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Character analysis of Odysseus
Odysseus the hero in the odyssey
Insight into the life of odysseus
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Homer’s The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, contains a man named Odysseus whose story can relate to soldiers in today’s military, and how Odysseus has to persevere to get home. Odysseus is a loving husband who goes to fight in the Trojan War. His son, Telemachus, is born shortly before Odysseus has to leave for the war. The Trojan War is a long fight that lasts ten years.
The Odyssey Many people deem Odysseus to be an archetype hero. But was he really? Sure, he won many wars, but did he show the characteristics that matter? No!
Since cyclops eat man, Odysseus must come up with a plan. His plan is to give Polyphemus wine, so then he falls asleep and he can poke his one eye out. Poseidon, the sea god, then gives Odysseus a challenging ride back to their hometown, Ithaca.
Odysseus tricks the cyclops by saying his name is “Noh Body” which led to the cyclops calling out to the other saying “nobody” stabbed him and blinded him. They escape by hiding under the sheep as they go out to graze as they did in the book.
Odysseus and his men did not return to Greece for 20 years. Odysseus had not seen his son grow up for 20 years. Many admirers were trying to sleep with Odysseus’ wife Penelope.
In part one of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses his epic hero qualities to help him out on his quest to get back home to Ithaca. He’s shows superb intelligence when fighting the cyclopes in “Book 9.” That’s a quality of superhuman intelligence that Odysseus possessed all throughout his entire journey. Another epic hero quality that helped Odysseus was help from Greek gods and goddesses. In part two of Homer’s Odyssey, Athena helped out Odysseus when he got back to his home land.
In one of the episodes, Odysseus encountered Polyphemus: a Cyclops who held Odysseus and his men captive. Despite the wishes of his crew, Odysseus did not kill the Cyclops; Odysseus knew that if the Cyclops were to die, the men would not be able to move the boulder blocking the exit. Instead of killing Polyphemus, Odysseus blinded him by driving a sharpened staff into his eye. Blinded, Polyphemus sat by the exit blocking any passage; the men were faced with another issue: how would they slip away? Odysseus knew that in order to escape he needed to devise a carefully thought out plan, so he “drew on all [his] wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man [would] for dear life, until a trick came–and it pleased [him]” (Homer 993).
In the myth, The Odyssey, the hero Odysseus fights a cyclops named Polyphemius. During their battle, the hero's men were eaten by the cyclopes, and Odysseus uses the cyclop's bad eyesight to his advanage. Odysseus also mocks Polymethius by tricking the cyclops into thinking Odysseus's name was "Nobody." To escape the cave the cyclops trapped him in, he climbs on a sheep's underside and sneeks his way out of the cave.
Epic poetry, known for its grand descriptions of glorious accomplishments, revolves around an honorable protagonist. As the hero faces adversity in his journey, he triumphs in fleeting moments of bravery. He often exhibits his physical strength to overcome his hardships, manifesting a story with a violent nature. In Homer’s The Odyssey, King Odysseus of Ithaca struggles to return to his loving wife and son after having fought in the Trojan War.
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.
Odysseus and the Journey In a very dark cave with only sheep and cheese lived the big bad one-eyed… CYCLOPS! In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, the main character Odysseus live in Ithaca but, he has to leave for battle. On his way home he runs into a one eyed monster the Cyclops. He became trapped and needs a way home.
Even though people typically believe that the main hero of Homer’s the Odyssey is Odysseus himself, the true hero of the Odyssey is Penelope. Even though her entire story isn’t told in the epic poem, you can still tell that she went through struggles and trials just as her husband Odysseus did. Along with going through trials, she comes up with witty ideas in order to overcome them. She is very clever, and she also plans long-term. She is loyal to Odysseus and faithfully waits for his return.
In any country, kingdom, or household there is usually the one that seems to overrule all in that specified area. Leaders are strong, courageous, and skilled in combat and wits. Leaders are either looked at as an ally or an enemy. They are confident, bold, and respected. In the poem, The Odyssey, Homer gives us insight of how a tough, cunning, and wise man is brought through twenty years of suffering to reach is home that he weeps for so much.
After the time spent with the Phoenicians, Odysseus made his way home as quickly as possible. Traveling in a small boat, that was a gift from King Alcinous, at the fastest speed possible, foregoing all thoughts of adventures and any other side quests that he might do on the way. The waves rocked the tiny craft back and forth, the blue water frothing against the prow. After hours of staring into the distance, a giant wave from the port side caught Odysseus’ attention. He turned the small boat towards the wave to avoid capsizing, after riding the wave for a few minutes, it dissipated and he turned back towards Ithaca and went on his way.
Throughout the story, Odysseus demonstrates his courage that ultimately allows him to survive. One of these moments was during his journey back to Ithaca, where he faces a race of man eating giants called the Cyclops. Odysseus originally stops his ship there to relish a feast while on his journey back to Ithaca, but while doing so, out of curiosity explores the island. Soon, he finds a deserted house and decides to wait of the owner. The owner was unknowingly one the Cyclops, named Polyphemus.