Odysseus An Epic Hero Research Paper

Since the cyclops’ vision is impaired, Odysseus “tied them silently together, twining/cords of willow from the ogre’s bed/then slung a man under each middle one/to ride there safely, shielded left and right/So three sheep could convey each man” (Homer 500). Odysseus possess the trait of cleverness which is demonstrated through his quick thinking and by only using using the resources available to free his men from Polyphemus’ grasp. He is a man to be revered because he uses his cunning skills to help others reach safety. Odysseus is also the last man to exit the cave because he puts their lives before his. He is also willing to take the responsibility and consequences of their actions. For example, if the cyclops were to notice him he would force his men escape and leave him behind to be devoured. Odysseus is a hero, for his willingness to put his companions’ lives before his own and use of his wits to save those around him.

     Is Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey, really an epic hero? An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca after ten years of war in Troy. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. Odysseus surmounts

A Homeric epic hero is taken into account to be senior to a standard individual. The traits of a typical epic hero are strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence. In fact, the Macmillan lexicon for students defines a hero as "one who is loved and researched to for valorousness, achievements, and noble qualities" (483). odysseus fulfills all the necessities for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, whereas his excellent displays of strength and cunnings have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His conceitedness sets him back, however, his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. within the initial few lines of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes himself as "formidable for guile in peace and war". He knows that he's a formidable opponent, and there are instances where his guile has caused both harmony and violence. regardless of what challenge Odysseus faces, he invariably clearly demonstrates the characteristics of an epic hero.

The epic hero is a figure of great stature and may be a character from history or legend. Epic heroes’ most remarkable traits are usually the ones most valued by the society from which the epic came. The main character in this epic is Odysseus. Odysseus is on a quest to find his home after a war. Odysseus is an epic hero.

Odysseus was very brave, almost to the point of throwing away his men 's lives to take a risk. While Odysseus was on the island of the Cyclopes, he explored more than most men would have when he walked into the cave of Polyphemus. He did find lots of cheese and milk, but the result of this was death for some of his men when Polyphemus returned and found them there.

When Odysseus becomes trapped in the Cyclops, Polyphemus’s, cave, he realizes that now is the time to use his strategy rather than strength. It all starts with his ‘libations’ to the Cyclops. Odysseus consistently gives Polyphemus wine “to top off the banquet of human flesh [he has] bolted down!” which is the crew members that Cyclops has eaten ( 9. 222). The most crucial part of Odysseus’s plan is when he tells Polyphemus his name is “Nobody- so my mother and father call me” (9. 223). This particular name that he tells Cyclops helps him escape the other cyclops on the island. Once they stab Polyphemus’s eye with a burning hot stick, the other cyclops wake up to ask him if anyone else is in there with him. Polyphemus, thinking that Odysseus’s name is actually ‘Nobody’, tells them that ‘Nobody’ is in there with him, While escaping death from the cyclops, Odysseus also blinds the cyclops, and saves the rest of his crew. Odysseus chose to use his strategy in place of trying to use his strength which would not have helped him escape. In this situation, strength is no use, seeing as the cyclops is ten times as strong as him.

In this book the little girl who we all know as Athena even gives Odysseus advice, ?A cheerful man does best in every enterprise, even a stranger? (Book 7). The interference by Athena shows how much she likes Odysseus and how much she wants him to make it home to the suitors.

One example from The Odyssey, is when Odysseus confronts with the Sirens. While sailing to Helios’ island, Odysseus and his crew are introduced to the Sirens; however, the Sirens, who were notorious for their heinous singing that would mesmerize any man who heard it to become hypnotized into following the Sirens and dying from them as a result, would not be able to captivate Odysseus’ crew. This was because Odysseus told his crew to fill their ears with beeswax in order to block out the Sirens’ singing. In addition, Odysseus ordered his crew to tie him down on the mast. This idea shows Odysseus’ cunning ideas and imagination because Odysseus found a way for his crew to row through the Sirens without being apprehended or enticed by the Sirens.

Odysseus showed his intelligence when he and his men encountered the sirens on their way back to Ithaca. Circe told Odysseus that his men, and him had to put beeswax in their ears, to be able to drain out the songs made by the sirens. Odysseus knew that he would not be able to stop himself from taking the

An epic hero is a larger-than-life central character in an epic. Odysseus portrays the key traits that an epic hero has while he is on a journey to save his wife from the corrupt suitors and return home. In the Odyssey by Homer translated by Robert Fagles , the protagonist, is on his way home and he goes through many hardships and obstacles but the traits that he has keeps him going and make him a great epic hero. Odysseus portrays an epic hero because he is brave, resourceful, and deceptive. To begin with, Odysseus demonstrates immense bravery as a leader through the poem and in dangerous situations.

Odysseus has many ups and downs. He is considered an epic hero because of his many heroic actions. One of his heroic actions was saving his crew from the cyclops cave. Odysseus brought potent wine, and got the cyclops drunk. He then blinds the cyclops with a heated sharpened timber stake. He then ties his men under the sheep so the cyclops can't see them, and saves all his crew from the cave.

A king, a diplomat, and a general, Odysseus was a leader of great prowess, though, as with all things, imperfect. Odysseus fancied himself worthy of godhood, and therefore thought himself above others, which was often his greatest downfall. Whether trapped in a cave with a bloodthirsty cyclops or passing through the Isle of the Sirens, Odysseus could generally be trusted to find a way out of a situation. A prime example of how Odysseus protected his men was when he went through the Isle of the Sirens. He knew that their song would try and entice him and his men to death, and that he himself would be used to attempt to lure them to death, so he warned his men beforehand to plug their ears with wax and tie him to the mast.

For more proof being when he ran into the sirens. “Sirens weaving a haunting song over the sea we are to shun” ( Beers and Odell 780). No one could listen to the songs that the sirens sang for risk of being unhappy at home. Odysseus could have avoided all of these challenges if it wasn't for his

An epic is defined as a long narrative poem describing the noble and courageous deeds of a hero. Similarly, a hero is denoted as an individual who can be seen as a role model, maintaining qualities and characteristics worth looking up to and hoping to achieve. Odysseus, being the main character of Homer’s epic The Odyssey, is given the title of a hero by these definitions. He is the center of attention throughout the poem and the people of Ithaka speak of him as if he has god-like qualities. However, when his decisions and intents are examined deeper, it is clearly discernible that Odysseus is acting out of his own hubris and self-centered nature, taking unnecessary risks as he travels home due to his elite status among mortal men.

Odysseus is one of the greatest epic heros in the history of literature. The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic poem, which depicts the journey home of Odysseus. Angering many gods, this voyage takes him through multiple obstacles, and ends up taking almost twenty years longer than it should've. Throughout his journey, “The Son of Laertes” must get his crew out of trouble multiple times. He uses his intellect and other strengths to do so, and never gives up, no matter the circumstance. Even after losing everything he needs in a storm worthy of the gods, Odysseus still never gives up, and gets himself out of trouble yet again. Throughout his entire journey, coming home from the Trojan War, Odysseus repeatedly uses many heroic traits to get himself and his crew out of many unfortunate situations. These heroic traits, how Odysseus uses them, and the steps of his journey all come together to illustrate that he is an epic hero. Odysseus characterizes himself as an epic hero based on how he almost perfectly follows the characteristics of an epic hero, gets his crew out of trouble multiple times, and follows the Hero's Journey.