ipl-logo

Heroes Always Sacrifice In Homer's Odyssey

729 Words3 Pages

Melissa Díaz
Heroes Always Sacrifice
Part of being a hero is having to make sacrifices. Sacrificing sometimes includes having to watch your men being violently mauled by a cyclops. Or maybe meeting your son for the first time 20 years after he was born. Even if a hero could choose, they would proceed anyway because that is what a real hero does. They sacrifice. Although there are many themes in The Odyssey, the main theme is that heroes always make sacrifices. The theme is present in many ways throughout the epic poem, specifically in “The Lotus Eaters,” “The Cyclops,” and “Father and Son.” For example, in “The Lotus Eaters,” Odysseus made various sacrifices involving him and his men.
To begin with, the section, “The Lotus Eaters,” reveals the theme when Odysseus sacrifices the happiness of his men, their time to rest, and everyone’s safety so that they may continue their voyage home. When Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the lotus eaters, he sends some of his men to explore the island. Those men ate some lotus offered to them by the inhabitants of the island. They didn’t want to leave the island, so to continue their journey home, Odysseus had no …show more content…

During the escape from the cyclops’ cave, Odysseus made all his men go first before he escaped. Odysseus sacrificed his safety for his men, which shows that heroes make sacrifices. Also, Odysseus sacrificed his way home. Odysseus teased the cyclops about how he was able to to defeat him. That angered the cyclops, so he cursed Odysseus and his men so that they wouldn’t be able to go home. Not to mention, Odysseus sacrificed some of his men’s lives so that he could get himself and the other living men out alive. The theme is expressed through Odysseus because he was forced to sacrifice some of his men to keep others alive. Not to mention, Odysseus made other sacrifices during the section, “Father and

Show More
Related

Odysseus: An Attractive Leader In Homer's Odyssey

748 Words | 3 Pages

Leadership can be established in how a hero guides his men and directs them. Numerous warriors from Greek Mythology are lauded for their control and management over their companions in times of difficulty and danger; furthermore, they are a model and an inspiration towards their comrades. Among several brave men, many people considered Odysseus to be incapable of being in charge, but some indications have also shown that his actions for the crew are sufficient. Even though both the controversies of the debate about the topic has information from The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is evidently an effective leader. Odysseus demonstrates as an efficient leader when they come across various threatening situations.

Read More

Why Odysseus Should Be Considered A Hero

587 Words | 3 Pages

Just like in the story of the cyclops, he put his men first to put them to safety. He isn't greedy and looks out for others. He did everything he could to ensure that they would all get off the island safely. Even if some of Odysseus's men were unlucky enough to get eaten, Odysseus still felt sorrow for them. A hero is one to care for others and not himself.

Read More

Examples Of Courage In Odysseus

563 Words | 3 Pages

The natives there gave Odysseus and his men an intoxicating fruit of the lotus. After Odysseus and his men eat the fruit, they forget all of their thoughts about home and decide to eat more of the fruit. The only way that Odysseus can get him and his men back home is by dragging his men back to the ship and lock them up, Odysseus decides to go along with it. When Odysseus went back to Ithaca, He made the wise choice to go and see his wife Penelope. Odysseus was so brave to go see his wife because he didn’t know if she was going to recognize him at all or want to be with him for the rest of her life.

Read More

Alliteration In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

632 Words | 3 Pages

One month prior to the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave his Second Inaugural Address. The address, spoken before his second term as president, was intended to give his views on the causes of the Civil War and to list reasons why the war started. In the speech, Lincoln addresses the reasons and causes of the war and tries to bring the North and South together. In order to convince the two to unite once more, Lincoln uses alliteration, allusion, synecdoche, and metonymy to make his point and purpose clear. Lincoln utilizes alliteration in order to achieve his purpose of uniting the two unions together.

Read More

Courage And Bravery In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

592 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the Greek writer Homer, and it recounts the story of a man named Odysseus and his journey to return to his home. Throughout his journey, Odysseus encounters many obstacles, including cyclops, giants, and he even has dealings with the gods. As Odysseus tries to return home, his son Telemachus has to deal with a group of suitors who in the absence of Odysseus, are trying to marry Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. In Homer’s the Odyssey, the idea of how one needs courage and bravery to accomplish tasks is exemplified, especially when the tasks seem insurmountable.

Read More

The Destruction Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

1066 Words | 5 Pages

Odysseus and his men had travel to the island of the Lotus eaters when he drove “... them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: “ all hands a board; come, clear the beach and no one taste the Lotus or you lose your hope of home.” (Book 9, lines 48-52, textbook). Odysseus saved three of his man and brought them back to the ship, saving them from a long weary death. Odysseus also taught his remaining man a lesson and showed his men how clever he was in this dire situation. As Odysseus is fleeing from the Laestrygonians, he “...shouted rapid orders at my shipmates: ‘Put your backs in the oars- now row or die… my ship alone… we… escaped our death yet at heart for the dear companions we had lost.”

Read More

Odysseus Crew In The Odyssey

1764 Words | 8 Pages

In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.

Read More

The Role Of Suffering In Homer's Odyssey

1141 Words | 5 Pages

From the onset of the book, death is a recurring event, persistent throughout the entire poem. In many ways, the Odyssey is the story of the death of all of Odysseus’ friends and fellow fighters during their return home from conquering Troy. These deaths are particularly heartbreaking to Odysseus because, normally, one would expect that all dying would conclude with the end of the war against Troy. In this case, however, the anticipation of his return to his family at home became a series of tragedies. This sequence of events changes his view and molds Odysseus’ character in regard to his surviving friends and family.

Read More

Temptation In The Odyssey Analysis

704 Words | 3 Pages

TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

Read More

Odysseus Decisions In Homer's Odyssey

831 Words | 4 Pages

These stories prove that Odysseus made all of his own decisions and he is the one to blame for many of the deaths of his men. In conclusion, there are many more times in The Odyssey where Odysseus sacrificed more and more of his men because of his own choices and

Read More

Examples Of Heroism In The Odyssey

769 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the course of an exceptionally dangerous point in Odysseus’ return voyage he and his men find themselves caught in the territory of the Lotus Eaters, natives who have had their minds corrupted by a certain Lotus flower. Upon landing on the island, Odysseus sent three men to scout the area, all three of which became plagued by the flower. However, Odysseus “… drove [his men] to the ships, tied them down… [and] moved out again” (Homer 9.105-112). Odysseus cares about the safety of those three crew members, though they may have seemed insignificant due to the total size of his troupe. Rather than simply fleeing the island, he ventures out to ensure his men will return despite their stupefied state.

Read More

The Heroism In Odysseus Of Homer's The Odyssey

414 Words | 2 Pages

The Odyssey is a fantastic story full of interesting characters, conflicts, and theme. The Odyssey was written by Homer who was a blind poet. It was written in the 8th century B.C during a time of Greek god worship. With intricate characters, exciting conflicts, and an impressive theme the Odyssey is an amazing book for anyone. Odysseus showed the heroism of a mighty hero buy his heroism was not without foibles.

Read More

Theme Of Reciprocity In The Odyssey

1190 Words | 5 Pages

When Odysseus and his crew were out at sea, he remembered what Athena told him. Athena told him that no matter the circumstances make sure your men don 't eat any living thing from Helios island and don 't tell them why. Odysseus knew he was approaching the island therefore he told

Read More

Humility In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

846 Words | 4 Pages

John Ruskin once said, “The first test of truly great man is his humility”. In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, the central character Odysseus learns humility through his failures and growth in obedience making him a hero. Odysseus reaches a heroic status through the lessons learned on his journey, which ultimately taught him the value of obedience and the dangers of arrogance. Initially, Odysseus appears to lack the heroic quality of humility, through his narcissistic nature.

Read More

How Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

541 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.

Read More

More about Heroes Always Sacrifice In Homer's Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document