Odysseus as an Epic Hero Essay - 932 Words

The Odyssey is an example of Greek history portrayed in literature. As in all Greek literature, the epic hero Odysseus answers a call to action, suffers through great confrontation, and returns with a better understanding of life. Greek stories such as, The Odyssey set the stage for todays modern action movies with epic heroes such as Indiana Jones, Frodo from the Lord of the Rings, and Western cowboys like Roy Rogers and The Lone Ranger. The first characteristic that makes Odysseus an epic hero is that he answers a call to action. Odysseus answers two calls to action in The Odyssey. His first call is to go to Troy with Agamemnon and rescue Helen even though his son Telemachus has just been born and his wife Penelope doesnt want him†¦show more content†¦Odysseus realizes that Polyphemus is the only one that can move the boulder and devises a plan to blind Polyphemus while he is asleep. When Polphemus awakes, he moves the boulder to tell his brothers what has happened to him. Then Odysseus and his men sneak out of the cave by hiding under Polyphemus sheep. When Odysseus pride gets the best of him and he reveals his identity to Polyphemus, then Polyphemus lifts up a prayer to his father Poseidon and curses Odysseus. Next Odysseus and his men go to the home of Aeolus, ruler of the winds. Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag containing all of the bad winds and stirs up a wind to send Odysseus and his men back to Ithaca. However, Odysseus men thought that Aeolus had given Odysseus a bag of treasure and thought he wasnt going to share the treasure with them. When Odysseus falls asleep his men open the bag and the winds blow them away from Ithaca back to Aeolus. This time Aeolus will not help them because he believes the gods hate Odysseus. Now Odysseus and his men have to row to the land of the Laestrygonians, a race of powerful giants, who turn Odysseus scouts into their dinner. Odysseus and his remaining men retreat to the ships, but the giants pelt the ships with boulders and sink them as they sit in the harbor. Only Odysseus ship escapes.Show MoreRelatedOdysseus As An Epic Hero1067 Words   |  5 PagesOdysseus as an Epic Hero Homer s The Odyssey follows the incredible journey of the main character Odysseus, and his long trip home to the Island of Ithaca. The Odyssey is an epic poem written in verse, and is fittingly named after the epic hero Odysseus. An epic hero is defined as a character who possesses superhuman strength, craftiness, and confidence, is helped or harmed by the gods, and usually possesses a natural position of authority. Without a doubt, Odysseus is an epic hero; he is cleverRead MoreOdysseus as an Epic Hero859 Words   |  4 PagesA true epic hero has many very defining characteristics. Usually you will find this hero to be the ‘alpha male. With an almost super hero personality, epic heroes are extremely above an average human being. 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Odysseus is known asRead MoreOdysseus, an Epic Hero796 Words   |  4 Pages a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that’s exactly what makes Odysseus all the more interesting. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet, had to contain some sort of attri butes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. AnRead MoreOdysseus Journey as an Epic Hero1267 Words   |  6 PagesOdysseus Journey as an Epic Hero In the epic poem The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus displays the epic hero. An epic hero is given certain qualities. 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An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to IthacaRead MoreThe Epic Hero Of Odysseus : A Heroic Hero1522 Words   |  7 PagesMany say Odysseus, the main character of The Odyssey, is a hero. In fact, he is one of the most well known epic heroes. But this statement is only highlighting his few heroic qualities when it is very clear that he has far more unheroic qualities. Of which make him much less of a hero than people think. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus, and his crew are on a difficult and seemingly endless journey back home to Ithaca after the victory in the 10 years long Trojan War. During the story,Read MoreOdysseus As An Epic Hero In The Odyssey By Homer1109 Words   |  5 Pages 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