Odysseus: A Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

Donna Kay March 13th 2015 Gaunce Hour 7 Honors English Traits of Odysseus Most people think of a hero as someone who is a strong, and brave human being. Heroes usually have super-powers that help them to to achieve their mission. Some things that heroes do is get help from other sources, or leave on a journey where they have to prove themselves to be worthy of honor and praise. Odysseus faces many drawbacks and complicating situations but he rises over them all to reach his final goal of returning home to his family and son in Ithaca. Odysseus is a hero because he had help from Athena, a fatal flaw in his character, and he also overcame complications throughout his journey and ended up proving himself to be valiant.

Who is the man who is willing to fight for ten years to return to his family stopping at nothing? Who is the man who never ceases in his fight to return home, no matter how difficult his decisions or how grueling his trials are. That man is Odysseus. The Odyssey is an epic poem in which a hero, Odysseus, embarks on a thrilling quest to return back to his home and family in Ithaca after succeeding in the Trojan War. In his several journeys, he faces several hardships that delay this goal.

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is an epic hero because he is on a quest, has superhuman intelligence, and performs brave deeds. Odysseus is an epic hero because he is on a quest. He is on a quest back to his homeland to Ithaca which he hasn’t seen in ten years and his quest turns into a long journey of twenty years. “What of my sailing, then, from Troy? What of those years of rough adventure, weathered under Zeus?

Who needs a hero? Throughout human existence, societies have always looked upon heroes and champions as a gleam of hope in times of desperation. “Like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.” In the Odyssey by Homer the main character Odysseus displays many of the great qualities that define a hero and thus forevermore he has been remembered, honored, and reverend by multitudes as an epic hero. Odysseus’s courageous leadership in time of war, his volatile journey home, his strengths and his flaws, have made him immortal for generations to come. What defines an epic hero?

After a ten year war in Troy, Odysseus and his crew members travel back to Ithaca occupying about ten more years of their life. During these times, Odysseus obeys the greek values, love for home and family, role and importance of Faith, and cleverness. Along with these greek values, Odysseus is seen as a hero. To begin with, Odysseus is a hero because he looks up to the greek value, love for home and family. During the hard times in the sea, Odysseus always thinks about his family.

Homer’s the Odyssey is a classic example of how separation can affect a man’s loyalty and how proving oneself can restore reputation. Odysseus keeps his respect and loyalty toward everyone he befriends. Odysseus is a very loyal man and knows how to keep his promises even through his twenty year journey away from home. Odysseus goes off to fight with the Greeks during the trojan war which happens to take nine years, he then spends a year in Greece and it takes him ten years to finally get back home. “As he wept for a way home, since the nymph was no longer pleasing him.

Homer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable.The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors.One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War. One of the reasons that his return journey is so long is that he is subject to the obligation of accepting the welcoming hospitality of people he meets along his path. Hospitality is an important part of social exchange, honor, and the negotiation of relationships in the the

The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.

Several times Odysseus shows contempt towards the mystical creatures that he has to fight against. Throughout the twenty year journey, he shows many moments of great bravery, and heroic actions, which is why he can be considered an epic hero. Here he fits one of the many qualifications of being an epic hero. Odysseus is a fantastic example of an epic hero. Another way that Odysseus proves to be an epic hero, is that he was tempted quite often throughout his

He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home. During these situations, Odysseus gains leadership and tactical skills from fighting in the war in Troy, which costs him 10 years of his life and another 10 years of sailing out on the sea from Poseidon 's curse. Odysseus is therefore a heroic and efficient leader because he plans his moves ahead of time and is vigilant at all times to ensure his safety. Yet, though Odysseus possesses these heroic leadership qualities, his arrogance sometimes leads to his downfall and inability to lead. While Odysseus is a little arrogant, he can also be a great leader because he is able to trust his second in command, Eurylochus, and give him more power while he is away.