'at every twist of strategy he excelled us all' - Nestor to Telemachus. What are the challenges that Odysseus had to face on his journey home? This shows his arrogance and ruins his entire trip home said in book 9, lines 415-419. Already a member? Provide examples from The Odyssey to support why you think Odysseus is or is not a great hero. Although he is not the son of a god, Odysseus is the great-grandson of the god Hermes. Therefore, when Odysseus speaks to Polyphemus and tells him this lie, he is likewise displaying both his cleverness and heroism. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. He fits the ancient Greek definition of a hero, and his story follows the hero’s journey framework set out in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. If ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider or cities, took your eye: Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca!" Latest answer posted March 27, 2010 at 8:40:15 PM, Latest answer posted November 19, 2017 at 12:22:22 AM, Latest answer posted June 21, 2020 at 7:32:28 AM, Latest answer posted October 10, 2013 at 2:02:06 AM, Latest answer posted December 05, 2019 at 6:26:30 PM. Odysseus is a hero by that definition. Therefore, Odysseus is a true hero and would do anything to help somebody for the greater good. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. On his return, he found that Odysseus had reached home before him. He has no regard for anyone’s feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. The island is not doing well in his absence, proving how important he is as a ruler. Outline Is Odysseus a hero According to Maya Angelou a “Hero is any person really intent on making a better place for all people.” In other words, a hero is someone that makes sacrifices, and contributes to others. What are 3 examples of times when Odysseus demonstrated epic hero/god like qualities in. When it becomes clear that Polyphemus is savage and brutal and will continue to kill Odysseus's men, Odysseus says that he waited until the Cyclops fell asleep that night, and, "then formed the plan within my daring heart of closing on him, drawing my sharp sword from my thigh, and stabbing him in the breast where the midriff holds the liver [...]. Determined Odysseus was definitely determined throughout the entire story, nobody wants to go through all of that without giving up just to get home. It’s bad enough that the suitors traitorously enjoy food at Odysseus’s expense, but these women now pleasure them, turning their backs on Odysseus’s kindness and reputation. Book I, lines 19-21. He is also the king of Ithaca. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on November 12, 2019. He is a real man, skilled in the sports, handy with a sword and spear, and a master of war strategy. Espiecally when they could have stayed somewhere else and made a new home and new life. No man I am called by mother, father, and by all my comrades.'". Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Strategy quotes. He yells his name when leaving the island, so the cyclops would know who ruined him. Nearly all Greek heroes suffer from a flaw. What are the challenges that Odysseus had to face on his journey home? In The Odyssey, what is the importance of Odysseus' physical, emotional, and heroic journey? When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in search of his wandering father. There are a few definitions of hero, so I will pull quotes that help provide an excellent idea of how Odysseus fits the concept. He was willing to endanger himself by attacking a creature so many times larger than himself so that he could save his men. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. First, these lines show Odysseus's great courage, a requirement of all ancient Greek heroes. A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. “Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men before we made it home, and god save us from such hard treks in years to come. Odysseus cleverly tells Polyphemus that his name is "No one" or "No man" (depending on your translation), and then gets him very drunk. The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, tells the tale of war hero Odysseus and his long journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.Odysseus is known for his wit, craft, and cunning, traits he uses to escape danger and eventually return to Ithaca. Where does Homer show Penelope's loyalty to Odysseus, and how does this help Odysseus in The Odyssey? All of which are vital factors frequently seen in the story. Liang, Meng. The quotes that follow contain some of the most important examples of Odysseus… Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. It all depends on your perspective, no matter the situation, your view of the world is always tainted by the experiences you’ve had … They will probably say “someone who does something for other people out of the goodness of his heart.” Is Odysseus a hero? We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! Look at the bottom of the page to identify which edition of The Odyssey by Homer they are referring to. Odysseus is a hero, because he is loyal, clever and brave as his actions in the following adventure prove. However, Odysseus becomes a hero by telling tales of his past voyages and the miserable endings that they possess. Besides Odysseus, who is the other hero in The Odyssey? Most of the challenges and adventures in his return voyage from Troy show us this even if we had no idea of his great heroic stature and accomplishments in the Trojan war. In this quote, Odysseus' crew is telling him to leave the cyclops' alone. Odysseus is a Bad Leader Today, when most people think of a good leader, they think of a person who has courage, is brave, and they would sacrifice their own life for anyone. How would you argue that Odysseus is NOT a hero. Nearly every Greek hero is a demigod, prince, or king. In ancient Greece, a hero is a person, who is very clever, is cruel, and someone who believes they are above all the gods. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. His cunning and clever planning and sheer bravery are reasons why Odysseus is counted among the most heroic figures in Greek mythology. tags: circe, greek-mythology, intimacy, love, odysseus, scars, vulnerability. Odysseus needed his cleverness, power, and endurance to push through as the epic hero he is. Odysseus is the man of twists and turns because his journey, and his story, are anything but straightforward. The first of these two traits consists of being tactical, meaning acting in an organized manner that is … Second, these lines also prove that Odysseus exercises forethought and intelligence when making plans, even when he is in grave danger. Odysseus’s actions in Book 22 represent show his cruelness to others. Quotes that show that odysseus was a hero and proof to back up the claim with the pages from the book and the author which is of course Homer and if … Odysseus is enraged at the betrayal of trust these harlots commit. Firstly, Odysseus is an ideal hero in both the physical and the spiritual sense. "But all the gods pitied him except Poseidon; he remained relentlessly angry with godlike Odysseus, until his return to his own country." Odysseus is more than just enacting revenge, he is bringing retribution onto guilty persons. I believe that Odysseus is a hero but not an ideal one and that we should not accept his heroic conventions because many of his actions throughout the story make me believe the fact that he is too harsh at many times. Each time when Odysseus does something wrong the Gods, particularly Zeus, would give his men troubles on Odysseus’s actions. Log in here. My name is No man. He goes to seek information about his missing father and encounters Nestor, who tells him the story of Agamemnon, who was murdered by … No man I am called by mother, father, and by all my comrades.'". Home and family motivate Odysseus and drive the narrative toward its goal. ... On what island was Odysseus trapped in The Odyssey? What are three instances from book 12 of The Odyssey that prove Odysseus is being a hero? Nearly every Greek hero is a demigod, prince, or king. And in this way, he is a hero. They will probably say "someone who does something for other people out of the goodness … Justice is a big theme in The Odyssey , … Being a hero doesn’t mean you have to be the strongest, but also the widest and generous amongst everybody. In addition to saving lives a hero should be humble, Odysseus does not fit that description, his hubris is as big as the moon. What makes someone heroic? Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. All quotes contain page numbers as well. Odysseus fully represents the ideal characteristics of his civilization. Odysseus expresses two main traits throughout the Odysseus that aids him on his quest to allow him to thrive as a hero. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Arts, Odysseus's dealings with Polyphemus, the Cyclops, go a long way in terms of showing how Odysseus is both clever and heroic. Hes also the man of twists and turns because his mind twists and turns, helping him to think his way out of dangerous situations. The ancient Greeks had a clear definition of Hero. Eumaeus, Odysseus's trusty swineherd, is reassuring Odysseus that the suitors will be punished for their bad behavior, because the gods frown upon mortals who flout the kindness of hospitality. When the monster passes out, the crew blinds him with a sharpened olive stake, and when the other Cyclopes come to answer his screams, he shouts that "No one" is hurting him and so they go away! Odysseus is high-born, meaning he is a man of high station or class.

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