Odysseus as an Epic Hero
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: Odysseus as an Epic Hero
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
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The Odyssey is an example of Greek history portrayed in literature. As in all Greek literature, the epic hero
Odysseus answers a call to action, suffers through great confrontation, and returns with a better understanding of
life. Greek stories such as, The Odyssey set the stage for today's modern action movies with epic heroes such as
Indiana Jones, Frodo from the Lord of the Rings, and Western cowboys like Roy Rogers and The Lone Ranger.
The first characteristic that makes Odysseus an epic hero is that he answers a call to action. Odysseus answers two
calls to action in The Odyssey. His first call is to go to Troy with Agamemnon and rescue Helen even though his
son Telemachus has just been born and his wife Penelope doesn't want him to go. Odysseus does not have much
of a choice due to the promise he and the other men made when Agamemnon won Helen's hand in marriage.
Odysseus' second call to action is to get home to his family after the war in Troy despite all of his confrontations
on his journey home. Odysseus does not give in to temptation and not return home, he continues on his journey
so he can reclaim his wife and island.
The second characteristic Odysseus possesses that shows that he is an epic hero is the confrontations he faces
throughout his journeys. His first confrontation is at the land of the Cicones where he and his men get carried
away by greed and stay until the Cicones turn on them and kill six men per ship. His next confrontation is with the
Lotus Eaters. The Lotus Eaters feed his men some intoxicating fruit and make them forget about going home.
Odysseus has to carry them off the island and lock them up on the ship to continue on his journey.
Then he and his men go to the land of the Cyclops where O...
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