Odysseus As The Epic Hero In Homers Odyssey - 1019 Words

Odysseus as the Epic Hero in Homer’s The Odyssey A style of work often explored in Greek literature is that of the epic. An expansive poem of a wide scope centered on and regarding the wondrous deeds of the main, heroic figure, on whose actions depend the fate of a nation. The definition of an epic can be used to describe The Odyssey by Homer. In The Odyssey we are introduced to our main character, Odysseus, the former king of Ithaca and a Trojan war hero who has been trapped on an Island by the nymph Calypso, who seeks to make him her husband. The Odyssey follows Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca and return to his family; his son Telemachus and wife Penelope. Homer uses Odysseus to illustrate the theme of nostos, one often used in Greek†¦show more content†¦When compared to figures like Achilles, Odysseus is remembered for much more than simply his valor. Odysseus is a natural leader, proving over and over that he has the ability to inspire and lead even when s ituations may seem hopeless, earning loyalty from his men. Odysseus serves as sort of foil to another hero, Achilles: â€Å"There are of course many other heroes in Homeric poetry, but Achilles and Odysseus have become the two central points of reference† (Nagy,  §48). Both are heroes, yet in their own right. Achilles, another hero of the Trojan war, is known for his strength in battle and status as a warrior. What sets Odysseus apart from other epic heroes is his most notable trait: his cunning mind: â€Å"†¦ Whereas Achilles achieves his epic centrality as a warrior, Odysseus achieves his own kind of epic centrality in an alternative way - as a master of crafty stratagems and cunning intelligence† (Nagy,  §47). Revealed in the first sentence of Book One, The Odyssey is a tale of â€Å"†¦the man of twists and turns† (Homer, 77), referring not only to the journey Odysseus embarks on in his quest to return to Ithaca, but also his ability to scheme and deceive. While still being a capable warrior, unlike Achilles Odysseus relies far more on brains than brawn. When Odysseus and his men come to the island of the Cyclops on their way back to Ithaca, Odysseus cleverly resorts to tricking the savage Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, knowing that he cannot beat him in a battle ofShow MoreRelatedThe Impacts Of The Odyssey In Homers The Odyssey1166 Words   |  5 PagesHomerâ⠂¬â„¢s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call â€Å"home wreckers†, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. 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Both stories follow the basic structure for a literary epic, a talented hero is charged with a quest, proves himself with a smaller feat, is aided by supplementary characters, enters a foreign and often supernaturalRead MoreOdysseus Archetype Analysis785 Words   |  4 PagesOdysseus, the lone survivor of his crew, returned home to Ithaca after twenty years, only to see that is home is filled with suitors. Over the twenty years he was gone, he saw Polyphemus, the cyclops, The Sirens, Scylla, and the courageous whirlpool Charybdis. They all attempted to kill the heroic Odysseus but failed to. The author of the epic poem, The Odyssey, is credited to Homer. Homer wrote his epic somewhere in eighth century BC. Some archetypes used in Homer’s epic heroic, monsters, and hospitality