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Examples Of Odysseus As An Epic Hero

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Odysseus is the main character of The Odyssey which is an epic by Homer. Odysseus can be portrayed as not heroic, but you could say he is an epic hero and he does possess all the qualities to be one. On Odysseus’ time away from home he travels over a vast setting and he is also a great warrior. Odysseus travels far and wide: “West from Ilium brought me to Ismarus(40,983)...We came to the coastline of the Lotus-Eaters(88,984)... In the next land we found were Cyclopes(109,986).” Because odysseus is well traveled he is heroic. Additionally, he is a great warrior. Odysseus gets himself in many battles and fights and wins every one. Even defeating a Cyclops: “lugging it near the Cyclops… straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye,” (330-333, 992). Odysseus is a strong warrior and he escapes with his life. Odysseus traveling over a vast and being a great warrior in turn makes him heroic. …show more content…

Odysseus is very selfish: “Godsake, Captain! Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!... how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye”(448-459,996). The fact that Odysseus is selfish reinforces the idea that he is not a hero. In addition to his selfishness Odysseus is a cheater as well: “the enchantress, desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent,” (32-34,983). A hero is always loyal to his significant other. Odysseus is a selfish, cheater and neither of these qualities is a something a hero should

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