Preview

Odysseus Heroic Qualities

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
581 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Odysseus Heroic Qualities
Having superb and honorable characteristics establishes one a hero. A hero consists of anyone who puts their best selves forward in service to humanity. Odysseus was a legendary hero in Greek mythology. He was also the king of Ithaca and the prime protagonist of Homer's epic, the Odyssey. Odysseus was also a prominent character in another Homeric epic, the Iliad. Odysseus was a authentic persuasive speaker and genuinely intelligent. Odysseus also used these qualities to aid and strived to prevent oodles of his men from dying throughout the Odyssey, which establishes Odysseus to be viewed as a modern day hero.

Odysseus has also done a few unquestionable non heroic things in the Odyssey. People who assume that Odysseus wasn’t a hero I determine have a little understanding why. For instance, Odysseus died due to he made his men fight for him however he fought to when his men weren’t
…show more content…
According to Homer there were two Sirens on an island between Aeaea and the rocks of Scylla. Odysseus took Circe’s word and kneaded beeswax in his men’s ears and told them to tie him to the ship. Odysseus told his men to tie him to the ship due to he needed hear the song sung by them. Odysseus could have either forgot or just not listen to Circe and be a know-it-all and get all of his men plus himself killed being ignorant.

Having superb and honorable characteristics establishes a hero. A hero is anyone who puts their best selves forward in service to humanity. Odysseus had plenty of flaws however he possessed most of the characteristics and qualities of a modern day hero, this establishes him as a superb role model. Odysseus would be an immense role model for Greeks or people who didn’t have much strength however intelligence that were in need of a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    An epic hero is a character that possesses courage, strength, and a desire to achieve immortality through heroic actions. A person is considered a hero if they have a problem in their journey and had the strength and courage to solve or address the problem. Odysseus is an epic hero because he possesses the traits of that of a hero. He had the intelligent idea of the Trojan horse and made the Greeks win the Trojan war. After all, he survived the likes of Poseidon, the cyclops, the lotus eaters etc. And after his courageous journey he returned to Ithaca and restored piece in the island.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus is an Epic hero because he showed intellect, fortitude, and wisdom. Odysseus was a very cleaver and intelligent he knew when to attack and when to hold back. If Odysseus and his men would have killed Cyclops I his cave they would died as well because there was a bolder in the exit of the cave (book 9 lines 289-295). Odysseus told Cyclops that his name was nobody to trick the other Cyclopes into thinking that there was nothing wrong. (Book 9 lines 360-362).…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A hero is somwone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself- Joesph Campbell. Odysseus is an an optimal hero in both the physical and metal sense. In the physical sense he is a tremendus hero, because he was challenged to all these extreme dangourous adventures; he umexpectly walks out alive after questioning for ten years long and facing the most extraordinarily dangerous creatures and people. Why would Homer set up this whole exciting experience with all the strange comings that Odysseus has to go through, if this was not to show that this stong and intelligent man is a great hero of the Greek world? What will a strong itelligent hero of greek times look like?…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A War Hero

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In today’s society many things can be considered as heroic. In the epic poem, The Iliad and the Odyssey by legendary Greek author, Homer. The main character is a war hero named Odysseus is very intelligent and really strong but is also portrayed as arrogant and at times a horrible leader at times but he is still a war hero nonetheless. But the times have changed, the men who fight in war are no longer worshipped how they were in the ancient times. So with that being said, Odysseus would not be considered a hero today.…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A Greek Hero

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Greeks idea of a hero is very different from the idea of a hero today. The Greeks saw heroes as someone that was more than life, someone who battled monsters and gods, who did the impossible and went on dangerous quests. Odysseus is one of these heroes. He is a greek hero from the story the odyssey, this man was said to be half god half man, he out tricked the trojans only to find himself on a 20 year trip filled with monsters and gods. He shows leadership “‘friends have we never been in danger?’” (?) and cunning. He defeats the cyclopes and resisted the siren's song. but like every hero in the greeks mythology he has a fatal flaw. Achilles had his heel and odysseys had…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In conclusion, Odysseus is an epic hero because, he is very crafty, by tricking the cycpolys and suitors to get out of harms way Odysseus showed craftiness. Another reason is the ideals he came up with like getting the cycpolys drunk and killing the suitors. Lastly, he showed bravery, he was brave enough to get threw all the hardships thrown his…

    • 62 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus is not a hero because he was told everything that was going to happen on his journey nothing came as a surprise and he was told how to face those obstacles, he also killed many people he didn't save them or try to reason with them.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Odysseus A Hero

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Do you consider Odysseus a hero? The Odyssey by Homer is about a king from Ithaca named Odysseus and his warriors who go to war and have to go through alot of difficult obstacles to get back home to Odysseus' wife Penelope and his son Telemechus. Odysseus is extrodinarly strong but he doesn't rely on his strength, he relies on his mind. Odysseus is brave, prideful, and self-centered.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What is a hero? On Dictonary.com it states thats its “ a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events ” Now the real questios is. Is Odysseus a hero? In the Odyssey by Homer, it's an epic poem about a man is stuck in a war for many years. He finally escapes the war to go home but instead is faced with many adventures to come along the way. On his adventures he goes through terrible storms, Wicked creatures, he also had to face gods and goddesses face to face. I some moments it would seem that he would give up but he never did. He wanted to go home. He never lost sight in what he wanted, Home. There are multiple traits of a hero, but these three that I have chosen are traits that all heroes should have. Courage, patience, and Loyalty. Does Odysseus have these traits ?…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the Epic, Odyssey by Homer Odysseus has to save his men and get them home. Odysseus is a modern day hero hero. He qualifies for the job because first he is brave, cunning, and determined. He made smart decisions and knows how to get out of sticky situations. Second he is brave and he is ready for whatever comes his way. Although the ancient greeks consider odysseus a hero epic hero, according Modern day to Ethos and Logos he fails to measure by modern standards.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus Is A Hero

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In life there will always be a hero, protecting the angels from the burning souls demanded by the devil . Life has heros for many reasons, such as protecting the people of the world , but not every hero is a satisfying hero. In the book the odyssey, Odysseus is expressed as a great hero because he is a man of steel , not wanting to quit for the adventures he begins. Odysseus is a reliable hero because he's strong, intelligent and caring to his men and the people around him.…

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Odysseus As An Epic Hero

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The first reason why Odysseus is an epic hero is because he is brave. According to Andrew Nordin "Odysseus en lists the help of loyal servants and fights cunningly as opposed to using brute strength and rash courage". He is never scare of battle and he will always be there for his people. Odysseus is a brave hero, he is a good fighter and he will not stop fighting till he has achieved…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The epic poem, The Odyssey written by Homer near the end of the 8th century BC, focuses on a Grecian hero named Odysseus. Although after the falling of Troy Odysseus embarks upon a long, grueling journey home, it is through his travels that Homer is able to illustrate him as a hero. A hero is known as, “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” (Dictionary.com) Homer’s projection of Odysseus is essentially a fundamental way of helping one become familiar of what a hero actually is and the impact that this individual has on society and its people. Odysseus fulfills the different attributes that characterize a stereotypical hero, yet at the same time demonstrates that a hero can, indeed, be flawed.…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A Hero

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Overall, Odysseus is a hero because of his strength, intelligence, and loyalty. It is clear that, at least by the Greeks’ standards and expectations of a hero Odysseus meets all those points. Afterall, there would not be a story about him if he is not a hero, epics are meant to tell the adventures of a hero who goes against great odds, which is what Odysseus is described of doing. The definition of a hero of the Greeks’ perfectly describe Odysseus and that is what makes him a hero, he does not classify as a hero to all, but to his crew and those who know him, he is their…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What makes a hero to you? Is it being brave, strong, bold, or even saving the world? Well, according to Joseph Cambell,” The moral objection (of heroism) is that of saving people, or person, or idea...sacrificing…for…. Something,” (Marlantes 3). In the story the Odyssey, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, shows all the characteristics of being a hero. The traits that Odysseus portrays is being clever, determined, and brave.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays