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Odysseus : A Hero 's Journey

Decent Essays

Kolby Smith kravchak Honors Humanities: Period 5
12 September 2014 Odysseus: A Hero’s Journey
Throughout the ages, scholars have been writing stories, telling tales, and painting pictures. Although each tale is different they all implement one universal form of writing known as the Hero’s Journey. The Hero’s Journey is a set of 6 steps in order to create an interesting and educational theme. Take Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings for example, each of them has a very different story line that makes them unique while still using the Hero’s Journey as a backbone. Many people have debated over whether or not The Odyssey implements the Hero’s Journey. Odysseus’s journey starts out when he is ordered to partake in the Trojan War. Odysseus has to leave everything behind in Ithaca to help the entire Greek Army sack the beach fortress, Troy. Once at Troy, he fights for 10 years eventually winning the war with his cunning plan to build a horse for the Trojans as a gift, then jumping out of the horse at night time to sack the city. This is where The Iliad stops and The Odyssey begins. Odysseus is so full of pride that he offends the gods, which have been helping him, and claims all the glory to himself. Out of anger the Gods decide to punish Odysseus and his army by keeping them away from Ithaca. They do this by sending him lots of walls that he has to break down. Eventually after 20 years away from his home and family, he makes it back and everything is happy once again.

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