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Examples Of Humanism In The Odyssey

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Humanism and Heroism

Odysseus showed lots heroism and humanism throughout his dangerous journey. His humanism was shown with encounters that delayed his journey and that endangered it. Also Odysseus showed heroism when he took down dangerous obstacles that took his ca down. Another way his heroism was shown was steering his crew away from danger and back home. Calypso showed lots of affections towards Odysseus and held him as a prisoner. In "Calypso, The Sweet Nymph",Odysseus was in his stone seat to seaward-tear to tear brimming his eyes"(lines 77-79). Odysseus's eyes filled up with tears showing that he had some guilt over leaving calypso, making her lonely again. Not only with calypso, but at the sun gods island, Odysseus told his crew not to touch the cattle no matter what or they would all die before reaching home. Odysseus warns "the cattle here are not for our provision, or we pay dearly for it"(lines855-856). He warns his crew in order to protect them, but the crew members are too greedy to listen to him. …show more content…

Polyphemus was one Odysseus's dangerous obstacles. Odysseus and his crew were trapped in the cave and were experienced an unpleasant stay by Polyphemus.In "The Cyclops" Odysseus grabbed the big hand spike and "rammed it deep in his crater eye",(lines 377-378). His clever idea had gotten his crew out of trouble, but each trouble landed theirselves into more trouble. They then faced the witch Circe who turned his men into pigs. In " The Witch Circe", Odysseus shows heroism when he is given a plant that will weakened Circes power, (book 10). Odysseus's last obstacle was the suitors. It was Odysseus alone, all shipmates were dead and he had made it home landing into more trouble. In "Death At The Palace", Odysseus kills the suitors till the score is paid,(lines

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Throughout Odysseus’s journey, he had another heroic trait which is selflessness. In the Odyssey, a great example to show that he has this heroic trait are lines 480-484. These lines state, to man the ships, cast

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The challenges, temptations, and abyss are what change initiates into heroes and show if they are up to the challenge. Edmond Dantes from The Count of Monte Cristo, Odysseus from The Odyssey, and Santiago from The Alchemist, and all face a number of challenges, temptations, and an abyss throughout their hero's journey and they all overcome these hardships, proving their heroicness. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes has a paradisiacal life before his journey begins. While he is in the Chateau d’If prison, he meets a priest named Abbe.

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Overall, Odysseus is often portrayed as a “model hero”, but in reality he has many faults such as being untrustworthy, arrogant and

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While in Polyphemus’s cave, the men wanted to kill Polyphemus, but Odysseus knew better. He told them if they killed the Cyclops now they would never be able to get out of the cave because

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Also comparable to a modern hero, Odysseus portrays human qualities throughout the highs and lows of his journey, such as sadness when he learns that his mother had died during his time away. Odysseus should be considered a hero because throughout the good and bad of his voyage, Odysseus continued to lead his crew and came through with all of his

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The main character Odysseus in the Odyssey written by Homer is generally thought to be a great hero; however, he shows more traits of a quite flawed character on closer inspection. Around the beginning of Odysseus’ journey home after the war, Odysseus decides to take a detour to the home of a cyclops deciding to not listen to his men’s suggestions to leave while they still could; consequently, it does not end well: “Ah, how sound that was, Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight it turned out, for my friend” (9.130-132). This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn’t the most rational one and that his men’s pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men’s safety resulting in a non-heroic

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Odysseus and his crew would be trapped, and therefore starve or die of thirst inside the cave. After all the work he has gone through, he must have realized that it wasn't worth it to take the chance. Therefore, Odysseus thoroughly thought out this plan, and did not go through with murdering the beast at first sight. After some of his men are eaten, Odysseus quickly formulates a clever plan to escape and gain revenge by thrusting a giant spike into the one eye of Polyphemus, by first getting him drunk. After Odysseus claims that his name is nohbdy, and the spike is in his eye, the other cyclops ask who hurt him.

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Odysseus makes many stops throughout his journey, such as the island of Aeolus, Circe’s island, the island of Phaeacians and in each of these islands Odysseus has been treated with much respect, he receives extravagant feasts and gifts. Odysseus, after being treated greatly, expects that every island he lands will give his amazing gifts and feast. But once he arrives at Polyphemus island, he is blinded by his riches and his cattle that he doesn’t realize that him and his men are going to be in danger. “ But I would not give way-and how much better it would have been-not till I saw him, saw the gifts he’d give” (9.256-258). Odysseus is blinded by the Cyclops plunder and doesn’t realize that he puts his men in peril, which later results with many of his men getting eaten by Polyphemus.

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After getting Polyphemus drunk, Odysseus explains what his crew did to inflict pain onto the Cyclops, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows/gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops/as more than natural force nerved them; straight/forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it/deep in his crater eye” (374-378).  Odysseus thought that shoving a colossal plank into Polyphemus’ eye could not suffice the task, so he ignited it in flames to create more affliction.  Not only did the Cyclops get drunk, but got blinded with a plank, the pity for Polyphemus was created.  While the Cyclops bellows in pain, Odysseus illustrates the incident, “Eyelid and lash were seared; the pierced ball/hissed broiling, and the roots popped” (383-384).  

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Earlier in the epic, Odysseus frequently abuses his role as captain of his crew because of his curious nature. He makes several stops on their journey home in search of more opportunities to prove his skillfulness, even though he is already a king and has won a major war. One of these stops is at the Island of Polyphemus, home to the cyclops famed for eating all humans that enter his cave. Even though Odysseus is well aware of the danger ahead, his curiosity tempts him to

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Throughout the text of, I Am Malala, there are numerous incidences of showing the patriarchal system that is in place in that society. Throughout chapters 11 - 15, there are some specific examples that are talked about, in a somewhat off hand manner, that cast more light on that issue. One way that I interpret the book in terms of patriarchy, is through the Taliban. Because the Taliban are an extremist group, that is in support of a patriarchal system, all of their actions can be viewed with the intention of supporting and implementing such a system. One event that I thought was a very apparent example of a patriarchal system in place was in chapter 11, when the elders of the town decided to form an assembly.

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831 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus has some good traits, some bad flaws, and has been in some ugly situations, but overall he is a true hero. Some of the traits that exemplify his heroism traits are his cleverness, determination, and his bravery. In several scenarios he saves his men from sticky situations, showing his bravery, his determination

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524 Words | 3 Pages

Some think Odysseus is a hero for many reasons, mainly because he helps many people including his family and his crew. Even when terrible things happen to him and his crew he perseveres and continues on his journey home. Even though Odysseus and his men do bad things like eating the sun god’s cattle there still are many reasons why he is a hero. One reason to support my claim is that he saves his crew many times. One example is when they sailed by the Sirens.

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1332 Words | 6 Pages

Heroism, tends to be difficult to define and remarkably ambiguous in literary works. In the Odyssey, however, Homer clearly defines a hero as a humble, determined, and loyal individual; thus, according to Homer, it is not enough to claim to be a hero, but it is also important to exhibit those qualities that Homer values as heroism. Odysseus, despite claiming heroism, upholds these traits inconsistently, as seen in his taunting of Polyphemus. In contrast, Telemachus, Odysseus’ overlooked son, dramatically grows up over the course of the epic and ultimately reveals his truly heroic qualities by the end of the poem. Thus, because Odysseus claims to be a hero, but fails to remain humble, determined, and loyal throughout the epic, he is not a hero.

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In The Odyssey, Odysseus was a major hero of the novel. He had both heroic traits and human weaknesses. Odysseus defeated the Cyclops, defeated the suitors that were courting his wife, and overcome other challenges throughout the novel. A special trait that made Odysseus a hero was that he was a courageous

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