Epithets In The Odyssey

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. This subplot is Telemakhos’ coming-of-age story in which he sets

Courageous here is defined as “not deterred by danger or pain; brave.” It is manifest throughout The Odyssey that both of these heroes represented this major epithet of a Greek hero; courageousness. Every time Odysseus faced a danger, he never wavered like a hero would. He had to navigate the stormy seas Poseidon struck down on him. “Now Zeus the lord of the cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships, and driving veils of squall moved down like night on land and sea… We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee; then two long days and nights we lay offshore worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief, until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining. Then we put up our masts, hauled sail, and rested, letting the steersmen and the breeze take over.” pg. 147 Instead of giving up, Odysseus and his men fight on through the “two long days and nights… worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief.” And although they were tired and didn’t want to continue, they found a way to fight the dangers of Poseidon’s storms and survived. In another instance, Odysseus and his men valiantly fight the dangerous Kyklops, a terrible monster. “Now, by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men along with battle talk to keep their courage up: no quitting now.” pg. 156 Being able to not give up or shrink away from danger makes Odysseus an admirable, courageous hero. Furthermore, there were oher moments in which he and his men had to overcome grief from losing men and facing dangers in which they risked their lives. Once Odysseus makes it home and has revealed himself to Telemakhos, Telemakhos proves himself to his father that he is also worthy of being a hero; being courageous. When fighting the suitors with only help from a few others, Telemakhos proves himself worthy. “Quick upon his father’s