When discussing the topic of a hero, many different character traits come into play. A hero does not have an exact definition; it is open to interpretation. Many people contain many different opinions on what they think a hero is and what a hero's qualifications are. One qualification of a hero is that the initiate must grow into the hero status. For example, a hero needs to grow and become a better person throughout his journey. A hero does not need to be perfect though. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus can be considered a hero for many different reasons, as well as considered not a hero for another array of reasons. Odysseus is a hero because he becomes a better person along his journey. However, he has many flaws, but they get corrected throughout his journey. Although Odysseus is not perfect, his faults help him grow and become a better person To begin, Odysseus had a problem with his “hubris” (meaning “excessive pride” in Greek) in the beginning of his journey, or the pre-abyss initiate phase. On the island of the Kyclopes, Odysseus exhibits his excessive pride by telling Polyphemos that he was the one who had blinded Polyphemos. Odysseus feels he has to be accredited for blinding Polyphemos: “Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye” (IX, 551). He reveals his identity as Odysseus to the Kyclops which angers the gods greatly. Odysseus is punished for his excessive pride and learns from his mistakes. This incident shows how Odysseus is far from flawless, and still has a long way to go to becoming a hero. He endures this mental and physical challenge, and although he does come out on top for the physical aspect of the challenge, he fails miserably in terms of the mental challenge. Odysseus let his “hubris” get to him. Later... ... middle of paper ... ... over time and is now a much better decision-maker. This shows how he is becoming a hero because of the way he is growing as a person along his journey. Next, Odysseus had a problem with his role as a leader in the beginning of his journey. Odysseus failed as a leader when his crew and himself landed on Ismaros. He expressed no leadership capabilities and let his men act uncontrollably and take what ever they wanted from the land: “My men were mutinous... shambling cattle” (IX, 51-53). This shows how Odysseus admits his faults in leadership capabilities and did a poor job controlling his men. He couldn't have appeared as a leader to his crew because the crew did whatever they wanted to do. A respected and efficient leader would have controlled his crew, but fortunately Odysseus learns from his mistakes and grows as a leader. When approaching Thrinakia, Odysseus
Metis in 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Odyssey The movie 2001: A Space Odyssey by Steven Kubrick and The Odyssey by Homer have underlying themes that have relationships to each respectively. However, Greek mythology often attributes strength as the ultimate virtue, and even current day movies do too. The attribute of being clever or cunning is seen during 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Odyssey seen by Odysseus and David Bowman as the dominate theme throughout both titles. Metis, the Greek word meaning
modern day literature and life. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War. Odysseus does not achieve his goal of reaching home so easily; monsters and gods come in his way and hinder him. The Odyssey expresses Greek values of hospitality from the customs of Ithaca, humility from Odysseus’s reform, and loyalty from Odysseus’s family. The Greek value of hospitality is exhibited in The Odyssey by Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus
In Book eight of Homer’s Odyssey our hero Odysseus has come to the palace of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. This book can be read as a historical record, containing paragons and social rules. These rules and paragon are Homer’s and the archaic Greek’s view of a society in its most undisturbed form. Homer uses the Phaeacians to illustrate what behaviors are to be expected of a kingdom. By giving the listener/reader such a calm and well-organized realm Homer creates a stark juxtapose
poem, The Odyssey, in which Odysseus and his men must fight their way home to Ithaca after battling in the ten-year Trojan War, can easily be compared to a journey of life. Odysseus and his men begin their journey with their departure from Troy, aiming for Ithaca to be their final destination. Along the way, the men are forced to overcome unsurmountable obstacles, are faced with grueling decisions and are postponed by many strenuous stops throughout their voyage. Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, is like
The Odyssey The Odyssey is one of the two great epic poems written by the ancient Greek poet Homer. Due to its antiquity, it is not known when or where it was first written, nevertheless, the approximate date and place is 700 BC Greece. Later publications are widespread as the text is transcribed in modern English with no deviation from the original story. The story is set in the lands and seas in close proximity to Greece changing by books as Odysseus, the protagonist hero, recounts of his many
values and qualities of them. As in this, Homer, the author of The Odyssey, portrays many Greek values that make up a righteous man or as, Homer’s character Odysseus, an epic hero. The Odyssey is the story of King Odysseus' return from the Trojan War to his kingdom of Ithaca. Stories, like The Odyssey, are told with the intent of delivering a message that was important to their culture. Through characters and situations, The Odyssey promotes and emphasizes many important ancient Greek values such
The Odyssey is a Greek word meaning 'the tale of Odysseus.'; Odysseus, the King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; father of Telemachus; and son of Laertes was not able to return home after the war he was once in: the Trojan War. Stuck on an island, he is presumed dead. In his absence, suitors for his wife ruin his house with lavish feasts. This epic poem, by Homer, describes how Odysseus, with the help of the gods, gets home and regains his kingship. Justice is always harsh in the Odyssey; there is
The Odyssey’ places emphasis on cunning and guilefulness rather than strength as in the former epic; elucidated in Odysseus’ dealings with Poseidon’s son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. Compelled Composed approximately in 700 B.C., Homer’s epic narrative, ‘The Odyssey’ depicts the homeward voyage of the legendary Greek hero Odysseus. The Epos, commonly known as “The Wanderings of Odysseus” are the protagonists’ recounting of his perilous misadventures to King Alcinous of the Phaecians; to date
The Odyssey details Odysseus’ arduous return to his homeland. Ten years have passed since the end of the Trojan war and Odysseus, the “most cursed man alive”, has been missing and presumed dead by many. (10.79). Throughout the novel, gods play a significant role in the fate of Odysseus and other characters. The extent of the gods’ role though is not unqualified, contrary to Telemachus’ suggestion that, “Zeus is to blame./He deals to each and every/ laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases”
Homer’s poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope’s suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for murdering the suitors would force Odysseus to realize what he is about to do is not a good idea. Odysseus
The legend of The Odyssey tells the fortunate homecoming tale of the Trojan war hero, Odysseus. In the poem, there were similarities, yet many contradictions. There were many great women that had conflicting personalities and adverse motives, but also they were alike. There were many great men that hold successful fortune, but here were also ones that failed. With these oppositions they helped Odysseus to get back home to Ithaca, whether they wanted to or not. These women from the novel that have
In Book XVI of Homer's “The Odyssey” the audience learns the characteristics of the suitors Eurymachus, Antinous, and Amphinomus through Homer’s rhetorical strategies. Homer has the suitors make these speeches to show the audience the opinions of the suitors on Telemachus safely making it home to Ithaca. In the first suitor Eurymachus speech, the audience learns that he “cares” about how Telemachus returns just so he can get sympathy from Penelope. In Antinous’s speech the audience gains the knowledge
In Homer’s The Odyssey, many happenings interfere with Odysseus’ journey to return home to his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. Self-determination is a strong characteristic that Odysseus portrays in The Odyssey. The three traits that Odysseus portrays as evidence of his self-determination are: endurance, perseverance, and courage. Odysseus, like most humans, has his doubts of confidence, but seems to overcome them. Out of this great tragedy, he has become a greater man to regain his kingdom
Roosevelt once said, “Virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.” Roosevelt pointed out how our virtues can be lost in this vast world. Today many people disregard values, which are vital to make our society a better place. The Odyssey by Homer incorporates the morals of our world to remind us of their significance. This novel is important to read because it teaches the values of loyalty and perseverance that have been absent from our society. In this Epic Poem the value of loyalty
strong in these aspects can be equally, if not more, beneficial than simply physical strength, as Odysseus has proven by overcoming sea monsters, traveling through the underworld, and so much more on his journey back to his homeland of Ithaca. Homer’s Odyssey demonstrates that strength can be much more than purely physical strength by creating characters that display mental, emotional, and other forms of strength throughout the entirety of the poem. One of Odysseus’ key traits as a leader is his intellect