The Heroism Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

In my eyes a hero is a person who shows courage, is humble, does not give up, and is someone everybody can relate to. The protagonist in “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is a hero because although he is emotional throughout the book and lets his emotions take over his actions, he displays immense courage and perseveres through his journey and hardships.

Prince Telemachus of Ithaca was living in a world of greed and disrespect during his father's twenty-year hiatus. His father, King Odysseus, had set off to fight along with fellow Greeks in the Trojan War. After the war, all the Greeks who did not perish during the battles had made it back to their homelands, with the exception of Odysseus. During this time suitors had taken over Odysseus' palace and were courting his wife. It was time for Telemachus to take action against the crude suitors and become a mature adult. In "The Odyssey" by Homer, a young prince sets off to learn news about his father. At the same time Telemachus meets influential people who introduce him to a whole new world, which propels him to become a mature and

Three traits that Odysseus and Telemakhos share are clear-headedness, eloquence, and showing strong emotion. They are portrayed with these traits in the Odyssey, composed by Homer. Odysseus is a renowned military strategist, warrior, and the King of Ithaca. He was forced to go to war against Troy twenty years ago, and since then has traveled all over the Aegean trying to find a way back home. Meanwhile, his son, Telemakhos, has developed into a full-grown man from the mere infant he was when his father left for war. He has searched far and wide for news of his father, still hoping, along with his mother, Penelope, that Odysseus is still alive somewhere and somehow, even though most have assumed he is dead. Through his ventures, Telemakhos

The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. For example, when Odysseus and his men find themselves on Polyphemus's island, Odysseus's actions are self-centered and at the expense of his men. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero.

Anyone can consider themselves a hero, but the people are who determine true heroism. Responsibility for one’s own actions is a component in determining whether someone is a hero. Also, when considering someone as a hero, honesty is a contributing factor. Many people, including Odysseus, can lack responsibility and honesty. Odysseus’ habit of blaming others for his mistakes, and his dishonesty toward his crew, proved he was not the admirable hero he thought he was.

The epic, The Odyssey, centers around Odysseus, whose disposition can be controversial. Like all heroes, Odysseus displays both positive and negative characteristics, which determine whether he is a admirable figure or not. In my opinion, the parts of his character that are commendable outweigh his lesser qualities, making him an honorable role in the poem. Odysseus’s three main favorable attributes are his cleverness, his determination, and his leadership.

Being a legitimate hero is not all about having the extraordinary supernatural powers commonly seen on television. Heroes are people who aid others, often putting themselves at risk to do so. They made the decision to fight, not necessarily physically, for their values. Odysseus, the main character in The Odyssey, should be considered a hero. He put his own life in jeopardy to protect his men from the supernatural threats that they faced throughout their journey. Odysseus should be regarded as a hero because he is brave, clever, and cautious.

The Odyssey by Homer, is a epic based off the actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes of a greek by the name of Odysseus. Throughout the story, Odysseus’ travels take him to new places on new adventures with no insight on what could happen next. Odysseus refers to himself, and is referred to a number of times, as a hero. Throughout the time of book 9 to book 12, there are many scenes throughout the story that portray the qualities Odysseus possesses that lead him to be given the heroic title. On the contrary, there are numerous occasions where Odysseus does things that might not be expected of someone seen as heroic. One of the first things that stood out to me starting in book 9, was Odysseus’ pride for his native land and where he comes from. Here, Odysseus states, “Nothing is sweeter than your own country” (Book 9, Line 37). This quotes shows how Odysseus is prideful of his home, Ithaca, and believes it to be the “sweetest sight” (Book 9, Line 31). Another scene that represents Odysseus’ heroic qualities is when Odysseus and his crew were being held by the cyclops, Polyphemus, and he comes up with an escape plan. During this, Odysseus states, “And I bade my comrades cast lots among them, which of them should have the hardihood with me to lift the stake and grind it into his eye when sweetsleep should come upon him.” (Book 9, Lines 328-329). To me, this portrays Odysseus as a quick thinker and a problem solver. In this situation, the problem was that him and

While Odysseus was on his long journey, he could have stopped at any point- the travel conditions were harsh, there were many nice islands to stay at, and many attractive women. Yet, he pushed through, staying loyal, to come back to Ithaca to his wife and son. Telemachus didn’t give up on his father either, as he “journeyed to Pylos and Sparta to learn what he [could] about his father’s fate”. (596) Although he was unsure about Odysseus’s plan, he stayed loyal to it and when Odysseus shot an arrow cleanly to win Penelope, Telemachus ran by his side, ready for whatever may come, “belted his sword on, clapped hand to his spear.” (608) Then, Odysseus made another perfect shot, right into the most annoying of suitor’s neck. This started an outrage, and formidably, Odysseus spat to the rest of the suitors, “Your last hour has come. You die in blood.” (610) With more hubris, but also truth, “I doubt one man of you skins by.” (611) When the wooers attacked, Odysseus, “the kingly man, let fly an arrow at that instant.” (611) Telemachus remained loyal and “with a spear throw from behind...hit him [another suitor] betweeen the shoulders.” (612) Like Odysseus, Telemachus then followed his instincts and came up with a small plan to stay safe- he would “bring [Odysseus] a shield and spear” while Odysseus “hold[s] them off with arrows.” (612) He armed the servants as

Throughout our studies on Greek mythology we have learned that, The Odyssey, demonstrates a prime example of the heroic cycle. The story begins after the defeat of the Trojans in the Trojan War. The greek hero, Odysseus, embarks on his victorious journey back to his home land of Ithaca. Fatefully, Odysseus’s journey goes awry resulting in him being captured and held hostage for seven years by the greek goddess, Calypso. Ultimately, the gods of Mt. Olympus decide the time has come for Odysseus to return to Ithaca and be reunited with his family. The gods send Hermes to Ogygia, Calypso’s island, to set Odysseus free. From that moment on, Odysseus is thrusted into his own heroic cycle. In Homer’s, The Odyssey during Odysseus’s journey to

After Odysseus reveals his identity, he takes revenge of the wooers and severely punished anyone that was associated during the occasion. He was justified with his actions when he struck back. His punishments were brutal but neccasary. He gave the wooers what they deserved.

Mary McCarthy once said, “we all live in suspense from day to day; in other words, you are the hero of your own story”(McCarthy). The quote relates to “The Odyssey” when Homer states heroic acts that Odysseus does. Throughout his suspenseful journey to make it back home, there are ups and downs when faced with reality, yet Odysseus still manages to fix his mistakes. Everyday got harder with Odysseus’s foes against him. Odysseus tries to save his men even though he knows their fate when he returns to Ithaca.

He charged into battle on the front line, he swung the sword and sliced off the enemy soldiers head clean off. There were only ten soldiers on the front line. The Odyssey is a series of books about a man named Odysseus, he went to war and got captured, it took him ten years of fighting and traveling to get home. Odysseus is considered a hero to the ancient Greeks because they wanted a hero to be intelligent, brave, and relatable and Odysseus fit that criteria. The ancient Greeks valued intelligence in a hero; Odysseus had that trait.

Homer’s epic, the Odyssey, tells the story of the famed war hero Odysseus, but the epic starts with the focus on his son, Telemachus. Although the Odyssey’s main focus is not on Telemachus, Odysseus’s story starts with him for a reason. Telemachus plays his own unique, important role in the story. Telemachus has been separated from Odysseus since his infanthood. Since the whereabouts of Odysseus are unknown to Telemachus, Telemachus worries for his father, and for all he knows, he might be dead.

“Many ways Homer's portrayal was insightful and way ahead of his time in terms of how he explores the themes of war and heroism. At the beginning of the play, Odysseus appears to fit the traditional image of a war hero -- brave and strong. We also see him full of his own importance -- announcing himself as 'Odysseus, the slayer of cities. But, as the play progresses and he begins his long journey home, Odysseus is confronted with the lasting impact of the war both on himself and those at home. There many layers to his character and how the war and the themes of the play affect him. We gradually see Odysseus become completely broken by his experiences”(Sawyerr).