Character Analysis Of Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

In his journey to find his way home, Odysseus and his crew encounter many obstacles that hindered his success which leads to the transferring of responsibility. The epic poem written by Homer labeled The Odyssey proves that society struggles with exercising responsibility through Odysseus’ crew, the main character Odysseus, and

His immense power is demonstrated when “he [calls] to his son Hermes and [says]… ‘Go and declare that Odysseus shall return after all his troubles”(Homer 62). Zeus’s powerful authority enables him to positively affect Odysseus’s fate, and, in the long run, guide him through his perilous journey back home. This gives Zeus the responsibility of either building or destroying Odysseus’s heroic stature, and throughout the story there are countless examples of times when Zeus is the one that finally determines Odysseus’s stature as a hero. Although Zeus positively influences Odysseus in many ways, he also diminishes his heroic stature in many situations. One time this happens is when “Zeus … [thunders] and [strikes] our [Odysseus and his crew’s] ship with his bolt”(Homer 159).

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.

In the movie Beowulf stabbed him with a knife, but he soon realized he had special skin; however, Beowulf dropped the knife and fought Grendel with his hands. In the book Beowulf didn’t use any weapon on Grendel at all. As the soldiers screamed in terror Beowulf noticed that Grendel’s ears were sensitive to sound. Beowulf swung on Grendel’s back and started to

These heroes follow the heroic code, a code which consists of having qualities of a leader, fighting for arete, and having the ability to accept his fate. We see these characters grow and develop as they make difficult choices and face conflicts throughout the poem. Homer uses Achilles, the best Greek warrior and

I wished to see the caveman!” Again, this shows us that Odysseus has a lot of nerve; he is facing off against a massive cyclopes. It also shows us how he is fearless; while his men all want to run, Odysseus stays. It takes a very bold person to do these

According to Schechter and Semeiks “The Quest” passage on help “The hero, it is clear, needs all the help he can get on the quest, for wherever it leads him.” (The Quest 323). Within both books, The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both Gilgamesh and Odysseus receive help throughout their journey’s. Gilgamesh experience in his quest of being helped in his most needed time was his encounter with Utnapishtim. For The Odyssey, Odysseus runs into many difficult on his journey, until he encounters Agamemnon. In the story of Gilgamesh, the hero Gilgamesh has set off on his second calling, after witnessing the death of close friend Enkidu.

Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem with no known author and it shows a young warriors three main heroic battles throughout his lifetime. Beowulf is written as a courageous but loyal man, who often wishes to prove his honor through these crazy deeds which often puts his life at risk. The main focus in this poem is his honor and loyalty to not only himself but those around him. Beowulf has consistently shown how loyalty and honor have proved most important to him through his journeys as this epic poem’s hero. When the town of Herot showed signs of rejoice or happiness through their victories from war and to reward Hrothgar’s thanes with treasures and land in the Heorot, Grendel will rise and feast on the men.

John Ruskin once said, “The first test of truly great man is his humility”. In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, the central character Odysseus learns humility through his failures and growth in obedience making him a hero. Odysseus reaches a heroic status through the lessons learned on his journey, which ultimately taught him the value of obedience and the dangers of arrogance. Initially, Odysseus appears to lack the heroic quality of humility, through his narcissistic nature. When Odysseus is leaving the cyclops cave, his egotistical behavior is shown when he tells Polyphemus who hurt him.

In his stead, Gertrude drinks a toast to her son from the poisoned cup. After a third pass also goes to Hamlet, Laertes sneak-attacks the prince and wounds him. A scuffle ensues in which Hamlet ends up with Laertes' sword. He injures Laertes. Just then Gertrude collapses.