Is Odysseus a true hero as popular opinion would have us believe, due to the crucial role he played in winning the Trojan War and returning home to his kingdom, Ithaca? Or is he a self-serving leader with numerous faults? In Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero, but, when one examines his quest, actions, deeds, and various peer commentaries, it is easy to unmask the numerous flaws that he actually has. After playing a pivotal role in...
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Odysseus is renowned for his intellectual brilliance, guile, and versatility. He is the son of Laertes and Anticlea, the spouse of Penelope, and the father to Telemachus. Odysseus is best known as the Odyssey’s eponymous hero. This epic depicts his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War to reclaim his rightful throne as king of Ithaca. Intelligence is a vital quality for an epic hero to possess. Odysseus’ quick thinking, paired with his eloquence in speech and other qualities, has...
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In Greek Mythology, people describe Odysseus as a godlike person. He struggles with adversity during his sailing, showing his bravery, intelligence, and perseverance. However, the basis of Odysseus is still a man. Therefore he has normal human characteristics. In the battle with the Cyclops Polyphemus, both his godlike and human-like characteristics are shown. The wisdom of Odysseus is in his survival for ten years of adventure at sea. When fighting against the one-eyed giant, he gave full play to his...
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Homer’s Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh are famous mythological ventures that have been attributed to their heroic characters. Comparing these two mythological heroes through literature can assist us on hold close to how unique are their characteristics and heroic ideals. This Comparison of the Odyssey and Gilgamesh has helped in discovering the similarities and differences they have and share. This epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey is held in a manner of appreciation through literature as they prove an...
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Gilgamesh of Uruk and Odysseus of Ithaca: two heroic characters from two different worlds. Odysseus inherited the right to the throne and ruled Ithaca; complemented by his impartiality, ruthlessness, and diplomatic skills. These men lived in two different time frames, yet they both strived to reach one goal: to find the meaning of life. Gilgamesh, a character from The Epic of Gilgamesh, is a demi-god; the son of the goddess Ninsun and the hero Lugalbana. He grew up living a...
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Introduction to the Archetypal Hero: Odysseus A hero is defined as a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal’. The definition of a hero is someone who is respected for doing something great and is respected for doing so. An average hero, or an archetypal hero, also has flaws to accompany his heroic acts. Archetypal heroes are people who do noble or heroic...
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In mythology, heroes were considered to be any man who fights and defeats monsters. To become a hero, heroes in mythology had to go through a hero’s journey which would then make them a hero that everyone knows. In The Odyssey by Homer, a narration of The Odyssey reveals that Odysseus is a hero in this story. The definition of hero has changed throughout history but the meaning from the past and present are still very similar. The modern idea...
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A man in the likeness of dishonesty is like an illusion, one that hides his deception and guile. Odysseus displays a false representation of merit as his more prominent heroic qualities conceal his dishonorable traits. However, mere strength and bravery alone, does not make a hero honorable. Honor can be defined as an individual who adheres to a right or conventional standard of conduct. Odysseus does not abide by these standards, instead creating his own code of conduct for himself...
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In literature, the way that people treat others is based solely on feelings and actions. The Odyssey is no exception to this. In Homer’s epic The Odyssey, both gods and goddesses have certain feelings and thoughts on the past actions of Odysseus and use them to decide how to treat him. Although many god to human relationships in The Odyssey exist, many gods and goddesses have different reasons to like or dislike Odysseus. In this book, gods and goddesses decide...
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The storyteller of the Odyssey conjures the Muse, requesting motivation as he gets ready to recount to the narrative of Odysseus. The story starts ten years after the finish of the Trojan War, the subject of the Iliad. The entirety of the Greek legends with the exception of Odysseus have come all the way back. Odysseus mulls on the remote island Ogygia with the goddess Calypso, who has become hopelessly enamored with him and won’t let him leave. In the...
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Odysseus is the hero or primary character and the legend of this epic ballad. Odysseus was the lord of Ithaca, was hitched Sovereign Penelope and was likewise the dad of Ruler Telemachus. Odysseus was depicted as an incredible warrior, who sets off toward the start of the ballad to go battle among the hardest warriors in the clash of Troy. He was a man of a savvy and quick man; creative, yet in addition expressive, fearless, loaded with continuance, and...
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Odysseus’ return symbolises the return to civilisation and the world of mankind. Odysseus’ travels do not relate to geography, instead they explore the pillars that define both man and civilisation, one’s identity as a man, mortality, sacrifice, and working the land and the preparation of food. His return is a story of returning to normalcy, and his acceptance of the constraints placed on man. The worlds he visits are fantastical, and the beings vary from super to sub human to...
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In Homer’s The Odyssey, there were multiple power struggles between various gods, including Athena and Poseidon in regards to Odysseus, the protagonist hero. Throughout the story Odysseus is confronted with multiple events that change how long it takes for him to return home to his family. Does Odysseus have free will and is capable of determining his own fate or are the gods controlling that for him? This essay will identifying three incidents in which Odysseus determines the course of...
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Every weakness contains within itself a strength. Odysseus is known for his long journey, attempting to return home after the Trojan War events. He had some challenges to seek vengeance and let his pride get the best out of him. Odysseus has struggled with excessive pride, exaggeration, throughout this narrative. So how do the unique strengths and weaknesses of Odysseus magnify his voyage on the sea? There have been several times in which Odysseus has displayed bravery. He is always...
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One of the traits of an epic is that a character must have a transformation of nature throughout their journey in the narrative. For the Odyssey, that character would be Odysseus. Through all the encounters with gods, giants, monsters, and humans, each which helps in his development, he is able to grow into a different man as he manages to survive and reach his homeland of Ithaca. Aside from gaining the heroic qualities that Greeks value, his morality also shifted...
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Courage and Wits are the main characteristics into becoming a hero. In the movie The Lion King, Mufasa says “I’m only brave when I have to. Being brave doesn’t mean looking for trouble”. Mufasa just wants to protect his kingdom and his family, that’s what Odysseus wants to accomplish as well. This quote displays Odysseus’s courage towards the journey he embarks on as well as his courage to protect his men. Odysseus is a natural-born leader who people listen to....
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Odysseus is an epic hero because he carries the traits that a hero is known for. He is brave, strong, and a great leader of men. He is known to be a speaker that can motivate his men to follow him through any kind of situation without question. He has a caring for the men he leads which creates a sense of selflessness. He truly is what an epic hero should be. Odysseus by far is a strong warrior from...
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Odysseus is forced to show humility by first asking Nausicaa for help at the river, and then further shows humility by being at the whim of the rules of the aide he seeks. He is also showing humility when he chooses to bathe himself, instead of having Nausicaa’s ladies bathe him. Athena must assist him as he approaches the palace of Alcinous because she has to protect him from drawing the attention of the Phaeacians, as they do not take...
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