One Tough Trooper In Homer's Odyssey

One Tough Trooper Homer's Odyssey has been shared for thousands of years, and its chief characteristics continue to shape epic storytelling. For example, its influence on films as old as Lawrence of Arabia and as recent as Oh, Brother, Where Art Tho? is obvious. Both feature heroic main characters who are tested by formidable challenges during their travels, as is Odysseus in Homer's enduring saga. In fact, the Odyssey is a template for the epic as defined by M. H. Abrams who suggests that the form's primary characteristics include a hero "of great national or even cosmic importance" (49), a vast setting, "worldwide or even larger" (50), and active participation of "the gods and other supernatural beings" (50) - characteristics all present in the Odyssey. Measured by these criteria, Homer's classic tale certainly qualifies as an epic: Odysseus, King of Ithaca and hero of the Trojan War, sails boldy around the Mediterranean on a difficult ten-year voyage, escapes from several perilous encounters, and reclaims his home after he acknowledges the powerful influence of the gods in the lives of mortal men.
Being nationally and historically significant is a very huge deal because even if people may not know Odysseus is or what exactly what The Odyssey is about many people have heard either name at least once in their lifetime. Odysseus is a man with quite an inquiring mind. "ADD 2 QUOTES ABOUT ATHENA STATING HE IS WISE" Of course, the regard for his commendable attributes increases because he makes it back despite odds that would probably detroy a lesser