The Qualities Of A Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

What makes a hero a hero? The ancient poem The Odyssey, written by the epic poet Homer, tells the story of a protagonist by the name of Odysseus and his travels home to Ithaca after being at war in the Battle of Troy for nine years. Odysseus encounters many challenges and obstacles through the many adventures that he faces on his way home as well as once finally arriving home, he has to face the challenge of finding a way to rid the suitors that pillage his kingdom in order to retrieve his position back as lord and husband to his wife, Penelope. As Odysseus had many challenging adventures, he displayed the qualities of cleverness, bravery, and vengeance. One quality that separates Odysseus from the many other heroes of his time is the ability

Odysseus has portrayed courage through being persistent in every situation, especially when being stuck within Polyphemus’ cave in Book IX, New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son. In order to escape the grasp of Polyphemus, Odysseus had to face the cyclops by stabbing its eye. Homer describes the moment of defensive attack, writing in Odysseus’ point of view, saying, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows gave me a hand, lugging it near the Kyklops 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 staff that spins it in the groove,” (Homer, 412-419). Odysseus has been shown to pertain the qualitative trait of bravery and courage because he did not go against any mere foe, he went against a cannibalistic monstrous giant that has more physical strength than all of his men combined. Instead of running away in fear, Odysseus thought about him and his men’s live, strengthening his mental and physical ability in order to face Polyphemus, the cyclops that can easily break him in two. Odysseus’ bravery in defeating Polyphemus has attributed to him having the portrayal of a hero, for he was able to save not only himself, but his men that have survived alongside