Is Odysseus A Hero

Improved Essays
Is Odysseus Really A Hero?

How could you call “The Great Odysseus” a hero? This man was hated by many gods, he cheated on his wife, he was cocky, and a murderer.

Odysseus was hated by the gods; it was pretty clear to me when that they hated him because of the constant obstacles place in front of him. While leaving Calypso’s island, “his raft is destroyed in a storm and is thrown to the shores of the Phaeacians(P.51)”. After blinding the polyphemus, Odysseus tells him “ That if any one asks who did this it was the brave warrior Odysseus(P.84)”. Well, then his father Zeus destroys his ship in a sea storm. When he escapes from the sirens and his entire crew was killed. These where all indicators that Odysseus

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Homer, author of The Odyssey, tells a lengthy epic of Odysseus. He is the protagonist of the tale, told to be one of the most heroic Greek heroes. Homer spares nothing while writing one of the most well known Greek stories, making sure Odysseus is portrayed as the amazing hero. The heroic attributes of Odysseus is described implicitly and explicitly. Some examples of how he’s been described as heroic is by his intelligence.…

    • 101 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Odysseus An Anti Hero

    • 162 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Odysseus showed many traits of an anti-hero. He isn't are average strong, and brave hero he had many flaws. We see him many time break down, and be very weak. When we think of heros , they don't really have those moments. They are strong both mentally and physically.…

    • 162 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Odysseus Hero Analysis

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited

    Throughout the story Odysseus does not take actions when his men are being killed or eaten so that he can live, like he did in the giant’s cave, when Scylla attacked and when Zeus struck them with a lightning bolt and the evidence that proves Odysseus takes these actions to protect himself reads, “why not/ take these cheeses, get them stowed, come back, / throw open all pens, and make a run for it? / We’ll drive the kids and lambs aboard. We say/ put out again on the good salt water! / Ah, / how sounds that…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Heroic Qualities

    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In The Odyssey, written by Homer in the late eighth century B.C., the main character is Odysseus. He is king of the island Ithaca and has been gone from his country for ten years at war and spends an additional ten years on his journey home. During his return, he leads his men across the ocean, facing many obstacles. He encounters The Cyclops, Poseidon, Sirens, and many other mystical creatures. All of his men perish during the journey; some by their own fault, others by Odysseus’s mistakes.…

    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The author Mike Alsford once said, “The hero, it might be said, is called into being when the perception of need and the recognition of responsibility toward it are backed up by the will to act”. This excerpt identifies the driving force which spurred Odysseus into the legendary Greek hero that we know today. As it says, heroes aren’t born heroes , they become heroes from stepping up, carrying their personal chips on their shoulders, and upholding the responsibilities they are gifted with. Odysseus is an extraordinary example of this notion through each and every one of his actions.…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When Odysseus and his men were going by the Sirens he was willing to be the one who had to listen to the sirens even though it would make him go mad until he could not hear them so he had his men tie him to a post on the ship with his men ears filled with bee’s wax. One of the other kind of sacrifices that had been hard for him was when was able to come home from the twenty year long journey with all of his men dead he and to lie to his wife to protect her and his son Telemachus. Odysseus knew that if told his wife that the Suitors living with her could know about him being alive so he told his son that his was alive and had gown to Penelope’s house with all the suitor there who want to marry her so they could be king while he was there he had his son go to the armory and take all of the…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Hero Quotes

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Odysseus is shown to be very cunning and sly. During his encounter with the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus and his men are trapped in his cave. He comes up with a plan to get the Cyclops drunk so he could blind him. Odysseus also tells the Cyclops that his name was Nohbody. “Cyclops, you ask my honorable name?…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus As An Epic Hero

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Since the beginning of recorded history, man has been telling grand adventure stories; exciting tales of heroes defeating enemies, seeking treasure, and experiencing perilous tribulations. “The Odyssey”, by the Greek poet Homer, is one of the most famous epics to date. It follows the adventures of the Greek king, Odysseus, as he travels through the Mediterranean, trying to return home. The protagonist of an epic is called the “epic hero”, and he must exhibit certain characteristics to fulfill this title: he must represent the values of his culture, be either aided or hindered by the gods, and demonstrate one or more character flaws. Because he meets all three criteria, Odysseus can be considered the definitive epic hero.…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many people know about Greek mythology and its epic stories about gods and heroes. A well-known character in one of the stories is Odysseus, the main character in the book “The Odyssey”. Many people debate if Odysseus is a hero or just a selfish king that only looks out for himself. The people that claim he is not a hero overlook many of his skills and heroic achievements. I believe Odysseus is a hero and will explain why.…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Warlord In The Odyssey

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the text itself, Odysseus and his allies do not refer to him as a hero. Odysseus’ comrades clearly state that they see him as a warlord, not a hero. In the story of Helios,…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Is An Epic Hero

    • 186 Words
    • 1 Pages

    In The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus embodies an Epic hero. An Epic Hero has to have specific traits to be considered an Epic hero. Some of those traits include possessing superhuman strength, craftiness, and confidence, being helped or harmed by gods or fate, and overcoming perilous situations. Odysseus possesses all of these traits, therefore proving himself to be an Epic hero. Odysseus demonstrates his superhuman strength, craftiness, and confidence when he outsmarts the Cyclops in part one of the Odyssey.…

    • 186 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Joseph Campbell once said, ”the cave you most fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”. This ideology of confronting one 's inner fears through obstacles and becoming more powerful each time, propel the hero of the story to become an epic hero at the end of their journeys of self-discovery. Odysseus in The Odyssey recited by Homer was certainly not exempt from the title of ‘Epic Hero’ due to his skills and his sympathizable traits’ and his fantastical adventures. While some may say The Odyssey is a tale of Odysseus piecing his life together, Odysseus is an epic hero nonetheless for his divine physical and mental abilities, with a wide appeal for his traditional Greek traits such as his yearning for his family and faith. Odysseus is one of…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Unfortunately, to reach their home, they were forced to sail directly between these two dangerous hazards. Odysseus was left with a huge dilemma. Should he sail closer to Scylla or Charybdis? He chose to go closer to Scylla, and this showed how he could make major decisions under great pressure anticipating a succesful out come. If they had gone near Charybdis, all of them would have most likely drowned.…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Tragic Hero: Odysseus As An Epic Hero

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 11 Works Cited

    Print. Odysseus. Rev. 3. Encyclopedia Mythica, 31 Oct. 2005. Web.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 11 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Being A Hero

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Have you ever read about heroes born from kings? God’s being born from other’s heads? Killing brother’s and sisters? Well that is just a snippet of what was found in Ancient Greece. Being debated in this case, the heroes of Greece.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays