Homer s Epic Hero, The Odyssey, By Homer - 1670 Words

One of the greatest tales of a hero is one of a man returning home after war. King of Ithaca, Odysseus was a Greek champion in the Trojan War. However, he is known best not for his heroic acts during combat, but for his journey back to Ithaca, to his wife and son, in the ten years that follow. In Homer’s epic hero, The Odyssey, the Greek poet tells of Odysseus’s hardships and how he used his heroic traits to overcome them. The myth is told in twenty four books. Odysseus is a hero because of his cleverness, loyalty, leadership, and courage. Odysseus is, without a doubt, a war hero. He valiantly fought for ten years in the Trojan War, until he finally came up with a brilliant idea to defeat Troy. He had a hollow wooden horse constructed so the Greeks could hide inside. In the middle of the night, they would come out of the horse and defeat their enemies (Baker). Odysseus and his men claimed victory, and set out to return home. However, Poseidon, God of the sea and earthquakes, had other plans for the King of Ithaca. Poseidon favored the Trojans to win the war, so when the Greeks won, he was angered. On top of that, Odysseus did not thank the Gods for his victory. So when Odysseus blinded his son Polyphemus, Poseidon had had enough. He made the waters of the Aegean Sea, the route in which Odysseus took home, rough and difficult to navigate (authors of book.) For ten years he travelled home and showed his heroic side along the way. Heroes like Achilles andShow MoreRelatedThe Hero Of Homer s Epic Tale, The Odyssey1922 Words   |  8 Pagesthe mythological Grecian subject of Homer s epic tale, The Odyssey. This legendary figure displays exemplary brains and muscle, appearing almost superhuman at times. He embodies the ideals Greeks heroes aspired to: manly valor, loyalty to both his family and friends, as well as keen intelligence. 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