Odysseus As An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

Before each battle, Beowulf meets major obstacles. When traveling the seas to fight Grendel he reports that there were several sea creatures. When Beowulf arrives, he meets his shadow; an evil figure who mirrors those things the hero most fears or dislikes about himself. Beowulf’s shadow is Unferth. Unferth was intoxicated and tried to accuse Beowulf of not being as magnificent as he claimed.

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.

The war ended when Achilles slayed Hector outside the gates of Troy, the gods are again at peace and hector is returned to his family and given a proper burial. The Iliad provides researchers today with a look into the time of the trojan war and provides us a way to research war in ancient times. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ ten year journey home after the events of the trojan war. Odysseus left his home island of Ithaca in order to participate in this war and while his side wins he is unable to find his way home. The story is much like many modern stories of similar

“Like strength is felt from hope, and from despair” (Homer). Odysseus -the reigning king of Ithaca- took part in the Trojan War for 10 long years. He then ventured on for another 10 years to return to to his homeland of Ithaca. On and on he raced to go home but was challenged with many challenges along his journey. Three major events were when Odysseus got caught in the land of the cyclopes, the journey through the ventures, and when he challenges the suitors to a duel to win back his home and wife.

“Heroes need monsters to establish their heroic credentials. You need something scary to overcome.” Written by Margaret Atwood a writer (BQ). The epic poem The Odyssey is about a man named Odysseus who is trying to get back to his homeland of Ithaca. Odysseus has been fighting in the Trojan war for ten years and runs into many Gods, Goddesses and some monsters who may help him, or endanger him. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is an epic hero because he is on a quest, has superhuman intelligence, and performs brave deeds.

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.

Destany Tange HRS 119 Classical Mythology The Odyssey The Odyssey is Homer 's epic of Odysseus ' decade long struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While this epic is full of magic, dread goddess, gods and mystical creatures it is also a story of the human condition. A story of “Homecoming”, an allegory of the hardships that a warrior faces when coming home after years of war. Through this epic Odysseus must shed his warrior mentality and re-establish his domestic mindset. It is only through his figurative death, gestation, and rebirth is he able successfully return home.

However, as Polyphemos attacked the ship with rock, Odysseus again made to yell back to the beast. Around him, his crew muttered, “‘Godsake, Captain!/Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!’” (Book 9, Lines 537 - 538) All the crew wanted was to get out safely. They realized that Odysseus needn’t “bait the beast again.” They ask “Captain!, Why” for they see Odysseus is merely being cocky. Yet, Odysseus ignores them and respond to the monster by shouting “Kyklops,/if ever mortal man inquire/how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him/Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:/Laertes’ son, whose home is Ithaca!” (Book 9, Lines 548 - 552) Odysseus makes a very large tactical mistake; he tells Polyphemos’ that his is “Odysseus … Laertes’ son.” Odysseus demonstrates recklessness and selfishness because he wishes to take credit for “put[ing] Polyphemos to shame”.

Odysseus was very prideful in the beginning, as he had to credit himself for blinding Polyphemus. However, Odysseus’s character is developed on his difficult journey home. Heatherington says “Odysseus must deal not only with arrogant suitors and bad servants, but also with his own anger, pride, and sorrow” (Heatherington 227). This quote shows how Odysseus must deal with internal and external problems throughout his quest and on Ithaca. His transformation in character is visible when he lets himself be embarrassed in his own home as a beggar.

After Polyphemus about Odysseus, he requested from his father, Poseidon, the god of sea, to curse Odysseus, and ask for revenge on Odysseus and his crew. As the results, Poseidon alternated the ocean’s courses during the journey