Odysseus in the Epic Poem by Homer

To stand up bravely, always to fight in the front ranks of Trojan soldiers, winning my father great glory, glory for myself” (VI, 387). Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors, is portrayed as a hero in some ways but, on the other hand, performs some controversial acts in the Iliad. Throughout the entire Trojan war, Achilles spent most of his time pouting in his tent after Agamemnon kidnapped his prized maiden, Chryseis.

With his motivational speeches he turned his men into dangerous fighters who would keep on going hard until they were struck down, eaten, or thrown into the churning seas. One example of this was during Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus' men were tired and didn't want to proceed, but Odysseus said: "Friends, have we never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, then when we faced Cyclops? Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits to find a way out?"

Odysseus may have had the help of Gods to win this battle but even without their assistance he would have been a hero in his own right. He fought each and every one of his battles using his own intelligence and determination; eventually he got home and got his family back in order. Odysseus was a very determined and extremely courageous man and embodying these two characteristics made him a hero. Odysseus was a man who did not let any mortal man, god, or goddess stand in his way of getting what he wanted no matter how long or how hard he had to fight, Odysseus a true Greek Hero. Works Cited Homer.

Achilles and Patroklos I think the reason that Achilles allows Patroklos to fight is because Achilles knows that the Greeks need all the help they can get. The Trojans are very near to their ships and without some great miracle, the Greeks will be defeated. When Patroklos comes to Achilles with the idea of going out in his armor and fighting to try to muster the Greek troops and frighten the Trojans, Achilles is taken in by his dear friend’s plea. Achilles gives in because he knows how much this opportunity will mean to Patroklos, who has always stood in Achilles’ shadow. So as to give his friend an opportunity to gain honor through battle and become great, Achilles allows Patroklos to enter the battle wearing his armor and with his blessing, even though he places a few stipulations on him.

Homer’s heroic code exists and is followed by the heroes because Achilles and Hector’s performance during the war does give them fame, glory, and their names are known forever. Although Paris’ name is known as well, it is in a negative way because he never followed the heroic code which created trouble for everyone. Even though Achilles and Hector are similar with the Heroic code, they also contrast. The biggest contrast is that Hector has a family to protect but Achilles doesn’t, just his best friend, Patroclus. Otherwise, Achilles and Hector are great heroes that have strong motivation and leadership.

The epic poem The Odyssey by the ancient Greek writer Homer takes us deep into the life of a man called Odysseus. As the reader gets to know Odysseus many sides of his character are exposed through the challenges he faces. Though he and his crew face danger and obstacles every step of the way Odysseus’s character hardly changes. The entire book Odysseus longs to see his wife but he is a good man and a courageous leader. When the times get tough, the tough gets going and that’s exactly what Odysseus did when the Trojan War started.

Although he receives help along the way, Odysseus faces some of his greatest challenges on using his own personal judgement. Eventually, Odysseus returns home and he and Telemachus deal with the suitors, all of which have been disrespectful and rowdy during his absence. Through fighting the forces of anti-civilization and maintaining arête when battling the Cyclops and Circe, Odysseus proves he is truly an epic hero. In Odysseus’s encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus, he proves he is a leader when it comes to fighting those that do not follow Greek values and traditions. On his long voyage home, Odysseus and his men stopped at the lawless land of the Cyclops.Here, there are no rules, they do not follow Greek values, and they believe they are stronger than the gods.

Not only does he take the time to rescue them from both the Lotus Eaters and Circe he returns to Circe’s island to give Elpinor a proper burial. Another value Odysseus holds dear is fighting, so much so that Athena attacks him by questioning, “Where’s it gone Odysseus- your power, your fighting heart? The great soldier who fought for famous white armed Helen, battling Trojans nine long year-nonstop, no mercy.” (Od. 22.236-38) However, Odysseus’s journey is not solely dominated by warfare. Even t... ... middle of paper ... ...owned painters or prominent scientists who have spent their entire lives trying to create or become something their nation could take pride in.

After reading The Iliad it was obvious that what most men wanted during that time was glory. Men in The Iliad wanted to be remembered forever and wanted to be remembered as fierce warriors. Hector was one of these men. Hector knew that the chances of surviving the war were slim, but although difficult, he chose to leave his wife and newborn son and go off to war to protect his country. Hector struggled greatly with this decision because he had to choose between fighting for his country, his heroic domain, and fleeing with his family, his domestic domain.

The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is an epic about the Trojan war which displays the complicated relationships between the Greeks and the Trojans in their final year of battle. Akhilleus has all the attributes of a great warrior and distinguishes himself as one of the strongest fighters on the Akhaian side. In The Iliad, Akhilleus’ motivation is led by his thirst for bravery and the desire to leave behind a legacy causing him to go to far extents to fulfill Akhilleus’ need for pride. However, this is only attained after his conversation with Priam, when Akhilleus learns what it means to show honor in a sense of camaraderie and loyalty. Throughout the poem, Akhilleus seeks respect and honor, but nothing is enough for him.