Harry Potter And Odysseus Comparison Essay

894 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of the hero's journey

Similarities in the Epic Heroes Odysseus and Harry Potter
The Odyssey by Homer tells the story of a man named Odysseus who fought in the Trojan War, and is trying to return home to his wife, and son. During his return home, he faces many difficulties and monsters that he has to overcome. Odysseus serves as the model for an epic hero. An epic hero is a brave and noble character in an epic poem, who is admired for their skill, achievement, and is affected by grand events. Though this idea comes from an ancient story, it is still relevant in modern popular culture. One example of a modern-day epic hero is Harry Potter. A hero created by J.K Rowling for The Harry Potter series, Harry Potter clearly shared many characteristics with Odysseus. Odysseus is the model for the modern-day epic hero, Harry Potter, who, like Odysseus, battles villains or monsters, puts himself in harm's way for a loved one, and becomes a well-known figure in his society
Both Harry and Odysseus battle evil monsters and villains throughout their journey. For example when when Odysseus and his crew have to pass the six headed monster called Scylla, Circe warns him:
Skirting in the lugger… but that is the den of Scylla when she …show more content…

Epic heroes are not only in ancient times, but also in modern popular culture. Epic heroes are idols, or characters that reflect human traits and values which are still found important. The modern day culture is still telling stories about adventures that reflect choices and ideas of Epic heroes. Most people use epic poems to describe their daily lives and emotions, making the tradition to go on. An Epic heroes traits are not only found in fictional characters, but also in each and everyone in our

Show More
Related

  • Odysseus: The Antihero

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the story of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.

    Read More

  • Epic Hero In The Movie 'O' Brother Where Art Thou

    163 Words  | 1 Pages

    An epic hero is an audacious or noble character, admired for great their achievements. In the movie O’ Brother Where Art Thou, main character Ulysses Everett McGill can be seen as an epic hero. First of all, in the movie O’ Brother Where Art Thou the plot of the movie revolves around Ulysses Everett McGill trying to get back home. In an epic, an epic hero goes through a long journey. In this case, Ulysses is trying to get back home to his family. Also, in the beginning of the movie Ulysses takes the lead with his two other men, showing that he is a natural leader. Being a natural leader is another trait of an epic hero, which is another trait Ulysses embodies. In conclusion, an epic hero is someone who is a courageous person, who is admired

    Read More

  • Homer's Odyssey: Woody As An Epic Hero

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

        An epic hero is character who is brave and noble, and that person is someone who carries good leadership traits and goes through an epic journey. Usually an epic hero is from an epic, and an example is Odysseus. Odysseus goes through a journey to return back to Ithaca, his homeland. In the modern era, there are epic heroes all around us. They can be in books, movies, or plays. One great example of a modern epic hero is Woody from Toy Story 3. He is confident, courageous,selfless,  and humane. Woody is a toy cowboy and his owner, Andy is going off to college. Woody and his buddies get misplaced and get donated to a child day care center. There, they have to try to escape and return home, after realizing how bad the place

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh and Odysseus: Perfect Heros

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    The dictionary defines hero in mythology and legend as, "a man who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and born of divine or royal blood. He is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life." In addition, I believe a hero is one to be looked up to and emulated. What is interesting about epic heroes is that their great deeds and exploits all have to do with defeating themselves, so with help from the gods they can truly become heroic. They can only defeat themselves with the help of the gods.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Odysseus And Thor

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history the themes of literature has stayed relatively the same; the situations have been updated to appeal to a modern audience. One common trait in great movies and literature is the presence of a heroic figure. Odysseus can be classified as a hero, because he departed from his home Ithaca the day his son Telemachus was born and leaving his wife Penelope to fight in the Trogon war. Odysseus starts out his journey with six hundred crewmen and twelve ships.

    Read More

  • Comparing Odyssey And The Wizard Of Oz

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Epic heros can be found in many different narratives. They illustrate the obstacles that we may face in life and guide us to the right path that will help us on our own perilous journey. In The Wizard of Oz and The Odyssey, the heroic main characters faced dangerous challenges, however with determinations and a goal they overcome all the challenges. Dorothy and Odysseus both show their determinations and faithfulness as they navigate through their perilous

    Read More

  • Comparing the Bhagavad-Gita and the Epic of Gilgamesh

    1342 Words  | 3 Pages

    Merriam- Webster online dictionary defines an epic hero as, “ A grand and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or effected by grand events.” The same dictionary also defines an epic poem as, “a story told about a hero or exciting events.” The Epic of Gilgamesh is often considered the oldest story on earth; which would make Gilgamesh, the story’s controversial main character, and the world’s oldest epic hero. This epic set a precedent for all epics to follow; it displayed most of the traits that society commonly perceives an epic hero and epic poem should have. The Epic of Gilgamesh exhibits tendencies of an epic poem through its inclusion of an epic hero, multiple gods and goddesses, and it’s vast array of settings across the world. Additionally, Gilgamesh presents attributes of an epic hero through his quest for immortality, his noble birth and his battles with superhuman foes.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: Epic Hero?

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    The question has been raised as to whether or not Odysseus, the hero of Homers The Odyssey, is an epic hero. An epic Hero portrays many classic properties, including being very strong and courageous. Odysseus is an epic hero, because he portrays many of these and other traits, such as having a goal that is foremost in his mind, and having descended into the underworld.

    Read More

  • Odysseus The Hero

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    Odysseus is a hero because he acts courageously while facing the many challenges he encounters. Odysseus’s shows great bravery when he engages in physical challenges. Odysseus daringly fights against the suitors, while significantly outnumbered: “For I must tell you this is no affair / of ten or even twice ten men, but scores, throngs of them” (XVI, 291 – 293). Even though Odysseus is facing hundreds of men, his bravery keeps him confident that he can win the battle. Odysseus must use his physical strength when Poseidon punishes him with turbulent waves: “Odysseus’s knees grew slack, his heart / sickened, and he said within himself / Rag of man that I am, is this the end of me?” (V, 307 – 309). Odysseus is exhausted from the torrential sea, yet refuses to give up because of enormous courage and his unwillingness to surrender. Odysseus must also cope with emotional challenges throughout his journey. His emotions are tested when he ventures to the underworld, Hades, and must confront his greatest fear, death: “From every side they came and sought the pit / with rustling cries; and I grew sick with fear. / But presently I gave command to my officers” (XI, 45 -47). Although Odysseus is deeply fearful when he comes face to face with the dead, his mental f...

    Read More

  • Epic Hero: Beowulf

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    In every epic story, the center of attention will be on the epic hero. Usually all the epic heroes have some kind of special power, which keep them different from other characters. Later on, their epic journey these powers, help them to win the glory, which make them epic heroes. In Beowulf, Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln Epic Hero Essay

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    Epic heroes are in the epic poems of the Odyssey and the Iliad, but they are also in our history books. There are many epic heroes in our past but society often does not recognize them, even though they have the very same epic hero traits as Odysseus and Achilles. What is an epic hero exactly? It means the person or character has some of the epic hero traits, the traits include: a noble birth, capable of deeds of great strength and courage, being a great warrior, travels over a vast setting, national heroism, humility, and faces supernatural foes or gets supernatural help. Abraham Lincoln has earned the status of epic hero because he had national heroism, he was a great warrior, and he was capable of deeds of great strength and courage.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: an Epic Hero

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    Picture this: a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that is exactly what makes Odysseus all the more fascinating. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet who wrote The Iliad, had to contain some variety of attributes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. An epic hero is a protagonist of a story that represents the most important attributes of a civilization. Odysseus, being based in ancient Greece, is the embodiment of intelligence, loyalty, and strength.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Odysseus And Don Quixote

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    Odysseus defeats great monsters with the help of his men and the gods. Homer added Greek mythology to the epic poem because that is the main belief of the people at the time. The people believed that the gods and the fates controlled what happened in their lives. Odysseus’s story reflects this belief. His accomplishments are based on the help of the gods, or what the fates wrote into his life. He defeated the monsters and overcame the struggle because that is what was supposed to happen in his life. Odysseus could make his own choices, but his journey is made easier when he listens to the gods and their

    Read More

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh is Truely an Epic

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    An epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.   The main characteristics of an epic as a literary genre is that it is a long poem that tells a story, it contains an epic hero, its hero searches for immortality (but doesn't find it physically, only through fame), gods or other supernatural beings are interested and involved, and it delivers an historical message.  The Epic of Gilgamesh is classified as an epic because it fits all the characteristics of an epic as a literary genre.

    Read More

  • Achilles; the True Hero of the Iliad

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    In literature, there are two types of heroes, epic and tragic. An epic hero reflects their society’s values, immortalized in the eyes of their people, and shows courage in the face of adverse situations. Achilles is an epic hero because he embodied the honor that was so highly regarded in Greek society, chose to die early in battle and be remembered gloriously rather than living a long anonymous life in his homeland of Pthia, and avenged Patroclus’s death.

    Read More

More about Harry Potter And Odysseus Comparison Essay

Open Document