ipl-logo

Odysseus: A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

455 Words2 Pages

The word hero has had many meanings throughout history. The modern definition of a hero states that they are a person who is idolized for their courage or noble qualities. Whether Homer’s protagonist, Odysseus, from the Odyssey is actually a hero has been up for some debate. Yet, Odysseus is a hero since he shows loyalty to the gods, family, and crew, courage in the face of numerous perils, and leadership in challenging times.

During the duration of the Odyssey, there were several instances where Odysseus’s loyalty was tested. One such instance is throughout the Trojan war, Odysseus probable questioned the graciousness of the gods and their true intentions with the world. He could have fled the war and abandon his faith in the gods, resulting in him having a safer and simpler life. He stays loyal to them, however, and looks to them for …show more content…

Over the course of the Odyssey, it is mentioned that Odysseus is a Trojan war hero. He showed tremendous amounts of courage when he left his homeland and family to fight. Odysseus doesn’t know if he will ever make it home, and if he didn’t, his son would grow up without a father and his wife might remarry. It is said in the Odyssey that Odysseus was the one who came up with the idea for the Trojan horse, which ultimately won the Trojan wars. During Odysseus’s journey home after the war, he encountered various instances where he was forced to show courage. Those instances include the encounter with the Cyclops and the Sirens. When Odysseus and his crew landed on the island of the Cyclops, Odysseus put himself in grave danger when he confronted the Cyclops. He put aside his own safety for that of the rest of crew and does so in various circumstances. Likewise, Odysseus could have simply put something in his ears so that he wasn’t able to hear the Sirens’ song. However, he chose to face the Sirens’ song with courage and

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Odysseus Being A Hero

    956 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Odyssey, a Greek epic written by Homer has many characters that could be considered heroes, but none as greatly debated on whether he should be called a hero as Odysseus. Odysseus is a hero due to the fact that he wants to protect the ones he loves, shows courage through his actions and words, and as a leader is able to inspire others to have courage. Odysseus’s family

    Read More

  • The Pride Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    626 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the epic, The Odyssey, written by Homer, the main character, Odysseus, spends 10 brutal years trying to find a way back home to Ithica after the Trojan War. Throughout his journey he is met with multiple obstacles including losing every one of his crew members. Although he faces physical monsters, I believe that his biggest enemy is his pride. Many believe that Odysseus’ best quality is how honorable he is, but I believe his honor is often mistaken for his hubris. This is very evident in book 9 when Odysseus and his crew are on the island of Cyclops.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: An Archetype Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

    353 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Odyssey Many people deem Odysseus to be an archetype hero. But was he really? Sure, he won many wars, but did he show the characteristics that matter? No!

    Read More

  • How Odysseus Is A Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

    613 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus often lets his pride blind him from making the right decisions - “I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer” (Homer 376, lines 130-131). Showing how he wanted to see the Cyclops even when it was not necessary. In reality, the opposite is true, because with a great hero comes pride and bravery. An example is when Odysseus lies to the Cyclops - “My name is Nohbdy: Mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohby” (Homer 380, Lines 274-275). This shows his bravery in lying about his name just to save himself and his men for a little while.

    Read More

  • Pathos And Ethos Of Culture In Homer's Odyssey

    1177 Words  | 5 Pages

    Yes, the terribly challenging circumstances in narrative in which the Odysseus finds himself is a challenge of courage and heroism of which very few would willingly volunteer. His ability to remain courageous in the face of brute beast, the actions of gods and demi-goddesses, and in almost impossible natural and supernatural circumstances certainly admirable. However, it is evident that there are circumstances where his hubris leads him to trust his intellect and wit over more reasonable course of action that not only endanger his life, but the life of his entire

    Read More

  • Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    227 Words  | 1 Pages

    Odysseus and his crew were sweeped of path and became stranded on an island with Cyclops. The cyclops were the opposite of friendly and didn’t care about anyone that stepped behold them. When Odysseus and his men get on the island they decide to journey around the island a little bit and are quite interested in a cave near shore. When they go inside they see bunches of food but, unfortunately Polyphemus the son of Poseidon welcomes the men by eating two of them. He leaves odysseus and his men trapped in the cave, so while in there they make a plan to escape.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Anti Hero Quotes

    723 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the odyssey, the king of ithica aka odysseus is on his way home, but on his way home he faces many challenges, some include the cyclops, and many different monsters. Eventually after a long hard fight, odysseus makes his way home. The odyssey gives a perfect example of what a hero is, and how easily it is for a person to change. At first, Odysseus may seem like a hero due to his courage and strength, but later on in the story things take a turn for the worse for him and his reputation,

    Read More

  • Odysseus: An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

    196 Words  | 1 Pages

    In part one of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses his epic hero qualities to help him out on his quest to get back home to Ithaca. He’s shows superb intelligence when fighting the cyclopes in “Book 9.” That’s a quality of superhuman intelligence that Odysseus possessed all throughout his entire journey. Another epic hero quality that helped Odysseus was help from Greek gods and goddesses. In part two of Homer’s Odyssey, Athena helped out Odysseus when he got back to his home land.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: The True Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

    997 Words  | 4 Pages

    A hero is someone who is revered for his or her exceptional achievements and bravery. Anyone who puts themselves before others not for recognition or an award, but because it is the right thing to do, is a true hero. In "The Odyssey," written by Homer is an epic poem about a man named Odysseus and his crewmates competing against the power of the gods to return to their homeland, Ithaca. Throughout his journey, he loses almost all of his men, but Odysseus finally arrives home, concluding his prolonged twenty-year voyage. Odysseus must battle the suitors that have taken his wife Penelope, and may soon kill his son Telemachus.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Heroic Qualities

    400 Words  | 2 Pages

    When reading the Odyssey, it’s hard not to be captivated by the thrilling story. Even today, it’s easy to see that Odysseus has every heroic trait there is. But what made him a hero to the ancient Greeks? The reason is that ‘The Great Odysseus’ had competence, godlike capabilities, and he was determined to be righteous and victorious, regardless of the cost.

    Read More

  • Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

    149 Words  | 1 Pages

    Thanks Steph for your comments! Yes, I do think Homer wrote this poem as a reference for ancient Greeks. As the first and greatest poets, this indeed is a huge responsibility because everyone is relying on what words he might use or not to enlighten the society. Ancient Greece transforming in civilized manners around the Greek period, we do anticipate a form of power to rule without fear. And so Homer may have decided to portray Odysseus as a hero who was also arrogant and self-serving like you said.

    Read More

  • Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

    865 Words  | 4 Pages

    In The Odyssey Homer makes Odysseus’ journey to his beloved Ithaca excruciating. Odysseus encounters many friends and foes throughout his journey and has to be a leader throughout his experiences. As an example, he encounters Polyphemus and Poseidon, both of whom make his journey mentally and physically painful. Odysseus faces countless scenarios in which he has to save multiple people in those situations. He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home.

    Read More

  • Three Adjectives Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    684 Words  | 3 Pages

    Odysseus says, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows / gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops / as more than natural force nerved them; straight / forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it / deep in his crater eye, and I leaned on it / turning it as a shipwright turns a drill / in planking, having men below to swing / the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove” (Homer 479). Another example of him being brave is when he faces the suitors. Odysseus says that the suitors will pay in blood for what they did to his property and wife. The fight begins and Odysseus and his men get support of Athena. Odysseus and his men show no mercy and kill all the suitors.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Weakness In The Odyssey

    1660 Words  | 7 Pages

    Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus faces many challenges that change and bring out his true identity from a weak and lonely man to a cunning and prideful hero. Odysseus’s change in identity can be established through his weakness and struggles in attempting to break away from the lonely Island of Kalypso, to his cunning strength during the battle of Troy and passing

    Read More

  • Examples Of Heroism In The Odyssey

    769 Words  | 4 Pages

    The ancient archetype of heroism is commonly quantified by the amount of incredible and perilous feats overcome by one individual, so it should come as no surprise that Odysseus is able to overcome many of these daunting obstacles.

    Read More

More about Odysseus: A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

Open Document