Odysseus An Epic Hero Research Paper
An epic hero is a figure of great, larger-than-life stature where his most remarkable traits are those valued by his culture. The Odyssey by Homer, tells a fascinating story of king Odysseus, who takes a twenty year journey in order to return to his home of Ithaca after his great victory in the Trojan War. After many years of life risking danger, is Odysseus really considered an epic hero? What makes a true epic hero? Odysseus’ pride, intelligence, and courage are the exact traits found in an epic hero. Odysseus is a person to be proud of because of his many accomplishments, but sometimes, his pride can put him in complications where he must test himself in order to return to his great home of Ithaca. But how did this all start? Why did
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His first achievement that proved his cunningness was during the Trojan War, where his idea of hidden men inside a wooden horse given to the Trojans as a present was taken into action, which ultimately, leads to their defeat and the fall or Troy. His second achievement was during his visit with Polyphemus. Being trapped inside the house of a man-eating monster, Odysseus had to devise a plan to make it possible for him and his crew to escape alive. Odysseus, being the clever man he is, tells Polyphemus that he is Nohbdy, feeds him wine, and then blinds him with a wooden spike. Trying to call out for help, Polyphemus opens the door to his home. “Polyphemus? Why do you cry so sore in the starry night? Sure no man’s driving off your flock? No man has tricked you, ruined you?” asked his brothers. “Nohbody, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!” cried the blind Cyclops and therefore, none came to his aid. Able to escape the horrifying giants’ land, Odysseus runs into even more problems. Sirens rest on the rocks of the sea, awaiting any ship that seems to sail along. They sing their song, in order to lure in men into their destruction. To avoid them as best as possible, Odysseus applies beeswax to his men’s ears so they are unable to hear the
His first achievement that proved his cunningness was during the Trojan War, where his idea of hidden men inside a wooden horse given to the Trojans as a present was taken into action, which ultimately, leads to their defeat and the fall or Troy. His second achievement was during his visit with Polyphemus. Being trapped inside the house of a man-eating monster, Odysseus had to devise a plan to make it possible for him and his crew to escape alive. Odysseus, being the clever man he is, tells Polyphemus that he is Nohbdy, feeds him wine, and then blinds him with a wooden spike. Trying to call out for help, Polyphemus opens the door to his home. “Polyphemus? Why do you cry so sore in the starry night? Sure no man’s driving off your flock? No man has tricked you, ruined you?” asked his brothers. “Nohbody, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!” cried the blind Cyclops and therefore, none came to his aid. Able to escape the horrifying giants’ land, Odysseus runs into even more problems. Sirens rest on the rocks of the sea, awaiting any ship that seems to sail along. They sing their song, in order to lure in men into their destruction. To avoid them as best as possible, Odysseus applies beeswax to his men’s ears so they are unable to hear the