Odysseus: Not an Epic Hero The Odyssey is one of the most famous ancient Greek epic poems written by Homer. It tells an adventure and struggle of the main character‚ Odysseus‚ trying to get back home to Ithaca from Troy. In this epic‚ Homer portrays Odysseus as a hero. However‚ in my opinion‚ he is not a hero because he received too much help from the Gods‚ did not protect his men‚ and was selfish at times. Heroes should be helped but there is a limit to it. Throughout the poem‚ that limit
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Odysseus‚ the main character of The Odyssey‚by Homer‚ certainly qualifies as an epic hero. He has help from numerous characters‚ defeats a handful of supernatural enemies‚ and is known by many individuals from across the land. Odysseus‚ the main character of The Odyssey‚ certainly qualifies as an epic hero. He has help from numerous characters‚ defeats a handful of supernatural enemies‚ and is known by many individuals from across the land. These three qualifications are what set apart a normal
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remarked that "Being a hero is about the shortest lived profession on earth" (atd. in carnival of wit 222). While this may be literally true‚ most heroes live on figuratively in the recorded stories of their exploits‚ and in many cases they model characteristics that can inspire readers to emulate they’re behavior. One obvious example is Homer’s Odysseus the fictional king of Ithaca whose courage‚ strength‚ and quest for immortality define him as the prototypical epic hero. His encounters with the
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Odysseus Many people talk about epic heroes‚ and all their qualities of being so epic. Epic heroes evolve from what they do and how they are. They have this life of being admired or being so good at something. Well‚ Odysseus is an epic hero‚ my epic hero. He has all the perfect qualities for him to be called an epic hero. Odysseus has gone through many things during his life as it is said in the odyssey. The odyssey explains and tells the story of Odysseus on the journey he had. It was a long
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Odysseus: The Past’s Hero or Today’s Scoundrel? When one thinks of a hero‚ one thinks of a good hearted person. Someone who saves lives and is righteous. An epic hero like Odysseus is not the two dimensional character found in Grimm’s Fairy Tales. He exhibits both traits of a hero and a villain. While clever and determined‚ Odysseus is unfaithful and selfish. Although revered in the past‚ Odysseus is not so glorious today. Odysseus shows infidelity multiple times throughout the whole epic. First
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Lopez English I HP‚ Period 6 Miss Grabowski January 27‚ 2011 Odysseus as Epic Hero The Odyssey‚ written by Homer‚ describes an epic hero to be a mortal male‚ someone who goes on along‚ dangerous expedition‚ also who is very brave‚ intelligent‚ and responsible. He will face many conflicts yet always manages to prevail. Odysseus possesses all these traits and demonstrates it throughout the entire Odyssey‚ such as when Odysseus and his men become trapped in a Cyclops’ cave and he needs to figure
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An epic hero is a brave and noble character‚ admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. The source from which this comes from is “The Odyssey” by Homer. This story is about a man named Odysseus who fought to save his life. Suffering from bitter days and nights. Trying to get his shipmates home. Although Odysseus couldn’t save them‚ for their own recklessness destroyed each and every one of them. Acting as children and fools‚ they feasted on the cattle of the Sun God Helios. From
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Odysseus suffered many problems on his journey home from the Battle of Troy. What did he suffer and how did this make him a better epic hero? Although Odysseus saves and ruins his crew’s lives‚ he is showing the reader that he is wanting to get back to his home in Ithaca. First of all‚ as Odysseus wins the Battle of Troy‚ he does not leave Troy immediately. He stays to show his victory by drinking wine. “Six benches were left empty in every ship / that evening when we pulled away from death.” (line
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Many factors contribute to Odysseus being an epic hero. The first would be his wit when it came to the cyclops. Odysseus and his men face the monstrous Cyclops‚ and are basically held captive in there attempts to escape. However‚ Odysseus trick the cyclops by offering him an abundance of wine‚ which gets him drunk. Odysseus then take a hot rod‚ and pokes out the Cyclops eye. This aids them in getting away from the dreaded island. Odysseus use his intelligence to help his men escape‚ but not without
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of greatness and leader of courage strives to return home. In Homer’s epic poem‚ The Odyssey‚ Odysseus‚ the central character of the epic‚ applies his strengths‚ leadership skills and his determination to reach his abode escaping from flesh eating one-eyed mammoths‚ arrogant betrayers‚ and violent whirlpool and sea monsters. Odysseus and his crew face the impossible challenges on his voyage back home‚ but with Odysseus’ leadership‚ they prevail. Approaching Scylla and Charybdis‚ a violent
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