...Heroes come in many ways, shapes, and forms. The character Odysseus is indeed one of them. The story “The Odyssey” is an epic poem written by the author Homer. The main character in the story is named Odysseus, King of Ithaca. In the story, King Odysseus leaves from the land of Ithaca, to far lands across the ocean. On his twenty- five -year journey, he encounters many monsters, frightening creatures, gods, goddesses, and more. This story tells many life lessons that can be learned and followed. Odysseus is definitely a heroic figure in this epic poem. Throughout the story, Odysseus faces many troubles, hardships, failures, and worries throughout the story. Because of the many brave actions and characteristics Odysseus shows throughout the...
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...There are those in life who conquer the impossible and open the doors that have not yet been open; they go by the name “hero”. Heroes are, to put it simply, people who put others first and their own needs last. They are well-known for working hard, well after everyone has given up hope. Though it may seem like an impossible task at first, anyone can live up to the title of a hero. It is necessary to remember that heroes come in many shapes and sizes and don’t necessarily have to be affluent. However, what they do need is a personality that is able to influence others. Whether these heroes are real or merely just the work of one’s creative mind, living or passed, they somehow manage to make an impact on humanity. Although becoming a hero is...
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...Do you have a desire for adventure? Imagine being on a ship for over a decade.What about being a hero who goes on quests exploring the world to reunite with their family? If you do then you should watch Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and read The Odyssey their adventures become a reality. In The Odyssey by Homer, and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief the heroes share both motivations and adventures; however, there assistance is different. Both Percy Jackson and Odysseus have the same motivation in there exploration, going home. Percy’s mother was taken and he must retrieve pearls to save her. Percy shows how much he wants to go home when he goes to the underworld with his accomplices and leaves his best friend instead of his mother. He also risks his life for the desire to go home by decapitating Medusa, fighting off a five headed Hydra and went into the underworld in search of his mother. In The Odyssey, Odysseus has been an a journey for twenty years, and just wants to get home to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Odysseus shows how much he wants to go home when he left Calypso's island, and set on his ten years journey to return home. He fought off Polyphemus, let his crew die, and kill all the suitors to get home to his wife and chilled in Ithaca....
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...A hero is defined as many things. One who is selfless, one who shows compassion, one who not only leads others into battle but fights alongside them. In the greek parables, The Odyssey, by Homer and in Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles a hero is described as someone who perseveres on even when burdened by the weight of the unknown. The hero of The Odyssey is named Odysseus, a young man who overcame many trials to get back to his home in Ithaca, and the hero of Oedipus Rex is King Oedipus, a ruler who has his people's best interest at heart. The protagonists in these tales are both reputed to have heroic qualities and yet how they dealt with being receptive to new ideas, their humility, and their relationship with a higher power was what led each to...
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...Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid describe the journeys of the two Greek heroes –Odysseus and Aeneas, as they struggle towards their goal through the crises and deadly situations caused by the wrath of the gods upon them. In the Odyssey, we see that Poseidon (god of the sea/earth shaker) has a grudge against Odysseus while Athena, god of wisdom, aids him throughout his journey. Similarly in the Aeneid, we see that goddess Juno dislikes Aeneas as he is destined to destroy the city of Carthage loved by Juno during his mission to find a new land- Rome, whereas Aeneas’ mother Venus aids him. In these epics, many points of similarity and differences arise such as the characters of the heroes, how their journeys are delayed by women obsessed with love, what they are destined for and how they achieve the final goal in the end of the epic. The very first similarity we see in both the epics is that Virgil starts his poem in the same way Homer does, that is they both refer to Muses to sing about the epic heroes of Greek mythology- Odysseus and Aeneas. Virgil again refers to Muses for the second time in book six of the Aeneid. Another similarity is the assembly of gods in Olympus described by both Virgil and Homer. As seen in the Odyssey, Odysseus’ character is clever and smart one. He is a learner and later becomes self controlling. His ‘never give up’ attitude shows that he can go through any situation to get what he wants. Also, his character is full of twists and turns. While in the Aeneid...
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...Odyssey The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the world masterpieces that have survived the times . Admired through the ages as the ultimate epics Homer 's Iliad and the Odyssey , was venerated by the ancient Greeks themselves as the cornerstone of their civilization (Nagy , Online . The two epics are the portrayal of early Greek civilization with the spotlight focused on heroism and the heroes ' struggles and triumph Early Greece likewise was depicted in the two epics as a people who believed in the power of the immortals which was clearly shown in how br the gods and goddesses ran the lives of the characters The Iliad and Odyssey are both colorful and dramatic . Not only was Homer able to use vivid s of the different war episodes but he was also successful in portraying supernatural beings that Odysseus met during his journey back home . These styles of Homer likewise characterized the people during the time that the epics were written A very diverse Greek culture was shown in the Iliad and the Odyssey Just like what was previously mentioned , people in ancient Greece revered their heroes . The people then consider men or women who were endowed with superhuman abilities which were believed to have come from the gods and the goddess as their heroes . These heroes likewise embodied the character of the Greek people as a whole . Homer used the different characters in the two epic to give a picture of how society and the people was during the earlier times Achilles was regarded...
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...There are many reasons that Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, is still taught to students all around the world, but the most important are the lessons it teaches about using fear as an advantage, determination, and heroic actions. “What if we looked at fear in a fresh way. What if we thought of fear an amazing act of the imagination, something that can be as profound an insightful as storytelling itself” (Torgovnick). Instead of letting fear overwhelm and consume students, fear should be used as motivation. The story behind fear can lead students to their goal, just as Odysseus used his fear in a positively impactful way to lead him and his crew towards home. “Perseverance is also displayed in his way of thinking, his desire to survive and at times...
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...Webster Dictionary defines an odyssey as a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone. Both O' Brother Where Art Thou?and Homer's Odyssey have characters who go on epic journeys in a search for their home. With help from their friends, both characters make the perilous journey home, but not without costs. Both heroes must face many villains and challenges along the way. Although Everett and Odysseus have their differences, both are just men who want to return to their families. Everett and Odysseus are trying to get back to their homes before their wives can remarry. Everett convinces Pete and Delmar to escape the chain gang with him in search for treasure, in order to get his wife Penny back. Even though there...
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...Christian saved all the vets. For someone to be a hero, there is no physical limitations that makes it necessary to be strong and wear a cape with tights because heroes are judged by their actions and nothing more. Qualities that I associate with a hero are vigilant, selfless, and the willingness to take risks. Homer from the Odyssey suggests that Odysseus is made a hero by exemplifying qualities of being bold, savior, and sly. However, the characteristics that Homer equates with Odysseus are not always required for someone to be considered a hero. In Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, bold is a quality that makes Odysseus heroic. The act of being bold is the willingness to take surprisingly brave risks, which Odysseus demonstrates in his adventures. In the Adventure of the Cyclopes, Odysseus states that “we climbed, then, briskly to the cave. But Cyclops had gone afield, to pasture his fat sheep, so we looked round at everything inside.” This is an example of being bold because Odysseus and his crew are unaware of the contents inside the Cyclopes’ cave and entering his land without any signal to the “louts.” Odysseus is taking on a big risk because from what Homer tells us, the Cyclopes are uncivilized giants and can be very unpredictable. Entering into the cave without permission might have been a risk that got Odysseys into trouble later because the Cyclopes starting feasting on his crew. As a result, Odysseus plans...
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...Gilgamesh and Odysseus were two heroes from two completely different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life, or what could be done in a lifetime. Gilgamesh and the Odyssey are both categorized as hero myths. This is because both hero's go through growth and change throughout out their conquests. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship. The Odyssey was also very popular in its era. It was set in ancient Greece where in its culture; mythology was the heart of everyday life. Gilgamesh, the hero from the epic Gilgamesh, was the historical king of Uruk in Babylonia, on the river Euphrates. He lived about 2700B.C. Odysseus, the hero from the epic the Odysseus, was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca. He was one of the most prominent Greek leaders of the Trojan War. Both of these men were granted certain strengths, Gilgamesh had physical, while Odysseus had mental strengths. The journeys of Gilgamesh and Odysseus are two incredible stories written long ago; these two heroes have many similarities, but also many differences. The differences are between these two great heroes are slim, but significant. Gilgamesh was...
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...The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer telling the story of the King of Ithaca. Odysseus displays the traits of a true hero; strength, nobility, confidence, courage, and the love of glory. He gains fame through his journeys, victories and skill. As with all Homer created heroes, Odysseus possesses pride which causes him to do very unwise things. The Iliad is another epic poem written by Homer entertaining us with a story about Achilles. Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Achaean army. The most significant flaw of Achilles is his excessive pride. He is willing to subvert the good of the whole army and to endanger the lives of those who are closest to him to achieve emotional blackmail. The plot of the Odyssey is Odysseus’ 10 year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mythical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus fight off suitors or fakers trying to steal Penelope's hand from Odysseus and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends with Odysseus winning a contest to prove his identity, killing the suitors, and retaking the throne of Ithaca for himself. The plot of the Iliad is about the final year of the Trojan War, a conflict in which Greek warriors sailed the Aegean (Turkey) and surrounded the fortress of Troy for ten years, three millennia ago. The plot also includes the greek hero...
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...Throughout popular literature, heroes share defining qualities and can often be similar. In both the epic poem The Odyssey and the book Cold Mountain the heroes, Odysseus from The Odyssey and Inman from Cold Mountain share qualities that make them similar. The Odyssey is set in Ancient Greek times and the main character Odysseus took a long journey to get home to his wife Penelope. It's a similar case in Cold Mountain for Inman. Inman is a confederate soldier who is jaded of war and longs to be back with his girl, Ada, so took a long journey to his home Cold Mountain where Ada is In both the classics there are common traits, goals, and fates for the two heroes. To begin with in both of the classics there is common traits between the...
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...Lord of the Rings and Modern Day Epic? Epic adventures are one of the oldest and most celebrated works of literature. These adventures paint pictures of larger-than-life heroes, terrifying battle scenes, and heroic triumphs. Most epics served the purpose of transmitting culture and history, as well as entertaining readers. Among classical epics are the well-known Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. However, is the epic adventure a dying breed of literature? Is it possible that epic stories have sustained the test of time and evolved over the centuries? The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is one of the greatest examples of a modern day epic. What do The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Lord of the Rings all have in common? They all share typical characteristics of epic adventures in some form or another. Though the motives and reasons may differ, the theme of journeying is common to all epic adventures. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, King Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous adventure with his closest friend Enkidu in order to find enduring fame and glory. In The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus embarks on a 10 year-long journey through trials and tests to find his way back home to his wife and son. Epic hero Achilles, of The Iliad, sets out to fight in the legendary Trojan War. Similarly, Frodo Baggins, unassuming hero of The Lord of the Rings, sets out from his home and...
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...bad things get, there is always something to fight for, and that is a much more important lesson to pass onto children, something Hawthorne does well. 6. The Heroes; Greek Fairy Tales: Kingsley, Charles, and Vera Bock. The Heroes; Greek Fairy Tales. New York: Macmillan, 1954. Print. Greek Heroes inspire readers in many ways and Kingsley, writing the book for his children, sought to inspire them to achieve higher goals with integrity. With the fable surrounding Jason and the Argonauts, there are numerous challenges and trials the team must face together in order to achieve fame. The value of team work is threaded throughout the stories. The dark tale of Jason who captures the Golden Fleece only to let his fame consume him is representative of the ancient Greek’s willingness to acknowledge that not all stories have a happy ending. Kingsley’s book offers an opportunity to demonstrate that even god like beings are flawed and there are aspects of our world that are outside of an individual’s control. Teaching moments arise as the heroic characters overcome treachery while the villains give into to arrogance and self-praise. 7. Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters: Napoli, Donna Jo, and Christina Balit. Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters. Washington: National Geographic Society, 2011. Print. National Geographic uses striking artwork with its retelling of famous Greek myths in order to...
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...Throughout the history of human existence, scholars have wondered what characteristics found in ancient literature exemplified in their corresponding ancient societies and how these classical works influenced said cultures. One way to answer these questions is to look at famous literary works and the epic heroes that comprise them. Characteristics of epic heroes such as those found in Beowulf, Gilgamesh, the Iliad, and the Odyssey often reflected traits that were seen as favorable within the societies in which they were written, which, in turn, led to these archetypal heroes greatly impacting surrounding societies. When comparing and contrasting epic heroes such as Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Hector, Achilles, and Odysseus, it becomes evident that...
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