Odysseus Epic Hero Traits

Odysseus is a legendary hero in Greek mythology, king of the island. He is the main protagonist of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. He is also a protagonist character in the other Homeric epic, The Iliad. In the epic Odyssey, Odysseus has many defining characteristics. His most distinguishing traits are strength, courage, and confidence.

Of all literature works read thus far, the Odyssey full fills the hero’s journey in all aspects of the story. Throughout this story there are vivid examples of how the hero’s journey is outlined. From the beginning of “the hero’s journey”, which is the call to adventure Odysseus will begin his journey when he makes the choice of going into battle in the Trojan War. There will also be specific events in this epic story to display “the hero’s journey” even further. Eventually the end of the journey will be revealed when Odysseus regains his family, friends, and home. This part of

A Homeric epic hero is considered to be above a normal human being. The traits of a typical epic hero are strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence. In fact, the Macmillan Dictionary for Students defines a hero as "one who is admired and looked up to for valor, achievements, and noble qualities" (483). Odysseus fulfills all of the requirements 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, while his superb displays of strength and cunningness have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His arrogance sets him back, but his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. In the

A characteristic that defines Odysseus as an epic hero is his intelligence. Odysseus and his men were trapped in a cave so Odysseus came up with a plan to injure Polyphemus, the cyclops, in order to escape as Polyphemus furiously stood in front of the entrance. Odysseus managed to escape by his cleverness. An example is, “I took the wooliest ram, the choicest of the flock, and hung myself under his kinky belly”. This explains the way Odysseus had escape by wrapping himself under a sheep’s belly and waited until morning for the flocks of sheep to leave the cave and enter their pastor. It turned out to be a successful escape because he managed to come out alive. Overall Odysseus did not only stab the cyclops in the eye for it to lose his vision but he manages to come up with a clever plan to escape. This shows Odysseus using his intelligence to defeat cyclops which is why he is

Odysseus displays as an epic hero in the Odyssey. But what is an epic hero? Some characteristics of an epic hero is someone who is brave, strong, and intelligent. A hero was a leader who had not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Odysseus faces many obstacles and life-threatening situations, but he overcomes them all. Odysseus demonstrates a lot of heroic like qualities during the reading of the odyssey.

In the epic, Odysseus portrays qualities of being a brave warrior. Odysseus can be described as a brave warrior because he fought the Cyclops with help of his crew and made it through all of his wife’s suitors. Odysseus had been captured along with his crew but they managed to make a battle plan, which was to temporarily blind the beast by stabbing him in the eye. Also, when Odysseus arrived home, he gained respect from the suitors by shooting the bow and completing the challenge his wife had made and killing all of the suitors that had eaten his food and trying to get his fortune.

Lastly, Odysseus is an epic hero is that Odysseus was born from royalty and had supernatural help on his quest. Odysseus, like any other, has many fantastic qualities and a handful of flaws. He had self- control and turned away from nectar that would make him forget everything about his dear home. He was brave and often got himself and his friends out of trouble. Odysseus, in all his bravery and courage, had flaws.

The first characteristic that makes Odysseus an epic hero is that he answers a call to action. Odysseus answers two calls to action in The Odyssey. His first call is to go to Troy with Agamemnon and rescue Helen even though his son Telemachus has just been born and his wife Penelope doesn't want him

Odysseus shows both the epic hero qualities of leadership and wisdom when he and his men are dealing with the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Odysseus shows the epic hero quality of leadership. He shows this when he tells his men not to give up. After heating the spear in the fire, Odysseus, “cheered [his] men along with battle talk to keep their courage up: no quitting now” (325-326). Odysseus confirms his position as the leader by giving a pep talk to his men like teams do before games. By cheering his men on, Odysseus illustrates the epic hero quality of leadership.

What would you call an epic hero? Someone who saves the world by defeating the villain? No matter what it is, there's a hero in every story. Odysseus is a distinct kind of epic hero. In the Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus displays heroic qualities such as bravery, intelligence, and perseverance.

The Odyssey is a great example of heroes and the traits they possess. One such hero in the book is named Odysseus. A man who has been away from his home in Ithaca for 20 years. Throughout his adventures, he has been through many dangerous obstacles in the way of him and his crew, which have even taken the lives of many of his men as well. The traits that make Odysseus a hero are courage, intelligence, and confidence.

“ Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.” (Homer page 751 lines: 0-4) That was an opening prayer from The Odyssey. The Odyssey is about a 20 year-long travel of a man named Odysseus. He traveled to Troy facing the dangers on many mythical creatures and many fictional creatures. This king of Ithaca, left his beloved wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, that he has not seen since his son was a young child. Odysseus expresses his traits, that helps him survive the obstacles he faces. Odysseus’ traits are bravery, curiosity, and intelligence.

Different people have different thoughts of being a hero. Where if it’s being intelligent, full of courage and bravery or if it encounters dedications and loyalty. The quantities and characteristics that make up a hero to me is that they need to have courage and bravery where they would protect their people from any future trouble, also I believe a true hero should be selfless and be able to sacrifice their own life for others. Odysseus was classed as a legendary ‘hero’ in Greek mythology, however many people have questioned if Odysseus really was a hero. Odysseus displayed characteristics from both hero and human, he was full of courage and strength where he challenges to return home to Ithaca and successfully overcome difficult situations

The Greek poem, The Odyssey, is a very long detailed story of the epic hero Odysseus, and his adventures. The story takes place on the open ocean, and tells the obstacles/places Odysseus and his crew come into contact with. Odysseus is the main character, and is said to be a marine captain and soldier. Throughout the story, the reader gets to know Odysseus through his actions, and his crewmates perspective of him. We also learn who Odysseus is as a person, and learn much about Greek Mythology as well.

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.