In Homer’s epic The Odyssey, a hero is defined by extraordinary abilities that they possess throughout seemingly impossible situations. Odysseus is repeatedly in what appears to be knowing situations, and not only does he overcome them, but helps his family, his men, and himself. It is his loyalty to his friends, bravery, and clever strategies that allow him to be recognized as the true hero, and restore peace in Ithaca making his broken family whole again. Odysseus puts aside his personal needs…
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Theseus definitely proved to be a hero. In the story, he had a reputation as the hero, he had good intentions since the beginning, he was selfless, he understood his own mistakes, and he created peace in Athens. When first beginning his journey to Athens, “[...] he took the difficult coast road, which ran through lands ruled by giants and brutal outlaws” (Rahilly 1). By doing so, the people of Athens must have been happy to know that those giants and brutal outlaws had been defeated, hence why they…
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In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes through many challenges on his way home from Troy. He is fated with hardships his way home from war as a consequence of the blinding of Poseidon's son. He is away for 20 years until, with the help of Athena, he arrives home. Some say that he is a true hero by being able to come above and conquer his difficulties and make it back to Ithaka, his home. Odysseus would not be the “hero” he is depicted as without Athena though. Athena helps him all along the way allowing…
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telling stories about a great war.” After a vast hero had seen the remarkable birth of his child, he embarked on a journey with his men to battle in a brutal and callous war. The Odyssey is a Greek epic written by Homer which captures the boundless journey of Odysseus, as he strived to return to Ithaca after battling in the Trojan War. Homer had been a prominent writer who expressed the legends and myths of Greek goddesses throughout his epic, The Odyssey. As Odysseus embarked on an endless journey filled…
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Response #1 Identity is the result of development and growth of oneself. The identity of a character in an epic play can change in the course of the story and ultimately alter the story itself, just as the title character changes in Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. The protagonists in the story, the men of the house of Odysseus, have dramatic and subtle changes throughout the epic that alter the way the plot moves. Odysseus’s attitude in the beginning of the epic displays that of a civilization with no…
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Homer’s The Odyssey follows the titular king of Ithaca, Odysseus. In the epic poem, Odysseus is returning home from fighting in the Trojan war. While on this journey home, Odysseus begins to show his true nature. Not to convinced by these so-called “heroics”. Homer’s “hero” Odysseus is nothing of the sort: he is an incompetent leader, prideful, unwise, and is not a hero. For a man with the title, “king of Ithaca” His leadership is not on par with that of someone held to such high esteem. In the…
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Oftentimes, when the word “hero” is mentioned or thought of, the attributes of strength, bravery, and superhuman powers automatically come to mind. However, this concept of a hero is old. In modern days, the definition of a hero has changed from a superhuman figure, to a person who possesses the traits of selflessness and forgiveness. In Homer's well known epic, The Odyssey, he portrays the out of date idea of an epic hero as a figure who was helped or harmed by the gods and contains superhuman strength…
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both seem to have a broad similarity of the idea of heroism, but the foundations of what it means to be a hero is sometimes represented differently in these pieces. With all stories about heroes, there are certain heroic codes that must be followed and maintained by the people in these stories. Two of Homer's most common and famous works are the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Iliad and the Odyssey were both epic poems written around the 8th century.In the Iliad people really show that they would rather…
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Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca and the central figure of Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey," is often celebrated as a great hero in literature and mythology. Throughout history, he has been held up as a paragon of bravery, intelligence, and resilience. From his cunning escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus to his enduring journey back to Ithaca, Odysseus embodies the timeless qualities of heroism, making a lasting impression on audiences across cultures and generations. One of Odysseus's most…
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Tayler Fernandes Nunez Beowulf vs. Ulysses 9/25/14 Ap English 72 What characteristics must a hero have? In a famous England tale, storytellers give readers the story of Beowulf, a series of epics that describe the intense battles that a heroic man endures. The story is said to be the equivalent to Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey to the ancient Greeks. The epics about Beowulf is an oral story passed on through many generations, common during the AngloSaxon period and was viewed as o…
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