odysseus: an epic hero Essay

When Polyphemus came he also grabbed some of his friends. Odysseus had to think of a way to set all of them free so he was forced to kill Polyphemus to set his friends free.It was a retribution for Odysseus to kill Polyphemus. “Straightforward they sprinted lifted it and rammed it deep in the crater of his eye”(pg 927). Odysseus and his friends used a masquerade to not be seen by the giant while they were getting the giant spear. Odysseus and 4 other men hurled a giant spear into the eye of Polyphemus. Polyphemus was so gullible to not be hospitable to Odysseus and his friends. Polyphemus should have not been so mean to Odysseus and steal his men. So Odysseus had to kill the cyclops but that is only the beginning of his journey he has greater enemies than just a cyclops. He is now up against the Sirens. “ He will not see his lady nor his children in joy crowding about him home from sea; the Sirens will sing his mind away”(pg

Along his journey, a Cyclops confines Odysseus's crew, and Odysseus must figure out a way to escape. Odysseus patiently tricks the Cyclops; he calls himself “nobody” so the Cyclops, Polyphemus, cannot call out for his friends to save him from going blind. However, right before they escape, Odysseus boasts, “If ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him, Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye” (160). He continues to taunt the Cyclops even when the Cyclops throws a hilltop at them. Subsequently, their actions anger Poseidon and creates further challenge for Odysseus’s journey to Ithaka. Rather than revealing his true identity, which may anger the Cyclops and prevent the crew’s escape, Odysseus faces humility to carry out his plan of trickery. He and the readers learn that high expectations, or overconfidence, create harmful impulses, since the Greek custom of receiving gifts as guests lead them to carelessly help themselves in the Cyclops’s cave. As a result, the Cyclops gets angry and traps them. On the other hand, he forgets modesty while close to escaping due to overconfidence. The Cyclops’s reaction and their subsequent misfortunes from the Gods teach Odysseus the lesson to never underestimate the effects of your actions, despite being close to safety. To add on Aeolus, the

An odyssey is a long journey filled with unexpected events or adventure. Homer’s The Odyssey is an epic poem or a long narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet. Many ancient writers used epic poetry to tell tales of intense adventures and heroic feats. Ancient Greeks believed men were rational and stable while women were irrational and dangerous.

Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. He devours two of Odysseus' men on the spot and imprisons Odysseus and the rest of his men in his cave for future meals. Much to his own demise, his own gluttonous nature takes control, leaving him in a drunken stupor and most vulnerable to Odysseys. Not only is he blinded, but he is also made to look foolish in the eye of the gods.

Someone who is considered an epic hero would be someone that was highly looked upon by society, because they would have the traits that are praised by the public. An epic hero is someone who has multiple larger-than-life qualities. Odysseus happened to possess some of these traits. He was stubborn, he was determined, and he also had his weaknesses. This, by definition, would consider him an ‘epic hero’.

I think first in order to figure out what makes Odysseus an “epic hero”, is to first consider what an epic hero is. An epic hero, is a hero in a story with extraordinary powers, talents, or wits. I think Odysseus can be called an epic hero, because his main concern throughout the story, is his crew and their well-being. The way Odysseus out smarts the Cyclops in part 1, is an example of his cleverness and courage. The way Odysseus interacts with his crew members, shows that he is not just a cruel conqueror sailing the ocean for treasure. For example, in part 2 of The Odyssey, the crew members actually cry when they see Odysseus alive.

A hero in the Homeric culture is defined as, “The hero’s duty is to fight, and the only way he had of gaining glory and immortality was through heroic action on the battlefield; thus, he continually prepared his life for the life-and-death risks of battle. The Homeric hero believed that men had to stand together in battle; men had to respect each other, and men had to restrain of excessive cruelty” (Cliff Notes). It has been debated for a very long time to whether or not Odysseus is a hero or not a hero in the epic poem, “The Odyssey”, because Odysseus doe some pretty questionable things throughout the epic poem to question his heroicness or not. So the question of whether or not Odysseus is a true hero in the epic can be quite mind boggling. Odysseus exposes the characteristics of a hero by finishing goals set for him, and defeating all the challenges thrown at him. For starters, Odysseus is honest, for the most part. Recall back to the part of the epic where Odysseus and his crew members are about to be passing the Island of the Sirens. Odysseus and his crew members were in harm’s way when this was happening. But Odysseus, being the hero he really is,

Even though Odysseus’ wits save lives, his arrogance restrains his crew and himself from going back home. This is evident when the hero and his men venture to The Island of The Cyclops. Not knowing where they are, the king of Ithaca and his assemblage explore to discover who inhabits in the island. Polyphemus, a Cyclops and son of Poseidon, confines the Achaeans in his cave and eats a portion of the crew. Using his intellect, Odysseus surpasses his obstacle and blinds the one-eyed creature to sail back home. Before the surviving Achaeans departs from the isle, the hero admits to Polyphemus that it was him, “Odysseus, raider of cities, [who] took your eye: Laertes son, whose home’s on Ithaca” (Homer 614). After the protagonist confesses, Polyphemus

The first reason why I think Odysseus is an epic hero is a man of outstanding wisdom and shreadness. Odysseus shows that he is a man of outstanding wisdom and shreadness when "Odysseus and his men then took the timber and heated the sharpened end in the fire until it glows red. Then with all their strength, they their red hot point into the eye of Polyphemus." Odyssues showed he has outstanding wisdom and shreadness in that scene.Odyssues is very strong and also a very wise man who demonstrates it all the time.

Odysseus stops at Polyphemus's island on his journey home and decides to go into his cave. Odysseus and twelve of his men met a savage cyclops who, by the time their ‘visit’ is over, has eaten six of them. To escape the cave Odysseus blinds Polyphemus. But because Odysseus can’t do something without recognition, he tells Polyphemus his name. Polyphemus then uses this information to beg to his father, Poseidon, to set a curse

Is Odysseus, the main character of Homer 's The Odyssey, really an epic hero? An epic hero exemplifies several heroic traits such as; immortal or super-human strength; being highly intellectual and courageous; and being a powerful and responsible leader. An epic hero has struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties whilst 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. During his quest he encounters many obstacles such as savage Cyclops, angered Gods, unrelenting Goddesses, the pitiful underworld, and restless suitors that steal his wealth and won’t stop courting his wife Penelope. Odysseus overcomes these hindrances and returns home alive and safe with courage, intelligence, mental and physical strength, valor leadership, and many brave deeds.

Odysseus was and still is today an epic hero, though he had his qualities and his flaws, he is the archetypal base of every epic from then on. In this case, Odysseus is more than just an epic hero. Odysseus made the traits and characteristics of an epic hero. What makes Odysseus an epic hero is the wiseness he has while motivating others to never give up, his cleverness, and loyalty to his troops.

(Skidmore) Polyphemus was unable to detect the escaping Greeks are clinging to his goats when he let the flock out into the yard. Next, Odysseus wanted to take his sword right then, but he knew that only Polyphemus was strong enough to move the rock that he had placed across the door of his cave. When Polyphemus asks Odysseus for his name, he says ¨Nobody.¨ As soon as Polyphemus collapses with intoxication, Odysseus and his men drove the red-hot staff into his eye. When Polyphemus wakes up screaming, his neighbors came to see what was wrong, he screamed ¨Nobody is killing me,¨ when they heard that, they left. Lastly, Polyphemus rolled the great rock from the mouth of the cave to let out his flock, being totally blind, and knowing the Greeks would try to escape, he felt each animal as he let it pass. Odysseus and his men held on to the belly of a ram, and, one at a time escaped from the cave. They quickly ran to their ship, taking with them part of the flock. Once aboard, Odysseus taunted Polyphemus by telling him his true identity, and Polyphemus, realizing he had been tricked hurled rocks at the ship, trying to smash its hull to pieces. When Odysseus had made his escape, Polyphemus prayed to his father asking him to send a curse, and throughout the rest of Odysseus ' journey home Poseidon was his enemy.

But when Polyphemus’s neighbors run to his aid after hearing his scream, he replies to them “Nobody’s killing me”. Which is comical and shows the deceptive whit of Odysseus. Later in the book upon his return to Ithaca, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, interacts with his former swineherd, Eumaeus. The use of the disguise allows Odysseus to gain intel on what has become of his home and to see where loyalty lies. By Odysseus’ interpersonal intelligence it allows his to work with others in a way that is beneficial to him and eventually succeed in his ultimate goal of returning home.

My name Polyphemus. I am a cyclops, a son of the sea god Poseidon and a sea nymph Thoosa. I live in Sicily along with other cyclops. I will tell you about how I encountered Odysseus and how he tricked me. I had found some humans in my cave at night, one of them told me that Zeus was helping them. “The Cyclopes care nothing about Zeus, who bears the aegis, or the blessed gods. We are much more powerful than them. I wouldn’t spare you or your comrades to escape the wrath of Zeus, not unless my own heart prompted me to,” I said. I ate two of the men and I imprison the rest of them for future meals. The next morning I went out to watch my sheeps and when I returned someone offered me some delicious wine that I couldn’t resist drinking. The wine was strong that I was feeling a