Essay An Epic Odyssey - 1544 Words

The stories of epic heroes remain important to many cultures, the Greeks in particular. These tales of heroic men not only entertain, but they teach people about morals and values that most epic heroes exemplify, such as intelligence and bravery. To be an epic hero, characters are usually highly born, favored by the gods, perform great deeds, and have flaws. These tales are told in heightened style and occur in grand settings. Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, meets these traits and is considered a prime example of an epic hero. His story is told in Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad. However, Odysseus’s journey sets him apart from other epic heroes. Most heroes follow the hero’s journey, in which a hero begins in the ordinary world, is called†¦show more content†¦Zeus, Athena’s father, also helps Odysseus from time to time. Zeus sends a thunderclap to Penelope upon Odysseus’s request, which gives Penelope hope that the gods are watching over he r. Hermes, the messenger god, gives Odysseus the charm of moly to protect him from being turned into a pig by Circe. The only god who does not favor Odysseus is Poseidon, who is angry with Odysseus for blinding his Cyclops son. Despite the trouble Poseidon sends Odysseus, the favor of other gods helps Odysseus return home. An epic hero also performs many great deeds. Odysseus performs many great deeds that demonstrate both his strength and intelligence on his travels. In The Iliad, Homer comes up with the idea of the Trojan Horse, which leads to the defeat of Troy. On his return home in The Odyssey, Odysseus uses strength to take out the eye of the Cyclops, and he uses intelligence to escape the cave by hiding under a ram. He also uses strength and intelligence to kill the suitors. Odysseus displays intelligence to plan the attack, then strength to kill them. Odysseus’s deeds require both great strength and intelligence, and there are many heroes in literature who do not have both. In addition, epic heroes are mortal men, and all men have flaws. Odysseus has the flaw of hubris, excessive pride, a flaw common in many heroes. An example of this flaw comes after Odysseus escapes the Cyclops’s cave. When Odysseus arrives safely at his boat, heShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of The Odyssey Essay942 Words   |  4 Pageswith adversity in order to get there. However, compared to Odysseus in The Odyssey, who is strong, but untrusting, we will soon see that Sunjata is not only a man but a hero. In both texts we see each man adored by many and even compared to Gods like Odysseus in The Odyssey. However, when we break down the words of each epic we are faced to confront the truths of what a hero really is. This claim explains why The Odyssey expresses a false sense of heroism whereas Sunjata gives the audience and exampleRead MoreThe Epic Of The Odyssey1192 Words   |  5 Pagescrisis; I personally wait and panic around 5:30 in the evening. 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