Preview

True Hero of the Odyssey

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
358 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
True Hero of the Odyssey
Cristy Pariama
Cohort 002
English Literature
February 17th, 2012
Who is the true hero essay?

In the Homeric epic The Odyssey, Athena depicts the true hero. Throughout the epic Athena has always been tagging along among both Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ journeys. Aside from helping Odysseus and Telemachus she also helped Penelope as well. .On these journeys she has shown many heroic traits which does make her the true hero of The Odyssey. Athena embodies the character trait of loyalty. Athena is always seen assisting both Telemachus and Odysseus on their voyages, and is the main reason why both went through their coming of age and completed their voyage “The goddess urged him on: “Surely I’ll stand beside you, not forget you, not when the day arrives for us to do our work” (299, line 448). Athena will always stand by Odysseus and she does care for him very much. She is a goddess who depicts loyalty. Along with being loyal another heroic trait that describes Athena is cogent. Athena is a goddess who tends to get her way, but was helping Telemachus because of her persuasion. “But you, I urge you, think how to drive these suitors from your halls” (86, line 311). Without Athena’s input he would’ve never attempted to find his father or confront the suitors. Athena is the model of cogency. With cogency Athena has shown that she is also strategic. Athena’s intelligence has gotten her into many victories in war and has helped her with aiding Odysseus, and Telemachus. “ but Athena sent the better part of the salvo wide---- one of them hit the jamb of the great hall’s doors”(447 line 286). With Athena’s guidance and input the war between the suitors and Odysseus wouldn’t go so smoothly. Therefore Athena is strategic. Above all the true hero in the Homeric epic The Odyssey is Athena. She has shown to be strategic, loyal, and cogent which are the heroic traits which make Athena the true hero. With the traits she was able to help Odysseus and his family through

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In The Odyssey, many people might say Odysseus is the hero or that he is the Villon, but in my opinion Odysseus is the hero. Odysseus had to leave behind his new born son, Telemachus and his wife Penelope to go fight in the Trojan War, Odysseus had been gone for approximately 20 years.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Along with perseverance, Athena exemplifies the quality of leadership in her everyday tasks such as when she disguises herself, makes plans for Odysseus and Telemachus, and stops the war between the kinsmen of the suitors and Odysseus and his men. Athena takes charge and leads when she first disguises herself. In that moment the readers witness the first moment when Athena leads by example in the book. She tries to lead the mortals and let Telemachus know his father is alive:…

    • 1377 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Athena's role in the Odyssey is helping Odysseus get home. At first Athena talks to Zeus, they speak about how she pities Odysseus and how he should come home. Her exact words were, "My own heart is broken for Odysseus (Homer 3)." Zeus agreed. That the man,Odysseus, should come home. Then Athena left Zeus and went to see Telemakhos. She left as Mentes,so that when she saw Telemakhos he would not know she was Athena. Telemakhos showed xenia to the xenos and when she was satisfied Telemakhos asked Athena who she was. She told him that her name was Mentes. They then had a conversation about many things, one of which was Telemakhos's father. She had told him that his father is truly not dead but "only detained somewhere on the wideseas, upon some…

    • 151 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When I was deciding on a character, right away I chose Athena. I chose Athena because I believe she is the most interesting (besides Odysseus) character in the book. Speaking of Athena, Athena is a very important character in the first few chapter of the Odyssey. She is the one who puts Odysseus's son on the path to find Odysseus and learn what is his faith. She did this by showing up to Odysseus’s house in human form and convincing Telemakhos to call all of his mothers suitors in front of the gods and try to convince them to leave. When that didn't work “Athena was nearby and came to him, putting on Mentor’s figure and his tone,” and told him that she will find him a boat She told him to sneak out of the house and go down to the docks to…

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Every story needs a hero. In the Odyssey, the characters face challenge after challenge and they had a leader that helped them overcome every obstacle. Odysseus was this leader and he is considered the hero of the story. He is considered the hero because of how he handled the situation with Polyphemus. His journey was dangerous and hard but he persevered through it and was able to overcome every obstacle that was put in his way.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I admire Athena’s strong intelligence, her rationality in quarrels, her ability to bring peace to bad situations, and the fact that her emotions don’t stand in the way of the tasks she needs to complete. I dislike Athena’s terrible jealousy towards others, and her extreme lack of compassion to anyone but her favorites. Athena and I both possess intelligence, rationality, and unemotional stance in certain situations. Athena is one of my most favorites of the Greek gods, and her story is truly one of a…

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus was no hero and his words and actions clearly show. Book 1 of the Odyssey starts with “Sing in the, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending”. Introducing Odysseus as “a man skilled in all ways of contending” shows Homer, author of the Odyssey clearly wanted Odysseus to be seen as a hero. After all, they were both Greek, and the Greeks held a lot of pride they needed to protect. This makes me believe that the story behind The Odyssey was twisted so that the reader was forced to see from the perspective the author wanted.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This shows his importance because a normal person without any divine powers is unlikely to get help from a god or goddess such as Athena. Odysseus proves his help from the gods by explaining to his son Telemachus, “ suppose Athena’s arm is over us and Zeus her father’s,” ( Homer Part 2). Athena helps Odysseus by assisting him with valuable information for his journey home. In the hero’s journey this same concept is explained, “ a character who has mastered the laws of the outside world and come back to bestow wisdom upon them,” ( Campbell 3). The hero’s journey is just like this when Athena explains how and what will happen when Odysseus returns…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Athena is pivotal in assisting Odysseus by aiding in his struggle to return home and in Ithaca. She supports Odysseus throughout the epic. Athena first helps by explaining Odysseus’ predicament to others on Mount Olympus. Athena begs “Olympian Zeus” to “care for him in [his] lofty heart” (Homer 1.72,73). Athena knows that if she is able to convince the other gods and goddess to be on Odysseus’ side it would positively impact his…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Odyssey, Odysseus is described by many as a hero with great courage, wisdom and godlike qualities, but his actions throughout the epic may shed light on some of his less heroic qualities and how the Homeric image of a hero and how the modern image of a hero may differ.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A Greek Hero

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Greeks idea of a hero is very different from the idea of a hero today. The Greeks saw heroes as someone that was more than life, someone who battled monsters and gods, who did the impossible and went on dangerous quests. Odysseus is one of these heroes. He is a greek hero from the story the odyssey, this man was said to be half god half man, he out tricked the trojans only to find himself on a 20 year trip filled with monsters and gods. He shows leadership “‘friends have we never been in danger?’” (?) and cunning. He defeats the cyclopes and resisted the siren's song. but like every hero in the greeks mythology he has a fatal flaw. Achilles had his heel and odysseys had…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus as an Epic Hero

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What is an epic hero? Homers’ “Odyssey” is about an epic hero named Odysseus and his quest home. “The Odyssey” begins after the Trojan war had left Odysseus trapped, pointlessly seafaring for 10 years after angering Poseidon, the god of the sea. He tries desperately to return home to Ithaka and his wife, Penelope, and newborn son, Telemachus. Odysseus then has many hardships upon which he overcomes through his intelligence and wit. Odysseus is an epic hero because he is intelligent, he listens to the god’s advice, and he is witty; able to think on his feet. With the help of the gods he can survive things most men couldn’t.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the Epic, Odyssey by Homer Odysseus has to save his men and get them home. Odysseus is a modern day hero hero. He qualifies for the job because first he is brave, cunning, and determined. He made smart decisions and knows how to get out of sticky situations. Second he is brave and he is ready for whatever comes his way. Although the ancient greeks consider odysseus a hero epic hero, according Modern day to Ethos and Logos he fails to measure by modern standards.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Odysseus is an epic hero there are a few things about him that are not so heroic; such as his loyalty to his wife. He enjoys a luxurious life with Calypso all while Penelope, his wife, fights off suitors in order to remain loyal to Odysseus. While he does want to return home, he also admits that not even his wife can compare to Calypso.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Odyssey, Odysseus has been portrayed as a war hero. His characteristics on the other hand, portray a villain. In Book 9, Odysseus stole Polyphemus’ sheep, as well as blinded him. Polyphemus was considered a villain when he held Odysseus captive, yet Odysseus was still a hero when he stole his sheep in the first place. This shows that heroes gained their glory by taking over other regions. Heroes sacked cities, heroes attacked the innocent, heroes fought for what they thought was right. The time period the Odyssey took place revolved around fighting. As a result, the heroes were then based on who ever sacked more cities, not an impact of the greater good. All in all, a hero is shaped through portrayal and the time period.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays