the suitors. Odysseus is brave even when times are rough, he mostly can push through anything. These traits can be seen as heroic today because they all demonstrate not given up, pushing for what you want and persevering through the tough times. Odysseus is coming home from the Trojan War but faces many obstacles on his way home. Once he finally reaches Ithaca he reunites with his son,
Odysseus, the hero from Homer’s The Odyssey, is an epic hero. All Epic heros have a noble birth. Odysseus was born into a royal family and served as the king of Ithaca. Along with that, Odysseus went on a long journey, another characteristic necessary to be considered an epic hero. Odysseus left his home to fight in the Trojan War, which he triumphed as a war hero, and spent the next 10 treacherous years trying to get back to his home. As an epic hero, odysseus was extremely cunning and intelligent which led him out of the many perils he faced. Polyphemus, a cyclops, gets infuriated at Odysseus and his men so Polyphemus mutilates 6 of Odysseus’ men Odysseus uses his strength and his cleverness to lead his men out of the cyclops's island. “...but by morning I'd worked out a solution. Tying goats together with ropes of willow, I hid a man under each group of three. When it was time to let them out to pasture, the Cyclops ran his hands over their backs but did not notice the men underneath. Myself, I clutched to the underbelly of the biggest ram.” Although as clever as he may be Odysseus can be arrogant. All epic heros have a weakness. He had cursed the god Poseidon numerous times throughout the book. “Do you see, you gods of sea and sky? I conquered Troy. Me Odysseus, a mortal man of flesh and blood and bone and mind! I do not need you now, I can do anything!”