Odysseus: Not an Epic Hero The Odyssey is one of the most famous ancient Greek epic poems written by Homer. It tells an adventure and struggle of the main character‚ Odysseus‚ trying to get back home to Ithaca from Troy. In this epic‚ Homer portrays Odysseus as a hero. However‚ in my opinion‚ he is not a hero because he received too much help from the Gods‚ did not protect his men‚ and was selfish at times. Heroes should be helped but there is a limit to it. Throughout the poem‚ that limit
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Odysseus is the protagonist of the epic poem The Odyssey‚ and a hero from the Trojan War years before. The Phaiakians describe him as seeming to be "strong as a bull" (VIII.144)‚ and he sends a discus "beyond all others" (VIII.202) in a throwing competition. While Odysseus is clearly strong‚ it is his wits that allow him to return home to Ithaka in Books IX and XVI‚ "Nohbdy’s Smarter". Odysseus escapes the Kyklops using mainly his wits in Book IX. He visits the island with several of his men‚ and
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The Odysseus By:Alya Villavicencio Well in the book the Odysseus by Homer there are many different and similar details in the book and in the movie. There were many differences because well in the movie directors like to Make the movie seem less not like the book‚ since the book has more information. Well in my Essay I will be explains how there are similarities and differences and why the director created The Movie on how it is. Well the the three similarities I found that we’re
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Odysseus: The Past’s Hero or Today’s Scoundrel? When one thinks of a hero‚ one thinks of a good hearted person. Someone who saves lives and is righteous. An epic hero like Odysseus is not the two dimensional character found in Grimm’s Fairy Tales. He exhibits both traits of a hero and a villain. While clever and determined‚ Odysseus is unfaithful and selfish. Although revered in the past‚ Odysseus is not so glorious today. Odysseus shows infidelity multiple times throughout the whole epic. First
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Temptations. One must be pretty strong to overcome all that. In Homer’s epic‚ the Odyssey‚ the main character Odysseus is faced with all of those and suffers for many years due to his struggles with the gods. After winning the Trojan War‚ he is desperate to return home to his family in Ithaca‚ but the gods who want to control him are disrupting his voyage. However‚ throughout his journey‚ Odysseus makes many decisions‚ which proves that he controls his fate and is not a puppet of the gods. His decision
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and one’s reputation among men. Odysseus’ hunger for kleos in The Odysssey is seen throughout the entirety of his journey home. One example in his search for kleos is when Odysseus taunts Polyphemus a high and mighty Cyclops. Polyphemus held Odysseus and his men captive while stopping on the Cyclops’ island while on their journey home from the Trojan War. Brutally‚ Polyphemus murdered and continued to eat Odysseus’ crewmen while stuck in the Cyclops’ cave. Odysseus’ cunning mind rescued him and his
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Odysseus. A name known by some as a glorious hero and known by others as a trickster who uses intricate schemes. During the story of The “Cyclops”‚ and many stories before it‚ Odysseus goes on a many adventures and creates many sticky situations for himself in which he finds ways to gets out of. “In the next land [what] we found were Cyclopes‚ giants‚ louts‚ without a law to bless them” (1050). Odysseus knows that the cavemen are uncouth and aggressive‚ yet he chooses to enter the cave- endangering
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Odysseus’ degree of heroism or godlike qualities Odysseus becomes a hero because he slays the gruesome Cyclops. He blinded and stabbed the one eye beast‚ when everyone else with in his ship were getting eaten. Odysseus crew had the Cyclops‚ by the skin of their teeth‚ but then the Odysseus showed heroism by standing up and talking to the Cyclops‚” So‚ Cyclops‚ it turns out that it wasn’t a coward whose men you murdered and ate in your cave‚ you savage! But you got yours in the end‚ didn’t you?
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Odysseus was no hero and his words and actions clearly show. Book 1 of the Odyssey starts with “Sing in the‚ Muse‚ and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending”. Introducing Odysseus as “a man skilled in all ways of contending” shows Homer‚ author of the Odyssey clearly wanted Odysseus to be seen as a hero. After all‚ they were both Greek‚ and the Greeks held a lot of pride they needed to protect. This makes me believe that the story behind The Odyssey was twisted so
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through Odysseus’ disguise. One can tell that Penelope sees through Odysseus’ disguise when she is “poised” to “set the bow and gleaming iron axes out” and “bring [the suitors] slaughter on” (21: 2-5). Penelope knows setting up the competition will bring about the death of the suitors. She realizes Odysseus will use this specific competition to reveal himself and take back his home; therefore‚ Penelope knows Odysseus is present. Homer also demonstrates that Penelope understands Odysseus is present
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