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Odysseus: A Hero

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It unquestionably shows in the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer that Odysseus is indeed a hero. Although Odysseus shows signs of weakness along his journey returning to Ithaca, he is very heroic in many situations to save his men and attempt to return them all home. ADD SENTENCES HERE. Odysseus is undoubtedly a hero because he saves many of his men from the cyclops, he rescues his men from Circe, and he ventures into the House of Death alone. Odysseus in The Odyssey by Homer is a hero because he saved many of his men from the cyclops, Polyphemus. Odysseus comes up with a brilliant plan to escape Polyphemus’ cave by hiding under the rams when the cyclops releases the rams to the fields. He says “First I loosened myself from the ram, then loosened …show more content…

Odysseus rises up after Circe turns his men into animals and he goes off to save them, forgetting what they just did letting the wind go and sending them away from Ithaca. He says to Eurylochus “But I shot back, Eurylochus, stay right here, eating, drinking, safe by the black ship. I must be off. Necessity drives me” (10.299-301). Odysseus is willing to sacrifice himself and leave his other men on the boat as he feels it is his duty to get them back. Once Odysseus reaches Circe she tries to put him under her spell but he objects because of the potion Hermes gave him and The Odyssey describes “ But I, I drew my sword sheathed at my hip and rushed her fast as if to run her through” (10. 357-8). This excerpt shows that Odysseus is not afraid to fight and get his men back regardless of who it is. He will do whatever it takes to continue home and get back to Ithaca. After some discussing with Circe Odysseus says “ If you, you really want me to eat and drink,set them free, all my beloved comrades- let me feast my eyes” (10. 426-8). Odysseus shows in this situation with Circe that he has to make sure his men are safe and freed from being animals before he can get comfortable with Circe. He cares more about his men then his own well being. Odysseus shows heroic actions by going off on his own to find his men and making sure they are turned back before he gets comfortable with

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Similarly, Odysseus doesn’t communicate any of the information given to him by Circe. Odysseus is given two choices by Circe for the first part of the journey, sail close two different rocks, Scylla or Charybdis. While it is possible for the crew to avoid misfortunes by sailing near Charybdis, avoid when she sucks down the black water, Odysseus chooses to sail near Scylla where there is no avoiding the deaths of at least six crew members (12. 99-111). Additionally, Odysseus doesn’t fully take the advice of Circe and uses weaponry, even though Circe warns him not to arm himself no matter the circumstances (12. 234-235). Odysseus’ inability to fully follow directions proves his large ego, and belief that he can do no wrong.

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Circe makes it clear that Odysseus should “...hug the cliff of scylla, take your ship through on a racing stroke. Better to mourn six men then lose them all, and the ship too”(ln 704-706). Odysseus listens to Circe when given the option between Scylla and Charybdis. Circe states that Scylla will save most but mourn six men. Odysseus realizes it's better than maybe losing everything and plans his strategy.

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After his success in killing off the Trojans by hiding inside an immense wooden horse and attacking when the Trojans least expected it. After that event, Odysseus started to lose his substantial leader skills. Overall, Odysseus demonstrates characteristics of an inadequate leader in the duration of his journey. First, the sequence of inauspicious incidents happened all because of Odysseus’s poor judgement. Upon arriving at the island of the Cyclopians, Odysseus decides to enter the cave where Polyphemus resides.

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In The Odyssey, in “Circe’s Island” Odysseus shows that he is a hero, loyal to his men and never leaves them behind. On Circe’s Island, Odysseus sends his men to go search for any life on the island. Afterwards, they did not return back to the ship because they were turned into pigs by Circe. When one of the men escaped he told Odysseus and Odysseus went to save them.

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In The Odyssey by Homer, the main character is portrayed to be a hero. To be heroic means to have courage and bravery. Also, it means that you're intelligent, you are a strategic, and you do what is right. In all, Odysseus exhibits many heroic qualities. Odysseus, the main character in The Odyssey, shows many of the heroic qualities.

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This is shown in book 10, Circe the Grace of the Witch, Euroylochus explains to Odysseus that he can’t go back to Circe’s island because it's too dangerous. However, Odysseus doesn’t listen and “rushes to save his men from the enchantress” (Homer, 387, lines 46-47). This quote demonstrates Oddyesuss’ bravery. After being told that Circe’s Island is dangerous and that he should not return, Odysseus is still brave enough to return to rescue his men. Due to his bravery, Odysseus should be considered a hero.

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When they land on the island his men are held captive and are turned into animals. This is Odysseus’s response to the situation. “After Circe releases his men from the spell, Odysseus spends a year with her” (pg 506). In this situation,

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My people think nothing of that Zeus with his big scepter, nor any god; our strength is more than theirs.” This quote shows Polyphemus’s hubris and how he thinks he is above the gods and stronger than them. Due to the circumstances of Odysseus’s men being eaten and the cyclops showing no hospitality, he had to come up with a plan to escape. He came up with a plan where he got the

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“How dare tell me to treat you with warmth? You who turned my men to swine in your house now you hold me here as well - teeming me with treachery you lure me to your room to mount your bed.” Odysseus was an Epic Hero here because even though he loved his wife very much and didn’t want to lay with another woman he did anyways in order to save his men. This action showed that he didn’t think only about himself that he cared for others next Odysseus tricked a cyclops in order to protect him and his

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Odysseus makes the witch Circe to promise to not work any of her magic on him, free his men, and in return he will do as she pleases. What she wanted was for him to have sex with her, he obliged. This task, where it is not based off strength or courage, is a mental test for Odysseus. He has not been with his wife in over ten years and suffered through this endeavor with Circe with great guilt to his family. Out of this relationship, Odysseus did obtain Circe as a valuable ally.

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That’s when Odysseus comes up with a good plan to escape under rams’ bellies, but with him last. He tucks his men under the rams’ body and sends them out first and then he comes out last making sure he leaves no men behind. Luckily they make it out safe and sound. His actions here is showing great loyalty to his men. These are two great examples of Odysseus showing loyalty in The Odyssey.

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The first reasons why Odysseus is a hero is because he risks his life for crew multiple times throughout the story. In the story, ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, Odysseus and his crew sail to Aeaea, home

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(146). Because of this, the Cicones attack them and many crewmates die. This causes a major delay to his arrival in Ithaca, displaying Odysseus’ reckless decisions and impulses. In another instance, Odysseus does not use clear thought and delays his journey for an entire year. Their travel leads him and his crew to Circe’s Island, where the goddess turns Odysseus’ men into pigs.

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Also, to dramatize the situation and emphasize the morality of the crew, Homer says "[the crew] put their backs in the oars, escape grim death." This passage shows how, while Homer considers Odysseus heroic, Odysseus may not follow expectations because of his pride and willingness to endanger his men. In this passage, Odysseus continually taunts Polyphemus' against his crew's wishes, and thus risks their lives. However, throughout the reading, Odysseus' claims to have great affection for his crew and wishes to protect them; thus, Odysseus' actions in this scene highlight an inconsistency in Odysseus' character and heroic nature. Because of this inconsistency and Odysseus’ prideful and

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Circe tells Odysseus that he does have a chance of returning to Ithaca.” ... you shall not stay here longer against your will;/ but home you may not go/ unless you take a strange way round and come/ to the cold homes of Death and pale Persephone” (x, 202-205). Opportunities should be taken advantage of, and it is no surprise that Odysseus is willing to take one. Since he made it, Odysseus proves to be more suitable for his role.

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