Odysseus the Epic Hero In Homer’s The Odyssey, the war hero Odysseus struggles to find his way home to Ithaca after the ten year long Trojan War. Striving to return home, his cunning and clever mind conquers the seemingly overwhelming obstacles he faces throughout his odyssey. Alienated from his family and countrymen, Odysseus valiantly endures trials and tribulations, in his quest to return home. In order to overcome these hardships, Odysseus relies on superhuman feats. Because Odysseus relies on his cunning and clever mind to pave the way for his return, he overcomes his frustration and alienation; meanwhile, throughout his journey home to Ithaca, he demonstrates superhuman feats through treacherous adventures.
Odysseus has an intelligent mind and an exceptional amount of bravery. Odysseus brain was a part of what got him through the Trojan War and the epic Odyssey Trip. Odysseus seems to have it all together but he has one characteristic that holds him back, his pride. His pride caused him upset one of the Gods Poseidon. Odysseus boasted about how he won the Trojan War all by himself, without any help from the gods.
It is here where Odysseus and his fleet of warriors defeated the Trojans because of his great leadership. Knowing that he cannot defeat the Trojans from outside the walls, he comes up with a different
Gilgamesh killed the monster and saved his friends life. William Wallace is more heroic character that Gilgamesh. William Wallace being the more heroic is because he fought an army along with the people who knew he was right about what he believed in. The fight for his freedom and his people’s freedom. Also, he fought for the revenge for his wife that they killed to get to him.
Whenever the topic of Greek epic is mentioned, Odysseus most often come to mind as one of the greatest heroes. Through Homer’s narrative poem, the Odyssey, about Odysseus’ adventures and obstacles, every reader is able to identify him as a courageous and intelligent leader. He was able to use his intelligence, bravery, and strength to control his fate as best as he can. Odysseus was called a hero for many reasons, but mainly due to the fact that he was able to overcome many of the dangerous adventures that were thrust upon him. In the Trojan war, Odysseus’ idea of the Trojan horse brought the victory of the Achaeans.
When Ponyboy asks Johnny to run away with him he doesn’t hesitate. At the fountain, there was no way he’d sit back and let the soc’s drown Ponyboy. It was Johnny’s loyalty that empowered him to kill Bob Sheldon. Throughout the novel Johnny stays loyal to Ponyboy and does as much as he can to protect him, whether is be cutting and dying Ponyboy’s hair, saving him from a burning church or almost turning himself in to the cops for his crimes in order to protect the greasers. Johnny would do anything to protect his friends.
He knew that he may have died, but he lead his men into battle anyway. He also showed bravery when he crossed through the strait because he knew he was risking being killed by Scylla and Charybis. "‘Friends, have we never been in ... danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave? What power he had!
For example, a common hero is Theseus as he was determined to save the people of Athens from having to sacrifice their children to the Cretan Minotaur. Similarly in Greek texts a person such as Hercules was considered a hero because of his many adventures, known as the twelve labours, he is also recognised as a hero due to his inhuman-like strength. The heroic qualities I will discuss are polymetis, leadership and loyalty as I feel these all play a key part in a hero’s success. Before the character of Odysseus is even met by the reader, he is descried as heroic by many other characters including Menelaus and Helen, for example, “whom undertook all those heroic tasks for my sake”. This shows how highly regarded Odysseus is even among other kings.
From Trojan to Roman In Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aeneas, the story’s main character, transitions from being a Trojan warrior into the leader of the Romans. Aeneas has his journey set out in front of him and the gods have chosen him to lead because of his many virtues. He is a leader, he possesses obedience to the gods, and he puts his family first. Aeneas is fearful of the outcome of such a long hard quest as traveling to Italy. Yet, he faces his fears head on, as the Trojans are in a battle to stay alive during a violent storm caused by the jealous goddess Juno.
Passion Vs. Pride In The Iliad Achilles is motivated by pride, however in Troy he is propelled by passion. Greeks placed great importance on honor and in The Mortal Hero it is said “Honor to the Greeks is something that is won by a man’s prowess, his ability to fight and be victorious on the battle field” (Schein 62). In The Iliad Achilles is motivated by glory, he would rather die young and achieve glory by going into war. He believes his reputation is all that counts because he is a warrior and the best of the warriors.