Homer's Odyssey: Why Odysseus Is A Hero

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Odysseus is a hero, because he proves that he is brave, determined, and loyal. In book IX, Odysseus and his men are trapped in a cave with the cyclops, Polyphemus. Odysseus had to come up with a plan for the giant decided to snack on him and his men. While distracting the giant with wine, Odysseus was able to formulate a plan. When Polyphemus asked Odysseus what his name was, Odysseus answered that his name was nobody. While the giant was asleep, Odysseus and his men acted quickly by adding a sharp item to the end of a pole and densified it enough so that it would be sharp to poke an eye out. Screaming in pain, the angry giant called out to his friends, saying that he was being attacked. When the other giants asked by whom, Polyphemus answer …show more content…
In book XI, Odysseus and his men navigate to Aeaea, in search of Circe. Circe was a witch Goddess, who drugs Odysseus’s men and turns them into pigs. Odysseus sets out to rescue them, and comes across Hermes, the messenger of Olympus, and tells Odysseus to eat an herb that is known as moly. This herb will allow Odysseus to defend himself from Circe’s abilities. Hermes then explains to Odysseus how to overcome her. Odysseus follows Hermes’ instructions, subjugating Circe into returning his men back. After the excitement was over, Odysseus and Circe fall in love, and spent the year living in her comfort home. His men convinced Odysseus to finish the expedition that he had begun, and with the guidance of Circe, she said, “the only way back to Ithaca, were to visit Hades, the realm of the dead, and communicate with a blind prophet by the name of Tiresias. He will tell you how to get home.” With no further delay, Odysseus set out to meet this bind prophet and gather whatever information was needed to get home. During his tour, he came across the ghost, Achilles, who began to question Odysseus about the world of the living. (Homer 318)

Another book demonstrated Odysseus heroic actions when he refused to accept immortality. In book V, Odysseus was offered immortality, but on one condition: he had to leave his wife and people behind and never return. The proposition
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