A Comparative Analysis of Odysseus and Achilles The Trojan War was more than a series of battles between opposing forces‚ it was the climax of an age of heroes. The retrieval of Helen brought together many of the mythological characters of that time onto a single stage. Of the thousands of brave men who fought at Ilion‚ two men stood above the masses‚ sharing the title of hero. They were born in the line of those on Mt. Olympus‚ favored by the gods. Excelling in courage and skill‚ adored by those
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Odysseus: A Hero or a Flawed Hero? The epic poem‚ The Odyssey written by Homer near the end of the 8th century BC‚ focuses on a Grecian hero named Odysseus. Although after the falling of Troy Odysseus embarks upon a long‚ grueling journey home‚ it is through his travels that Homer is able to illustrate him as a hero. A hero is known as‚ “a man of distinguished courage or ability‚ admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” (Dictionary.com) Homer’s projection of Odysseus is essentially
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Odysseus ’ Journey as an Epic Hero In the epic poem The Odyssey‚ the main character Odysseus displays the epic hero. An epic hero is given certain qualities. These qualities make the person (usually male) seem larger than life‚ he or she embodies the values from their culture‚ he usually goes on a journey that consist of a series of trials‚ has an ego‚ and is able to persuade people with his conversation. This description describes Odysseus exactly‚ but leaves out one major detail‚ which are his
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The Odyssey‚ the protagonist‚ Odysseus‚ does not fit into this definition of a hero‚ although I consider him a leader. The reasons behind my disagreement with Odysseus not being a hero is because he drove his crew into a lot of trouble that was caused by his selfishness and care of his own reputation. Some might argue that Odysseus is a hero and I have an understanding of that since he did pull through with plans in many situations with his crew. An example of Odysseus caring too much about his reputation
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From outsmarting cyclopes to fighting the temptations of the Sirens‚ the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey‚ Odysseus‚ leads his men through any challenge put before them. In this famous epic‚ -Odysseus faces several challenges on his journey home from the ten year war at famed city Troy that have gripped readers for centuries. Cursed by the gods and a less the astounding crew he has to fight for survival and to find his way home from the battle of Troy to Ithaca. A leader by choice he works
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Compare and Contrast of Odysseus and Aeneas Odysseus‚ the hero in The Odyssey‚ and Aeneas‚ the hero in The Aeneid‚ fought in opposing sides in the Trojan war. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca and was arguably the smartest king and warrior in all of Greece‚ whereas Aeneas was a warrior from Troy whose destiny was to found the Roman race in Italy. While both men were highly acclaimed by their respective countrymen as heroes‚ they shared many similarities in respect to their background‚ their virtue
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Homer explicitly illuminates the storytelling of Odysseus’ adventure. He describes the cyclops lair‚ where he and twelve of his crewmen where held captive for taking cheese and expecting a welcoming gift from the cyclops that lived there. "’I and the men you see escaped a sudden death.’ Not a word in reply to that‚ the ruthless brute. Lurching up‚ he lunged out with his hands toward my men and snatching two at once‚ rapping them on the ground he knocked them dead like pups- their brains gushed
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In the epic The Odyssey by Homer‚ the hero Odysseus progressively matures throughout his journey as he engages in guest-host relationships with Cyclops Polyphemus‚ the sorceress Circe‚ and Alcinous‚ King of Phaecia. Initially‚ Odysseus shows immaturity as he encounters Polyphemus as a guest on his island. After Odysseus and his crew defeat Polyphemus and escape from his cave‚ they rush onto their ship‚ ready to set sail. However‚ Odysseus “call[s] back to the Cyclops‚ stinging taunts” (IX‚ 530) and
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something bigger than oneself- Joesph Campbell. Odysseus is an an optimal hero in both the physical and metal sense. In the physical sense he is a tremendus hero‚ because he was challenged to all these extreme dangourous adventures; he umexpectly walks out alive after questioning for ten years long and facing the most extraordinarily dangerous creatures and people. Why would Homer set up this whole exciting experience with all the strange comings that Odysseus has to go through‚ if this was not to show
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Aeolus/ Island of the laestrygonians. Odysseus and his crew sailed nine days and nine nights. Until they reached aeolus were they soon gain aid from the wind god auelus that promised to lift his sails to guide him home. Aeolus did as he promised and guided him home but gave him a sack of wind. As Odysseus sailed days and nights to reach home he finally saw Ithica the land he and his crew have yearning to reach since the day they left their home. As Odysseus went to bed the men became greedy and
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