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Odysseus One of the Greatest Epic Heroes. Odysseus: One of the Greatest
Epic Heroes An epic encompasses many unique qualities of ...
... In every epic from antiquity, the greatest challenge a ... Doing something that no one
else could ever do ... In doing this, Odysseus and Gilgamesh will reach their ...
... Achilles, Odysseus, Hercules, and King Arthur are among the list of epic heroes
in literature. But one of the greatest epic hero is Beowulf. ...
... One of the greatest hero tales over written is The Odyssey, because the defining
elements ... The hero, Odysseus, travels to many lands on his journey home. ...
... the gods, goddesses, and monstrs influenced the lives of Odysseus, his men ... These
episodes in The Odyssey came together to make one of the greatest epics of ...
Submitted by rx7driver85 on December 15, 2006
Category: History Other
Words: 465 | Pages: 2
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Odysseus: One of the Greatest Epic Heroes
An epic encompasses many unique qualities of which are both consistent and concurrent with the authors style and manner of writing. Homer's The Odyssey is a prime example of an epic with a well-developed epic hero. In this case, the hero is the epic's namesake, Odysseus.
Odysseus is undoubtedly the hero of this great epic; however, some have posed doubts as to whether he is deserving of such a noble and eminent title. Odysseus has the poorest fortune and throughout his journey he encounters many dangers and much evil; all of which he overcomes with bravery and wisdom.
At the beginning of his journey, Odysseus finds himself stranded on the island of Ogygia with the mystical and beautiful nymph Calypso. On the island, Calypso holds Odysseus captive for many years and presents him with much temptation. She loves him possessively and wills him to stay with her and gain immortality. Odysseus knows he has a family and an entire empire awaiting him in Ithaca and resists the temptations of Calypso, much to her dismay. Zeus then sends Hermes to order Calypso to set Odysseus free. "Tell to the fair0haired nymph our steadfast purpose, that hardy Odysseus shall go forth upon his homeward way, not with gods' guidance nor with that of mortal man; but by himself, beset with sorrows, on a strong-built raft..." (46). Odysseus' patience and moral strength gain him favor with Zeus and freedom from captivity.
Like many epic heroes, Odysseus is not perfect. However, he does strive toward perfection. He encounters many different cultures and people along his journey. Some, like the Phaeacians, show him great hospitality. Others however make attempts on his life and the lives of his family. Through interacting with these people and the experiences they offer, Odysseus gains much knowledge of the world and of other cultures. He is able to better himself and attain wisdom that will aid...
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