James Jaeger 2nd hr. Mr.

Wierzal

Odysseus: An Epic Hero

Who is a hero? Heroes are people who strive to do what is right. However, not all heroes wear tights and a cape, or are police officers or Olympians who have increased glory for their country. There is another type of hero, one who is significant, glorified and is on a quest. In Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus is an epic hero who is cunning, brilliant, mater-minded, brave, and courageous. The Odyssey is about Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his quest to return home after fighting in the Trojan War. Odysseus is an epic hero because he has help from many characters, faces many supernatural enemies, and is known by many people. To begin with, Odysseus shows respect to the gods and in return, he receives aide from them. For example, Hermes helps Odysseus when Odysseus is on his way to Circes . At another part in the story, Athena tells Odysseus about the suitors, also tells him about fights with Odysseus, Zeus helps let Odysseus go. Circe helps tell Odysseus where to go and how to get back home. Other people who help Odysseus Eumaeus, Philoetius, and Telemachus, stayed true to Odysseus and fought to the end of the raging battle between the suitors. Each of these loyal companions had separate roles in the fight, but helped Odysseus with the same overall purpose. Eumaeus closed the gate so that the suitors could not escape. Philoetius locked all of the women's quarters. Telemachus, brought supplies to help them fight. Without this help, Odysseus would never had been able to defeat the suitors and never been able to restore peace.

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Further proof that Odysseus was an epic hero is the fact that Furthermore, Odysseus is an epic hero because nearly all of Odysseuss enemies are supernatural. One example that comes to mind is the giant Cyclops, Polyphemus. His enormous size and strength is difficult to imagine; they both surpass any mans ability. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse and manages to escape. H. Another character with supernatural ability is Circe. She was an immortal witch, and she used her magic against Odysseus's men. This evil sorceress transforms Odysseuss crew into pigs when he lands on her island. Odysseus resists Circes immense powers powers and is able to out smart her. Another reason why Odysseus is an epic hero is that he not only was known by his family and friends, but, he known throughout most of the world. People didnt know Odysseus because he was King of Ithaca, but for his cunning and courageous behavior. For example, when Odysseus is at Phaecia, he overhears stories of how great Odysseus is, un aware that he is Odysseus. They look up to him , and aspire to be like him. Circe is able to figure out who Odysseus is just by his intelligence and his astuteness.

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Odysseus was not only popular among his friends and family, but among the entire world, a characteristic which truly signifies an epic hero. He was the king of Ithaca, but everyone knew him as so much more. In the beginning of the story, when Odysseus is seated at the banquet among the Phaecians, he overhears stories of himself being told. Unaware that they are in the presence of the King himself, the Phaecians still talked admirably about Odysseus. He is again recognized in Book nine when Polyphemus said that he had always imagined Odysseus as a strong, giant man. This happened after Odysseus blinded the Cyclops, convincing the beast that his attacker must be none other than the great Odysseus. In a similar situation, Circe is able to identify Odysseus when he does not turn into a pig because she knew that he was smart enough to find a way around her magic. When three characters from entirely different locations know of Odysseus for reasons beyond his kingly status, it can be assumed that he is a popular

v Throughout Odysseus's long journey to his home in Ithaca, many minor characters help him in
any way they can. For example, Hermes knew that Odysseus would not be able to withstand the magical powers of Circe, and so Hermes gave him the Moly plant. This plant allowed Odysseus to drink the potion that Circe had given him without turning into a pig, which in turn gave Odysseus the chance to retrieve his crew and eventually leave the island are about one hundred suitors trying to marry his wife, and she disguises him as a beggar so that he could sneak in undetected. Another point in the story where Athena helps Odysseus is towards the end of the giant battle between the suitors and Odysseus's crew, where she fought along side Odysseus to kill the last of the men. Three other men, Eumaeus, Philoetius, and Telemachus, stayed true to

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Odysseus and fought to the end of the raging battle between the suitors and themselves. Each of these loyal companions had separate roles in the fight, but helped Odysseus with the same overall purpose. Eumaeus closed the gate so that the suitors could not escape; Philoetius locked all of the women's quarters, and Telemachus, Odysseus' son, brought swords and shields for them all to fight with. Without the help of Hermes, Athena, his son, and his old friends, Odysseus would never have lived through to the end of his journey.

Further proof that Odysseus was an epic hero is the fact that almost all of the beings he had to overcome in this story were supernatural in some way. One of the most obviously supernatural characters was the Cyclops Polyphemus. His enormous size was difficult to imagine, and the extent of his strength far surpassed any man. Another character of equal if not more supernatural ability was Circe. She was an immortal witch, and she used her magic against Odysseus's men. After defeating both the Cyclops and Circe, Odysseus goes further into his journey, and has to pass the path of yet another supernatural being, Scylla. Scylla was a monster, and her body's shape and size were unlike any natural beings'. It's not rare for a character to encounter a supernatural being on their journey; however, being able to take on as many as three opponents and only losing a few men is the mark of an epic hero. fellow. Where a normal character might overcome an obstacle, battle a few monsters, and get some help from a friend, Odysseus goes above and beyond and sets himself apart as an epic hero. Other characters consistently offer their help for Odysseus, he fights his way through many supernatural encounters, and is known by almost all as an extraordinary man. These three things considered, Odysseus will certainly go down in history as an epic hero.
Odysseus, with the help of the gods, can survive adventures that kill most other men. Odysseus travels to the island of the Cyclopians. The Cyclopians are giants that have one eye, they don't fear the gods because they believe that they are better than the gods and they eat people. They represent the opposite of what Greek men should be. Odysseus and his men meet Polyphemus the cyclops. Polyphemus being a cyclops eats some of Odysseus' men. Odysseus with the help of the gods figures out a plan to escape and he does. Scylla is a ferocious monster with six heads that kills most men that pass by her island. She kills six of Odysseus' men. Odysseus prevents her from killing himself and more men . There is another ferocious monster named Charybdis. Charybdis sucks in water from the sea and creates a whirlpool that kills any ship that passes by. Odysseus passes by her. His crew is killed and his ship is destroyed in the whirlpool but Odysseus alone survives. There is an island that Odysseus passes by with monsters called Sirens on it. The Sirens sing beautiful songs that lure ships toward them. The ships then crash into the island and the people are killed. Nobody has heard the song of the Sirens and survived. Odysseus is warned of this island by a god. He then puts plugs in his men's ears because Odysseus wants to hear the song, he ties himself to the front of the boat and tells his men to tighten his ropes if he tries to get away. Odysseus and his men survive

James Jaeger 2nd hr. Mr. Wierzal

and Odysseus is the only mortal to he

A hero is someone who can be looked up to for their actions. Bravery is usually the biggest trait of a hero. This person has usually overcome huge obstacles to survive or to rescue others . don't find yourself having to resist a voice inside your head

urging you to save yourself instead of whatever action you're contemplating, my heart, at least, will refuse to recognize your actionshowever legitimately compassionate or courageous they may beas heroic.
First, its performed in service to others in needwhether thats a person, group, or communityor in defense of certain ideals. Second, its engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. Third, a heroic act is one performed with recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to ones physical health or personal reputation, in which the actor is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act. Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in needa concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.

brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for greatachievements or affected by grand events:

.
2.

man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for hisbrave deeds and noble qualities.

a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities orhas performed a heroic act and is regarded as a mode l orideal:

Hero: DEF Brave Admired for courage or brave deeds Looked up to for your actionsleader Personal sacrifice to benefit others Overcome huge obstacles to survive

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Voluntary act with risks to benefit others with no expectation of reward

. He has help from numerous characters, defeats a handful of supernatural enemies, and is known by many individuals from across the land. These qualifications are what set apart a normal character in a story from a true epic hero.
The ancient Greeks used to say that a true hero must show respect to the gods by giving them sacrifices and praying to them. Odysseus gives sacrifices to the gods in many instances in "The Odyssey." When Odysseus goes to Hades , the underworld, he sacrifices a ram and an ewe to the gods. When Odysseus defeats Polyphemus, the Cyclops, who is the son of Poseidon the god of the sea, Odysseus gives sacrifices to the gods. Lastly when Odysseus defeats those horrible suitors that outnumbered him by so much Odysseus realizes that it was the gods who helped him do this. The feats of strength and the ability to overcome insurmountable odds could not be performed by a mere mortal without help from the gods. Therefore he makes sacrifices to the gods. When Odysseus is in trouble he always shows that he is depending on the gods by praying to them. The fact that the gods usually listen to him shows that he is well liked by the gods. In order to be a Greek hero you had to be liked by the gods since religion was such a big part in their lives.

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