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Odysseus was the Hero in the Epic, The Odyssey, by Homer

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Odysseus is the hero in the Epic “The Odyssey” by Homer. He embodies many characteristics of a typical Epic hero, but he still strays from the norm in some ways, which makes him unique. He values Ithaca, his home, so much that he spends years getting back, struggling the whole way, and doing what it takes to protect his home. Throughout the whole story, Odysseus is trying to get home. Odysseus’s purpose is to get his men and himself back to Ithaca. On the way, he and his crew face many challenges meant to prevent them from getting home, such as harsh sailing conditions provided by Poseidon, a god who is mad at Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops. Throughout the story he uses his intelligence to fulfill the goal of getting back …show more content…

After about 20 years, Odysseus finally made it home back to Penelope, his wife. The fact that it took him so long shows that he values his home so much that he will take as long as it takes to get home. In book 22, he shows how much he values his home again by killing all of the suitors who were at his home. Odysseus also values his intelligence. He is known for his wisdom and continues to prove he is wise throughout the story, like when he outsmarted the Cyclops. His wisdom is important to him. Odysseus has many characteristics that make him a typical Epic hero. He is of high social status, so he is well-known and well-liked by people. All of the gods are on his side other than Poseidon, but that is only because Odysseus blinded his son, which had to be done for Odysseus to get back to Ithaca. Despite his appearance, many women want to make him their husband because of his high social status and wisdom. In book 21, Antinous said that no man is equal to him. This shows the reader that Odysseus’s social status is so high that other people can not even compare. People were ecstatic when he returned to Ithaca because they all know of him and like him. Odysseus is also intelligent, another characteristic of an epic hero. He lived while all of his men died because he was wise and his men did not do as they were told by Odysseus. For instance, Odysseus was wise

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