Odysseus As An Example Of Heroism In Homer's Odyssey

Heroism According to the dictionary, a hero is, “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” These are the many characteristics that many people may look for when they call someone their hero. In the Odyssey, there are many figures of heroes in the epic poem like Odysseus. However, what exactly made the figures of gods have the title of a hero? When it comes to defining a hero, it is anyone who expresses goodwill through the willingness to stay loyal and courageous for the sake of others. Throughout the Odyssey, loyalty is portrayed by the sentiment of staying true to the possessions you love most. In the beginning of book 9, Odysseus informs the readers on how he was held captive by goddess Calypso where she would tempt and force herself upon him, Odysseus reveals, “But

An example of Odysseus fearlessness is conveyed when he makes a speech and tells his men; “Old shipmates, friends, the rest of you stand by; I’ll make the crossing in my own ship, with my own company, and find out what the mainland natives are”(Homer 374). It is logical to conclude that Odysseus is a hero who will not just stand by but instead puts himself to take action and face the danger that awaits him. He is a fighter and does not let fear hold him back. When they finally met polyphemus, there was a battle between them, they had made a plan to stab the cyclops in the eye to escape the land of the cyclops and so as they did the men“...fell back in fear. Clawing his face he tugged the bloody spike out of his eye” (Homer 380). Polyphemous let out a range of anger and pain that scared his men. As a hero, Odysseus shows courageousness instead of fear as he is the one who beat the son of Poseidon. Odysseus got the rest of his men away from the fearful cyclops and sailed back to this home he stays loyal