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Odyssey Hero Essay

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Odyssey Heroic Essay

Odysseus is the main character of the Odyssey, the second great Homeric epic, and one of the best known examples of heroism of all time. The word odyssey now means to undertake a long and potentially perilous journey, and is named in honor of this. The core attributes of any hero are proactivity in regards to conflict, competence, and relatability, and Odysseus displays all three. Further aspects that define his heroism are his courage, intelligence, and perseverance. Another very notable aspect is his ultimate respect for Ancient Greek civilization, and the gods of the area. Courage, intelligence, faith, and perseverance combined with the core heroic attributes make a hero who is compelling and well-written.

Proactivity, competence, and relatability, are what ultimately define heroes, and drive the plot of The Odyssey. Proactive heroes are important because as part of a heroic journey, the hero has to initiate some conflict. Nobody wants to listen to a …show more content…

The Ancient Greek word metis means great cleverness, wisdom, and natural charisma all at once. Odysseus is definitely possessing of these traits in abundance, because where most trained Greek soldiers would blindly charge at their opponent, or do whatever their superior ordered them to do, Odysseus formulates plans and gets others and occasionally himself to act them out. In his encounter with the Cyclopes Polyphemus, Son of Poseidon, instead of simply attacking, Odysseus decides to think for a second and decides to get the Cyclopes drunk, blinded, and willing to move the rock blocking the cave entrance. In his encounter with Scylla and Charybdis, instead of choosing one monster and simply surviving the attacks, he chooses to use the olive branch to get across. This is a heroic trait because it’s a superhuman feat or quality, and Odysseus uses it to solve his

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