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Homer's Odyssey: Is Odysseus A Hero?

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Is Odysseus a Hero?

A hero is someone that would fight for justice, do things other people won’t do to achieve it, and give equality to every single being on earth. In the Odyssey from the author Homer, we can see and share the journey of our main character, (Odysseus), as he lives incredible adventures in a trip that was supposed to be only a couple months but the trip turned out to be ten years long due to a curse that was set on him. He is a hero for some people and he’s not for other, it depends on what qualities you’re looking in order to be a hero. He is a hero even though he didn’t save anybody you can see he was smart he also was always worried about his men, he trusted every single one of his men and show leadership among them. …show more content…

Our main character, (Odysseus), prove us that he was smart in many occasions like that time he was face to face with the cyclops Polyphemus, and the giant monster asked “what’s your name” and Odysseus answer “My name is Nohbody” (Homer 315). Answering this he avoids a lot of troubles for his men, when they blind the monster with the gigantic wooden stake. But even after saving many of the warriors of a terrible fate Odysseus was sad for those he lost during that adventure, showing us he really cared for his

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Fourth reason, in the beginning of the book, Homer wrote, “he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home” (Homer 5). But what good is Odysseus saving himself for when in the end he couldn't even control his members in the end. That's why he shouldn't have recklessly sacrificed so many of his members and had a big ego. When Odysseus went back home, he saw that his son and his wife were not safe, so he killed the man’s who were trying to win Penelope heart to gain power. Penelope was so happy that he was back, but really, if Odysseus never left, Penelope and his son would've never be in danger in the first place, that's why he is not a hero.

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According to Joseph Cambell. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” In the epic poem, The Odyssey, one of the main characters, Odysseus, can relate to this quote because he gives up 20 years of his life to get back home. Odysseus saves many of his men, but also gets a lot of his men killed for his foolishness. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus shows he is a hero because of his strength, intelligence, and leadership.

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The famous American president Calvin Coolidge once stated, “Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.” In other words, a person may have heroic qualities but is not necessarily a hero, since the true indication of heroism in an individual is shown by his or her behaviors in different situations. In Odyssey by Homer, the protagonist Odysseus uses his godlike charm and cunning to return to his homeland, despite the fact that the mighty god Poseidon wishes that he never returns. Though Odysseus is developed as a character with heroic qualities, his use of said qualities within certain situations cause him to be portrayed as an antihero, as shown through his lack of control, self-centered actions, and excessive bloodshed.

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As the Webster Dictionary says a hero is a person admired for great deeds, courage or fine qualities. Odysseus was a hero modeling all three of those examples. The King showed many qualities of a hero when Odysseus volunteered to fight in the battle of Troy, when Odysseus helps the men escape the cyclops, and when Odysseus keeps all emotions together after watching some of the sailors get eaten by the monster Scylla. Odysseus shows qualities of a hero when the king of Ithaca offers to go fight in the battle of Troy. Odysseus fights for Ithaca in the battle of Troy voluntarily.

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997 Words | 4 Pages

A hero is someone who is revered for his or her exceptional achievements and bravery. Anyone who puts themselves before others not for recognition or an award, but because it is the right thing to do, is a true hero. In "The Odyssey," written by Homer is an epic poem about a man named Odysseus and his crewmates competing against the power of the gods to return to their homeland, Ithaca. Throughout his journey, he loses almost all of his men, but Odysseus finally arrives home, concluding his prolonged twenty-year voyage. Odysseus must battle the suitors that have taken his wife Penelope, and may soon kill his son Telemachus.

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Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the author shows the reader the true significance of honor and immortalization. The raging Trojan War of 1200 BC started to break out after Paris (Prince of Troy) kidnapped Helen (most beautiful women in the world) from her husband Menelaus (King of Sparta). Her husband called upon numerous soldiers to rescue her, one being Odysseus the great King of Ithaca. The epic poem demonstrates the adventures as he returns from Troy to Ithaca traveling with 12 fleets, encountering antagonistic monsters and enchanting women/ goddesses from getting home to his wife Penelope and his son.

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In the epic poem, Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus goes through many trials and obstacles. Many people think Odysseus isn’t a hero and others do. Odysseus goes travels for ten years and sails to the end of the earth just so he can go back to his family. Why would Homer write a huge voyage with all these dangerous trials that Odysseus has to go through, if it's not to show everyone that Odysseus is a great hero of the Greek world? Although his struggles changed the man he is, he was a hero because he faces extremely dangerous trials, lead his men with bravery, and stays faithful to his gods.

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Odysseus; Hero or Fraud? When most people think of a hero, they’d think of someone such as their father, or perhaps a fictional character, namely Superman. Although they may seem to be heroes, what is the true definition of a hero? Could it unequivocally be merely the matter of an opinion? The Odyssey is one of two epic poems written by the Greek poet Homer.

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In Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," Odysseus is portrayed as a complex and multifaceted character, and the question of whether or not he is a hero is one that has been debated by scholars for centuries. On one hand, Odysseus possesses many admirable qualities that are typically associated with a hero, such as intelligence, courage, and leadership. On the other hand, he also has many flaws and makes many questionable decisions that call into question his heroism. One of the main arguments for Odysseus being a hero is his intelligence and cunning.

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Odysseus is a hero. He is a hero because he is brave, loyal to his family, and he is also a great leader. A hero should be someone that is a leader in wherever they go, and whatever they do. People look up to heros. We’ve all been that one kid, dressing up as spiderman, or superman.

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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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865 Words | 4 Pages

In The Odyssey Homer makes Odysseus’ journey to his beloved Ithaca excruciating. Odysseus encounters many friends and foes throughout his journey and has to be a leader throughout his experiences. As an example, he encounters Polyphemus and Poseidon, both of whom make his journey mentally and physically painful. Odysseus faces countless scenarios in which he has to save multiple people in those situations. He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home.

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What is a hero? A hero can have many different explanations. One explanation is, a hero is someone who risks their self to achieve a goal for someone or something else. A hero usually takes a journey, and in this journey the hero is not defined by getting to their destination, the hero is defined by how they get to their destination. In the Odyssey, Homer uses Odysseus’s journey to show how one’s journey can define them as a person.

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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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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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