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Challenges In The Odyssey In Homer's The Odyssey

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“What of those years of rough adventure, weathered under Zeus?” (953). Odysseus, the main character, says this in The Odyssey, written by Homer. The epic starts off two years after the Trojan War, which Odysseus fought in for ten years. Now, Odysseus must journey home, which takes him another ten years. Odysseus faces challenges while going home and has some guidance along the way. Character archetypes like the Villain Figure, the Hero in Disguise, and the Mentor play a part in the epic by forming the characters and giving them “roles” in the story, which helps and hinders Odysseus on his journey. The Villain Figure plays a part in hindering Odysseus on his journey home. The Cyclops obstructs Odysseus’ journey home by causing him to be locked in the cave. “We …show more content…

“You see, then, [Odysseus] is alive and well, and headed homeward now, no more to be abroad far from his island, his dear wife and son” (1005). Penelope tells the suitors this after a beggar, who is really Odysseus, gives her information about her husband’s return home. Because Odysseus disguised himself as a beggar and told his wife that he was coming home, it helped delay the suitors trying to court his wife. Odysseus becomes the Hero in Disguise because it keeps his throne and wife safe from getting taken over. Odysseus once again becomes the Hero in Disguise while trying to escape from the Cyclops. “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy” (961). Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is Nohbdy so when he later stabs the Cyclops, the Cyclops will scream that Nohbdy is stabbing him. This aids Odysseus and his men because it lets them escape since no other Cyclopes came in and tried to stop him. Odysseus becomes the Hero in Disguise because he saved himself and his men. Odysseus being the Hero in Disguise helps him in both fighting the Cyclops and the Suitors during the epic. The Mentor also helps

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222 Words | 1 Pages

In Homer’s The Odyssey the main character Odysseus is both a trickster and a hero in the story. All throughout the story Odysseus uses feats of intelligence and cleverness to defeat his foes. Odysseus proves himself as a trickster when he says “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy” (Odyssey 9.274-275). When trapped in the Cyclops cave, Odysseus tells him that his name is “Nohbdy”.

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In the Odyssey by homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, the Cyclops encounter is one of Odysseus’ greatest flaws and successes at the same time. It began to go downhill when Odysseus lies about his name and the condition of his ship. When him and his men are captured by the cyclops Odysseus claims his name is nobody, and his ship was wrecked, he does this to aid his escape plan and as a tactic to guard his name and men. When the escape plan is put into play, Odysseus stabs the cyclops in the eye with a red hot spear all the while him lying about his name was put into use because the cyclops yells, in agonizing pain, nobody stabbed him in the eye, this causes the other cyclops to lower there guard and not go to assist their brethren. All

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563 Words | 3 Pages

A hero is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. In the movie, Odysseus shows that he is a hero by showing off his bravery and courage to defeat several monsters. He showed courage when he faced the Cyclops, when he met Lotus Eaters, and when he went back to Ithaca to see his wife. Odysseus and his men went to the cave to show the Cyclops that they are better than him. The Cyclops got angry when he got back to his cave since Odysseus and his men were eating the Cyclops’ food.

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861 Words | 4 Pages

To this the rough shout they [other cyclopes] made a sage reply: 'Ah well, if nobody has played you foul there in your lonely, we are no use in pain given by great Zeus.'" (IX 444-447). Odysseus was clever not to give the cyclopes his real name because, he knew if he did the other cyclopes would recognize him and try to go after him. Instead he stated that his name was Nohbdy. This was also a clever move on Odysseus' part because when the other cyclopes asked who stabbed him it would sound like he was saying nobody instead of Nohbdy.

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439 Words | 2 Pages

Homer writes, “if mortal man inquire tell him Odysseus raider of cities took your eye.” Odysseus first told the cyclops his name was “nohbody” which masked his

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1107 Words | 5 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.

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177 Words | 1 Pages

In the Odyssey, the entire poem symbolizes life because it takes place in the so-called "sea of life." Therefore, we analyzed each obstacle as a common obstacle in a human's life. For instance, the sirens represent that there will always be something holding one back from moving on. Lines 125-126 represent that you will want to stay back and not move on, but you must. Scylla in lines 187-188, when she takes six of Odysseus' men, represents that one may lose a loved one at anytime.

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1125 Words | 5 Pages

When Odysseus finally returns home, he has Athena disguise him so he can look at how his home has been going without him. Everyone besides his wife, son, and two other of his men have been disloyal to him and there is a group of suitors there who have overstayed their visit trying to get Penelope to be their wife. Odysseus locks the suitors all in one room where the

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500 Words | 2 Pages

In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.

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Upon Odysseus arrival to Ithaca, Athena hides his identity to help him defeat the suitors. She turns him into a very old beggar to conceal his identity from everyone, most importantly the suitors. Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus, cowherd and the swine herd. The nurse Eurycleia recognizes him because of a scar he got years ago by a boar’s white tusk. Penelope doesn’t recognize Odysseus at first sight because of the disguise.

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570 Words | 3 Pages

In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ characteristics do not fit in the definition of a modern hero, he illustrates a naive and a arrogant epic hero. Odysseus can be seen as a naive epic hero. This is because he doesn't step up to be a stern leader with his shipmates and he allows his shipmates to walk over him. An example of this is when Odysseus reaches Thrinacia, the island home to Helio’s cattles. Odysseus tells his

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338 Words | 2 Pages

The main character Odysseus is often portrayed as an epic hero. An epic hero is typically found to be a larger-than-life figure who goes on a journey and faces many challenges along the way, ultimately returning home as a changed and better person. One example of Odysseus displaying the characteristics of an epic hero is when he faces the Cyclops Polyphemus. "But resourceful Odysseus, his mind spinning with plans, replied with guile: 'My name is Nobody: mother, father, friends, everyone calls me Nobody'"

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761 Words | 4 Pages

In the quote, “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy,” (lines 360-361) Odysseus and his men have just gotten Polyphemus drunk and Polyphemus asks Odysseus what his name is. This quote is important because it shows Odysseus being clever when he told Polyphemus his name was Nohbdy. This quote illustrates Odysseus being a good leader by using his cleverness and not telling Polyphemus his real name to protect his men and himself. Also, in the quote, “I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came-and it pleased me well. The cyclop’s rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet.

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541 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus is an epic hero because of his bravery and confidence during every obstacle throughout his journey In Part 1 whie Odysseus is about to come across cyclops cave, he says “I brought along and victuals in a bag, for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon so soon- all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of civility. “ Odysseus is showing his bravery of not being petrified of what he might come across, like the cyclops. Odysseus has no intention of harming them, but he is not sure what their intention is. This example is important because not only does it show confidence in himself, he also shows confidence in his men. In Part 2 Odysseus also shows his confidence in his men in part 2 where Eurylochus says, “Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure more than a man can?

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1058 Words | 5 Pages

The Epic Hero of The Odyssey The Odyssey is a tale of a great hero trying to get home. An epic hero. An epic hero is a courageous and honorable person. Homer’s character Odysseus exemplifies this in many ways.

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