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Odysseus As An Example Of Heroism In Homer's Odyssey

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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 …show more content…

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

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In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus taunts Polyphemus about outsmarting and defeating him. The exchange infuriates Polyphemus and causes Poseidon to create a sea storm in response to Polyphemus’ prayer to him to take revenge on Odysseus. Through Homer’s depiction of Odysseus threatening to “‘...ship [Polyphemus] to the House of Death’”, Odysseus’ extreme pride is displayed as he appears to believe he is capable of killing Polyphemus although Odysseus is a mere mortal and Polyphemus is a direct descendant of Poseidon. Odysseus’ inflated ego also convinces him that he does not have to fear repercussions for his actions as demonstrated through Odysseus taunting, “‘as surely as no one will ever heal your eye, / not even your earthquake

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A heroic person is best described as someone whom is extraordinarily bold and that daringly goes to extreme measures for particular reasons. Odysseus lived up to such heroic qualities numerous times throughout Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, while on his voyage home to Ithaca. Homer has created Odysseus as a heroic figure in the Odyssey possessing characteristics of savior, courageous, and sly. Savior was shone while is on the island of the Lotus Eaters, home to a harmless group of people who eat only the flowering lotus plant. He sent and trusted three of his men to scope the island but instead they ran into and joined the lotus eaters.

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Odysseus emphasizes his success when facing Polyphemus by stating that “[his] courage, [his] presence of mind and tactics saved [them]

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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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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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Not only does he display qualities of an epic hero in times of conflict, but he also does in times of peace. Odysseus’ cunning intelligence is seen in a time of conflict when he and his men are in the Land of the Cyclopes and are tasked with the job of escaping the one-eyed giant, Polyphemus. Given the intense circumstances they are under, it is Odysseus’ job, as a leader, to lead his men to escape. Being the shrewd character he is, Odysseus plots to sedate Polyphemus with wine. He

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These derisive comments make Polyphemus retaliate by throwing huge boulders at their boat. Odysseus’ crew “begged” (9.556) Odysseus to stop antagonizing the cyclops but he does not care. Instead of thinking through his actions, he tells Polyphemus who he is and where he lives which causes future tribulations, such as the god of the sea, Poseidon, having a grudge against Odysseus. Poseidon makes Odysseus’ journey back home much more rugged due to his own reckless actions.

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Heroes are, “People who take risks despite fear”(Source 2). In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus faces many challenges that make him a hero. He battles monsters, goddesses, and enchantresses. Odysseus is a hero in the way that he uses his brain to think about and approach dilemmas. When he and his men are on the Cyclops’ island, Odysseus tells the cyclops that his name was Nobody.

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A hero is defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, the reader is abided by a warrior named Odysseus on his journey homeward. The story begins when all the hero’s except Odyessus are home. Calypso has fallen in love with him and is not allowing him to leave. When he finally leaves he demonstrates many characteristics that make him such an admired man, but three in particular are that he is extremely wise, has excessive pride, and tremendously brave.

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An epic hero is a person who is admired for their courage, achievements, and qualities. Odysseus struggles to return to his home for ten years after the Trojan War. It took him a long time because Poseidon, the god of the sea, constantly hindered Odysseus from going back to his home. Although some argue that Odysseus is dishonest and prideful, the main character, Odysseus, in The Odyssey by Homer is an epic hero. Throughout his journey, Odysseus reveals his heroism by facing challenges and being respected.

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The concept of hero has been interpreted in many ways throughout the ages. Hero have gone from knights slaying dragons and rescuing the princess, to heroes who save the world with their supernatural-like powers, to a modern day hero who is someone who has noble qualities and is regarded as a role model. In the epic, The Odyssey, by Robert Fagles, the heroic Odysseus is a well known in Greek mythology. However, although Odysseus is the most respected, honorable hero of Greek mythology he is not a modern hero. A modern day hero is someone who puts their life on the line to save the lives of other innocent people.

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Hero’s are defined as couragus, selflessness, humility, Patience, and caring. In the Odyssey, Odysseus very well demonstrated as these adjectivies , from killing thousands of men to having a delightful dinner with the three men in his family. Heroicism can be both a physical engaging action as well as a quite caring action. One is as heroic as the other. In ancient Greek philosphy, hero were defined a masculine charater who conciseted of no flaws.

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According to the dictionary, a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” However, if one were to ask a general person who a hero is, the response in all likelihood would be along the lines of, “a hero is someone who selflessly sacrifices himself, out of the pure goodness of his heart, in order to help or save others.” The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer over three-thousand years ago, describes the long, difficult journey undertaken by the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus certainly fulfills the dictionary’s criteria for being considered a hero. He’s cunning, intrepid, brave and strong.

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Just as Achilles is confronted in the Iliad with the problem of balancing his honor with his pride, Odysseus repeatedly faces situations in which self-restraint and humility must check bravado and glory-seeking. In his early adventures, he fails these tests, as when he taunts Polyphemus, inflaming Poseidon. As the epic progresses, Odysseus becomes increasingly capable of judging when it is wise to reveal himself and when it is appropriate to rejoice in his

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