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
Premium
remarked that "Being a hero is about the shortest lived profession on earth" (atd. in carnival of wit 222). While this may be literally true‚ most heroes live on figuratively in the recorded stories of their exploits‚ and in many cases they model characteristics that can inspire readers to emulate they’re behavior. One obvious example is Homer’s Odysseus the fictional king of Ithaca whose courage‚ strength‚ and quest for immortality define him as the prototypical epic hero. His encounters with the
Premium Hero Achilles Homer
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
Premium Odyssey Odysseus Greek mythology
Odysseus‚ the main character of The Odyssey‚by Homer‚ certainly qualifies as an epic hero. He has help from numerous characters‚ defeats a handful of supernatural enemies‚ and is known by many individuals from across the land. Odysseus‚ the main character of The Odyssey‚ certainly qualifies as an epic hero. He has help from numerous characters‚ defeats a handful of supernatural enemies‚ and is known by many individuals from across the land. These three qualifications are what set apart a normal
Premium Odyssey Homer Odysseus
Odysseus Many people talk about epic heroes‚ and all their qualities of being so epic. Epic heroes evolve from what they do and how they are. They have this life of being admired or being so good at something. Well‚ Odysseus is an epic hero‚ my epic hero. He has all the perfect qualities for him to be called an epic hero. Odysseus has gone through many things during his life as it is said in the odyssey. The odyssey explains and tells the story of Odysseus on the journey he had. It was a long
Premium Hero Beowulf Epic poetry
Lopez English I HP‚ Period 6 Miss Grabowski January 27‚ 2011 Odysseus as Epic Hero The Odyssey‚ written by Homer‚ describes an epic hero to be a mortal male‚ someone who goes on along‚ dangerous expedition‚ also who is very brave‚ intelligent‚ and responsible. He will face many conflicts yet always manages to prevail. Odysseus possesses all these traits and demonstrates it throughout the entire Odyssey‚ such as when Odysseus and his men become trapped in a Cyclops’ cave and he needs to figure
Premium Odyssey Homer Achilles
An epic hero is a brave and noble character‚ admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. The source from which this comes from is “The Odyssey” by Homer. This story is about a man named Odysseus who fought to save his life. Suffering from bitter days and nights. Trying to get his shipmates home. Although Odysseus couldn’t save them‚ for their own recklessness destroyed each and every one of them. Acting as children and fools‚ they feasted on the cattle of the Sun God Helios. From
Premium Greek mythology Trojan War Odysseus
Odysseus suffered many problems on his journey home from the Battle of Troy. What did he suffer and how did this make him a better epic hero? Although Odysseus saves and ruins his crew’s lives‚ he is showing the reader that he is wanting to get back to his home in Ithaca. First of all‚ as Odysseus wins the Battle of Troy‚ he does not leave Troy immediately. He stays to show his victory by drinking wine. “Six benches were left empty in every ship / that evening when we pulled away from death.” (line
Premium Odyssey Odysseus Homer
of greatness and leader of courage strives to return home. In Homer’s epic poem‚ The Odyssey‚ Odysseus‚ the central character of the epic‚ applies his strengths‚ leadership skills and his determination to reach his abode escaping from flesh eating one-eyed mammoths‚ arrogant betrayers‚ and violent whirlpool and sea monsters. Odysseus and his crew face the impossible challenges on his voyage back home‚ but with Odysseus’ leadership‚ they prevail. Approaching Scylla and Charybdis‚ a violent
Free Odyssey Greek mythology Odysseus
for us?” (Homer 526). This long narrative poem is written about Odysseus and it clearly displays the adventures of a hero‚ not a fool as he faces against great odds. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer‚ Odysseus is a hero because of his strength‚ intelligence and loyalty. Odysseus stands out among all others because of his physical strength. Penelope who is Odysseus’s wife has set up a challenge for her suitors‚ knowing that Odysseus is the only one with such strength‚ “Bend and string it if you
Premium Odyssey