ipl-logo

Examples Of Odysseus As An Epic Hero

646 Words3 Pages

People usually say that gods are perfect and benevolent beings, but this is not always the case, some of those gods will actively stop you from achieving your goal. This is the reality of Odysseus from the Odyssey, written byHomer. In the Odyssey, Odysseus believes he does not need the gods, So in return the gods made his trip longer to prove that he needs them. On one of the islands he landed on, He blinded a Cyclops’ eye to survive, and because of that Poseidon cursed them. The question that is going to be answered is:Should Odysseus be considered an epic hero? Odysseus is considered an epic hero because he shares 6 of 6 traits for being an epic hero.He has superhuman abilities,he has a quest,He also angers a god, and he has supernatural …show more content…

An example of him using his superhuman abilities is when he and his men make a plan to get the cyclop drunk and then they hide under the sheep to escape (Homer 1219). When he gets advice from Circe, he only tells his crew about the sirens so they would not panic;because if they did panic they would get all of them killed. He shows bravery when he charges into Circe's palace without a second thought (homer 1218). He also shows bravery when he goes to introduce himself as nobody. He shows strength when he lifts the two heavy spears to attack scylla. He shows his superhuman abilities (bravery,strength, and intelligence) which is a trait of an epic …show more content…

When he is on polyphemus’s island, He says to polyphemus” cyclops if ever...Odysseus…Ithaca”(Homer 122); this quote shows that he is a prideful man. He also rushes into Circe's palace without any protection or precaution; this proves that he is also a reckless man. An example of him receiving supernatural help is when he is rushing to save his men, Hermes gives him a magic plant (moly) that makes him resistant to Circe's magic (Homer 1225). Also He got advice from Circe on how to beat charybdis, scylla and the sirens; Circe also tells to avoid the island where Helios cattle lives.(homer 1230-1233). Odysseus receives supernatural help and he shows his tragic flaws of pride and recklessness which is a trait of an epic hero(to have tragic flaws and receive supernatural

Show More
Related
375 Words | 2 Pages

No person is perfect, and challenging the ideas of who a hero is reveals the illusion of perfection. Humans make mistakes, and seeing Odysseus’ failures humanizes him and makes him more realistic. Odysseus has clearly made mistakes

Read More
726 Words | 3 Pages

If you were to think about a man with great abilities like being strong, courageous and intelligent, you could think of people you personally or like me, you could think of someone such as Odysseus. Odysseus fits the definition of an epic hero because he is quick thinking, strong and courageous. Odysseus is one quick thinking individual. He has gotten him and his crew out some some sticky situations with his clever plans. One of these plans were how to get away from Polyphemus, a cyclops who was the son of Poseidon.

Read More
1045 Words | 5 Pages

Odysseus fits the description of an epic hero because he had cleverness, exceptional knowledge, and supernatural conflict. The first reason why Odysseus fits the description of an epic hero is because he had cleverness. The first time Odysseus shows that he had cleverness was in the cyclops, Polyphemus adventure.

Read More
405 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus is not loyal to his family which makes him not an epic hero because being an epic hero means your loyal to all, while his wife was fighting off men in Ithaka, he “lay with her each night, for she compelled him.” (Homer, Page 3). He also doesn’t really think things through for example he was given two paths, one with rocks that not even a bird could pass, another with a dangerous sea creature Skylla. Odysseus choose the path that passes Skylla, “Then Skylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship. ”(Homer, Page 22).

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus, the Overrated Hero An epic hero is defined as someone who is “the main character of an epic poem that tells the story of a grand quest in which they use their extraordinary or superhuman abilities to achieve great things” (dictionary.com). Although The Odyssey is an epic poem and Odysseus goes on a grand quest using superhuman abilities, divine intervention made all of this possible. All throughout Odysseus’ expedition in The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus goes on a voyage similar to the steps of the hero’s journey, but it ultimately prevents Odysseus from living as a true epic hero because of his profusion of hubris, him completely relying on the help the gods generously give him, and his selfishness to others. Although Odysseus’ confidence

Read More
435 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus is an epic hero because he is strategic hero. For example, he was strategic by creating the Trojan Horse during the Trojan war that help the Greeks win the war with Agamemnon. In fact, he even was strategic when him and his crew were trapped in Polyphemus cave on Cyclops Island, he gave the cyclops alcohol and stabbed him in the eye with a huge spear and him and his crew were able to escape. Odysseus also escaped because Odysseus said to the cyclops “My name is Nobody. Nobody, my father, mother, and friends call me Nobody” (Homer page 9).

Read More
495 Words | 2 Pages

A hero differs in many cultures; some cultures view animals and different spiritual leaders as heroes. For example in ancient Egypt, the people there thought that cats were sacred animals. Many Indian people today, believe the cow is very sacred. But is Odysseus an Epic Hero? His status as an epic hero will be proven, with quotes from The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, that show his physical strength, intelligence and loyalty, which you must need to be an epic hero.

Read More
434 Words | 2 Pages

A tragic hero is described as having excessive curiosity and being stubborn; these flaws negatively impact the story by not learning from his mistakes. Odysseus shows his heroic characteristics when “Cyclops, if anyone asks you who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Ulysses, son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca.” Odysseus is a tragic hero because he is always curious and is sometimes stubborn. Most of the time he puts his life or one of his men`s at risk.

Read More
216 Words | 1 Pages

One characteristic of an epic hero is being powerful in someway and reflect the values of their culture while battling fearsome beings. I Think that Odysseus really embodies this trait. Ody is the King of Ithaca, when he is away at war on his way home, he is caught by Poseidon. Odysseus then has to go through many obstacles and fearsome beings. But during all of this, he is strong and still has his heart and eyes on getting home to Ithaca and ruling again.

Read More
869 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus is an epic hero because he was truly admired by most. As stated previously an epic hero is an individual who is admired by many, as Odysseus is. In the text Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus, tells Telemachus about his father. Mentes states “ Your father had no equal for cunning and few of strength or skill in battle” (Hinds, book 1 pg. 8).

Read More
717 Words | 3 Pages

“What makes a hero truly great is that they never despair” said Roy Thomson. Odysseus knows that his men will die, but he keeps pushing on to get home. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus shows he is an epic hero by his great strength and all his epic hero abilities. Odysseus has to travel home from the Trojan war, which he did not want to go to. He wants to get home so he reunite with his wife and son.

Read More
831 Words | 4 Pages

Well the definition of an epic hero is, “a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. ”(Dictionary.com) If that doesn’t describe Odysseus, I don’t know what does. He risks his life in many circumstances, and he’s widely admired for being the one of the reasons the trojans won the war. He is also affected by lots of events throughout his adventures.

Read More
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?

Read More
541 Words | 3 Pages

An Epic Hero is a character who’s legendary or heroic actions are central to his culture, race or nation. Beowulf and Odysseus both share some of the seven hero traits; for example being superhuman, fighting monsters and going on a quest. They do not exhibit the exact same traits or in the same way, for example the intervention of the divine world, but they both demonstrate the qualities of an Epic Hero. Both Beowulf and Odysseus prove they are superhuman. Beowulf is able to take down Grendel and Grendel’s mother.

Read More
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.

Read More

More about Examples Of Odysseus As An Epic Hero

Related Topics

Open Document