odysseus and achilles

Homer's two central heroes, Odysseus and Achilles, are in many ways differing manifestations of the same themes. While Achilles' character is almost utterly consistent in his rage, pride, and near divinity, Odysseus' character is difficult to pin down to a single moral; though perhaps more human than Achilles, he remains more difficult to understand. Nevertheless, both heroes are defined not by their appearances, nor by the impressions they leave upon the minds of those around them, nor even so much by the words they speak, but almost entirely by their actions. Action is what drives the plot of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and action is what holds the characters together. In this respect, the theme of humanity

Achilles, the warrior who has slain thousands of men in head to head combat; or Odysseus, a man who has slain thousands of has slain hundreds of men without them realizing. Today, copious amounts of professors will debate on which character is more influential and which is more relatable. To be “Achillian” would be one who is honest, direct to the point, and is very impulsive. On the other hand, to be “Odyssian” would be one who is deceptive, cunning, and uses a more methodical approach. Both of these epic heroes are revered in history, but is one greater than the other? How can two men be so different, and yet, so similar? In both of Homer’s works the Iliad and the Odyssey, Achilles and Odysseus shoe the traits our culture views as being heroic, yet they manage to do in in tremendously different ways.

A key event that delays Odysseus immensely on his journey home is Poseidon’s revenge. While sailing home, Odysseus and his men come to encounter Polyphemus, Poseidon’s Cyclops son. Odysseus and his men try to steal food from Polyphemus while he is away tending to his flock (Homer 362). When Polyphemus returns to his cave, he finds Odysseus and his men, and traps them in his cave. While trapped in the cave, Polyphemus eats many of Odysseus’

Odysseus thinks that his reasoning are final and his activities are constantly just and right, although he frequently allows his ego control his rational thinking, resulting harm to his group and messing with the gods’s plans. His men could have went back home Securely for it is the desire of Athena and the other heavenly gods who surround to her in Mount Olympus, however Odysseus takes it to himself to outrage and blind Polyphemus, the monstrous son of Poseidon, adored by his dad yet abhorred by the people, In this way distrusting their whole arrangement . Subsequent to being blinded by the heroine, Polyphemus tosses huge pieces of rocks at Odysseus's ship, nearly obliterating them at the same time. But instead of retreating for safety, Odysseus keeps on provoking Polyphemus and “[calls] out to the cyclopes again, with [his] men hanging all over [him] begging him not to”(Book 9, 491-492). His feeling of pride and presumption influences to disregard the requests of his people even in these critical circumstances . He will fulfill his own feeling of interest and pleasure without thinking of the result it would have on his crew. Despite the fact that he is bound to get away from all passings and assaults, his group isn’t so blessed. Their lives are in mortal peril since Odysseus considers them as child sheeps who should forfeit their lives for him when the circumstances comes, much the same as how mortals make conciliatory offerings of sheeps for the heavenly gods. He is willing to fulfill his own feeling of interest without thinking of his groups lives or their suppositions and is regularly infuriated when they negate his request. If they hurt his sense of pride and self-importance and pomposity , Odysseus will be overcome with outrage and

The Greek heroes Achilles and Odysseus both embody strong characteristics classically found in Greek mythology, but this doesn’t mean they don’t possess flaws like mortal men. While Achilles and Odysseus are different in lineage, one being a demigod and the other a mortal, they still share similar attributes. Both of the heroes are prideful and selfish in nature and allow their arrogance to stunt their growth as individuals believing they are above showing humility for their actions. Another similarity they share that I find admirable is the endless amount of courage and sheer determination they possess as they fearlessly face danger head-on. In contrast, both heroes differ greatly in their strengths; in battle Achilles uses his physical strength to his advantage while Odysseus relies on his intelligence and wit, often outsmarting his opponents. Another significant difference between the two men is their differing view towards the Trojan War. Achilles is driven by his anger and hatred of Paris and impulsively reacts in a self-destructive manner, whereas Odysseus is the complete opposite of Achilles, as he takes control of the situation using logic and rational thinking to solve his problems.

His men sacrificed their lives trying to protect him from getting killed because Odysseus was the only one that could guide them back home to Ithaca. When visiting the island of Polyphemus, the Cyclops, his main goal was to raid the Cyclops’ home, but Odysseus stayed, thinking that he will receive a gift from the beast. This idea ended up turning into a tragedy and the end result was that six of Odysseus’ men were eaten alive by Polyphemus. Odysseus blinded the Cyclops with a large wooden spear, not knowing that the one-eyed beast was the son of Poseidon. Screaming in agony, Polyphemus prayed to his father proclaiming “Let him lose all companions, and return/ under strange sail to bitter days at home” (Homer 9.

Literature is one of the most powerful and revealing aspects of a society. In ancient Greek society, Homer’s The Odyssey provides a detailed insight into the values of this intricate culture. In particular, this epic discusses the ways in which the deathless gods influence the fates of the mortals. The overall impact of the gods’ power is the mental straining that emerges from the unrelenting conflict of man versus immortal. Likewise, the actions and misfortunes of others also catalyze this extremely significant and powerful mental battle. Homer’s The Odyssey reveals the values of ancient Greece by portraying the intrapersonal struggles between a person’s self-determined honor and his/her worthiness in the eyes of the Gods. This underlying

After arriving on the island of the phaeacians, Odysseus is trying to prove to the court that he is odysseus by telling them of his life between leaving troy, and arriving on their island. It is in this part of the retelling that Odysseus and his men have been trapped by the cyclops Polyphêmos, a son of poseidon. There are other cyclopes in caves nearby. Polyphemos is a shepherd and goatherd, every morning he takes his flock out to graze and every night he brings them into his cave to be milked. Many of Odysseus’ problems stem from Poseidon being angry with him, and he is repeatedly angering him further.

“A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains” (Gorkey). The debate of Brain versus Brawn has been around for as long as human beings have had the capacity to debate. It is a recurring trope in books, movies, television, and plays. The true origins of the question may never be known for certain, but that does not mean that they are not highlighted in some one the oldest and most influential pieces of literature in western society. The Homeric texts of The Iliad and The Odyssey portray their respective epic heroes, one decidedly brawn and one decidedly brains, in many both similar and dissimilar ways.

Odysseus, a King favored by the goddess of war and wisdom faced a twenty year journey of war and travel. This two decade journey of adventure came at the expense of crew and nearly his family. His failed leadership stems from his hubris that overcomes him at times, particularly when he leaves the island of the Cyclopes, Polyphemus. When Odysseus encounters Polyphemus, his crew becomes trapped in his cave as they waited on their host to welcome them, a common Greek custom. When they discover the beat didn’t plan on showing any hospitality and instead begins

Achilles and Odysseus are quite different in the way they view combat and take down their enemies. Achilles seems to rely on his physical prowess, often charging in headfirst into battle using surprise and brute force to overpower his opponent whereas Odysseus has a tendency to use his intelligence and cunning nature in both the battlefield and politics as he stealthily plans the demise of his unsuspecting opponent. “Gnashing his teeth with rage, Achilles leaped from his chariot, made for his enemy, and lunged out at him with his sword” (341). Even when faced with a seemingly invincible assailant, Achilles uses his anger and sheer power to overtake Cycnus and impulsively attacks his unblemished skin in the hopes to end his life. It is Achilles’ agile and finesse in battle that has led to many victories for him. Even though the reasoning for his actions are more simplistic and even quite animalistic in some scenarios, it is this godlike strength and vicious temper that makes him the physical embodiment of a vengeful hero and in the Greeks stories he possesses all of the physical traits a hero should exemplify. “For now Odysseus began to boil with envy and thought up a despicable plan to end his rival” (342). Odysseus is quick and decisive in his actions but he relies on his sly nature to defeat and overwhelm his opponent in battle. Odysseus is valued for his wisdom and fair counsel, he has experience in the real world and this shows in the way he manipulates and even plays

A Brazilian soccer player known as Pele once said, ”Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance…” (Brainyquote) Many books showcase what Pele says like Troy: the Movie and The Odysseus. Troy is about a war between a prosperous city-state and a quickly expanding kingdom. The Odyssey is about a man journey back home and his revenge against the men who tried to marry his wife. Odysseus ignores his mother’s ghost so he could speak to Tiresias. While Achilles decides to go on his quest even though he will die at a young age. The author use characterization to convey that people embark upon quests to fulfill personal goal and that they learn perseverance is a person’s greatest tool

It does not matter the circumstance a killer is a killer, but why do some die while others get to live. Both Achilles and Odysseus go on a killing spree and they do not care who gets in their way. Achilles goes on this journey of a war and fighting with no real objective besides a girl that he has not chance with because by the time this war gets over with they forget what they are fight for in the first place. While Odysseus is trying to get home to his wife and in this passage he encounters many obstacles. In Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey the two main characters Odysseus and Achilles are similar in many ways almost like they are the same character with slightly different characteristics they both have a point in their journeys where they are

There are two specific characters in Greek mythology that act, and think in very diverse ways. These characters belong to the stories of The Iliad and The Odyssey written by Homer, and translated by Robert Fagles. The main personalities that will draw the focus in these novels are the heroes Achilles and Odysseus. Despite their differences, both heroes have their similarities as well, such as their suffrage through an internal struggle. Unfortunately the differences are more obvious. Throughout the odyssey’s of both heroes it’s made clear that Achilles is a reactive character while Odysseus is a proactive character. Yet another differing quality between Achilles and Odysseus is that they each handle the gods play in things differently. In the texts The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer the two heroes can be both compared and contrasted as epic heroes.

Polyphemus is an enormous Cyclops who lives on an island in a cave. Once he reaches the island of the Cyclops, Odysseus takes 12 of his best fighters into the cave to get some supplies for the journey back home. Inside