Character Analysis Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

“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, 1.1-5, 1) These words were spoken in praise of Odysseus by the classical poet, Homer. The Odyssey tells the tale of Odysseus’ ten year journey after he departs from Troy bound home for Ithaka. Odysseus’ motivation throughout the poem is to be reunited with his son, Telemakhos and his wife, Penelope, but his task doesn't come without struggle.

In the eyes of many, he was seen as a hero, contributing to the defeat of the Trojans with his strategic thinking, being favorable in the eyes of the gods, and possessing strength. Yet, he was one that dealt with suffering. He was away from home for over ten years. Those ten years spent longing for his wife and son, wasted on clinging to the last thread of his life, constantly battling creature after creature, and just barely evading death. An example of his yearning for home is when he is trapped on Kalypso’s island, “But when day came he sat on the rocky shore / And broke his own heart groaning, with eyes wet / and scanning the bare horizon of the sea” (V.163-165).

The Odyssey is made up of incredible scenes each with a different moral to the story. Book 12 of the Odyssey is one important scene that talks Odysseus and his men fighting through difficult obstacles approaching many different challenges. Why is this scene so important? The answer is simple, it takes team work to a new level, never leaving a men behind even at the toughest times. While Book 12 of the Homer’s Odyssey explains mysterious Sirens roaming through the island, deadly creatures that are ready to devour anyone as their meal, and gods with quick tempers, Odysseus and his team takes on the challenge to sail home through the Island of Sirens.

He took this major responsibility in stride and escaped with many lives. In addition, when exploring Scylla and Charybdis, he encouraged his men to persevere and to endure. Odysseus enlivened his men in these words, “‘friends, / have we never been in danger before this? / More fearsome, is it now… Do I not keep my nerve, and use my wits / to find a way out for us?”

He is so loyal and goal oriented to getting home that he rejected the offer and wants to leave the island to find home. Odysseus breaks news to Calypso, “Yet, it is true, each day / I long for home. Long for the sight of home…. “(5. 85-86).

Hero: “a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities” (Merriam-Webster) Evident in many classic stories, the hero is always the character that makes the justifiable choice. Their role as the hero is never questioned. The hero always prevails, and in the end, the hero accomplishes the journey with greater wisdom, knowledge, and reestablished views of the world that compensates for the horrors they encounter along the journey.

In The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus has dealt with many obstacles set forth by the gods and goddesses, in order to overcome his flaw of hubris and become a better person. Now, twenty years after the Trojan war, Odysseus returns to his home in Ithaca and finds that his beloved dog, Argus, once strong and brave is now old, weak, and treated like garbage; his son has grown up without him; and that his wife, Penelope, is sought after for marriage by men whom have vitiated his home and belongings. This infuriates Odysseus and forces him to face the karma and consequences of his hubris of his younger self. After Odysseus meets his son, Telemachus, for the first time, Odysseus must now take back his rightful place, but he must do so as a beggar, which is sad and humiliating for his son to watch: “ ‘If they make fun of me in my own courtyard, let your ribs cage up your springing heart, no matter what I suffer, no matter if they pull me by the heels or practice shots at me, to drive me out. Look on, hold down your anger.

The Epithets Of A Journey: An Essay On The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey by Homer is one of literature’s most beloved classic epic poems. The Odyssey centers on King Odysseus’ journey home after the ten-year long Trojan War. His journey involves encountering multiple hospitable gods and goddesses, storms at sea, and monsters to fight or obstacles to face before he was able to reach the shores of Ithaca, his homeland, and fight one last battle until he would be able to “live happily ever after” with his lover, Penelope, and his now grown-up son, Telemakhos. Not only does The Odyssey showcase Odysseus’ journey home, there is an additional subplot involving his son, Telemakhos.

The Odyssey written by Homer is a hero’s story based on the character Odysseus. Odysseus fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and struggled to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. The story is his ten-year journey home and all of the obstacles he has to overcome. The major themes of the book include perseverance, determination, hospitality, pride, and suffering. The narrator speaks in the third person as if he already knows the story.

Madison Seib Nicholas Barron Phil 201 30 November 2015 Paper Prompt for "Gladiator" #2 In the main character in the "Odyssey" is named Odysseus. Who is the king of Ithaca and a vary noble warrior. He has gone off to fight in the Trojan war, when the story begins, he has been gone from his home land for 20 years. His son is now well grown and a group of suitors has inhabited his palace wanting to marry his wife, Penelope. Odysseus displays many of the Homeric virtues and vices while trying to get home and while he is there.

Throughout the story “The Odyssey” by Homer Odysseus, the main character counters countless amounts of trouble. As king and leader it is his job to keep his men save and get the job done. Odysseus does whatever it takes to keep his men unharmed, and more importantly, alive. All his crew and him dream about is getting back to their homeland, but first they have to pass the obstacles. Odysseus demonstrates good leadership qualities by doing whatever it takes to get the job done, using his advanced cunning abilities to trick his enemy, and constantly saving his crew from dangers.

Odysseus- Lone Survivor The Trojan War is over, many boats full of men set off to Ithaca, where they meet their destruction. Yet one man pulls through and reaches home. Odysseus, the highly admirable hero from The Odyssey, told by Homer and translated and put onto paper by Robert Fitzgerald.

Homer’s The Odyssey describes the story of the main character’s, Odysseus, 10 year journey traveling back to Ithaca from fighting in the Trojan War. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca is, in fact, the hero of the story. A hero is a person that is admired for his noble qualities, achievements, and his strength and courage. The traits that exemplifies his heroism also causes to have many problems throughout the poem which is justifiable because he is not perfect.

Titus Bell English 12 Odysseus demonstrates god like qualities in “The Odyssey” he shows intelligence and he also shows the ability to inspire his men. One example, is he tricks the Cyclops Polyphemus. Another example is when Odysseus was able to keep his men together through most of the journeys. Finally he tricks the suitors by doing something that no other man can do.

Intelligence, loyalty, and fearless are only a few traits to describe Odysseus. In the Odyssey he proved to be extremely intelligent. The first time Odysseus showed his intelligence was when he told Polyphemus the cyclops that his name was “nobody.” He did this so when the cyclops ran away he would yell “nobody blinded me” rather than stating his name. He also shows his intelligence by the way he and his crew escaped the cyclops’ cave.