The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic poem about a hero named Odysseus who is trying to get back home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. He endures an incredible exhibition and conquers many trials along the way, all to return home to his family, yet it is still controversial whether or not he is a suitable epic hero. In order to be considered an epic hero in ancient Greek times, one must possess five important qualities. They are: strength, courage, leadership, craftiness, and devotion to home and family. Although Odysseus would not typically be deemed a hero in modern times, he does hold all five of the characteristics making him an epic hero. The most prominent of these throughout the poem being devotion to his home and family, leadership, and
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A case in point is when three of his men eat the Lotus flowers that make them forget their desire to travel home. As the men are browsing the land and longing to stay forever, Odysseus saves them. “I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships,/tied them down under their rowing benches,/and called the rest: ‘All hands aboard;/come, clear the beach and no one taste/the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home (721).’” He directs them in what to do, and warns them, leaving no man behind, and getting them all off of the island to safety. Conversely, Odysseus does not exercise his authority over his men adequately while on the island of the Cicones. He tries to tell them they should leave, but they do not listen. “’Back, and quickly!/Out to sea again!’ My men were mutinous,/fools, on stores of wine (719-720).” This is suggesting that Odysseus does not have much control over his men because they are not listening to his warnings, but he tries to persuade them to leave. It is not in the fault of Odysseus that his men are foolish. He cannot make them do anything, he can only try to guide them in the right direction. In addition, an added case of Odysseus’ leadership that the narrative displays, is as he and his men are approaching the area where the sea monsters, Scylla and Charybdis, reside. The men are getting frightened and dropping their oars not wanting to go on. Being …show more content…
An occurrence of this is when he is stranded on Calypso’s island, and Zeus mandates that he be set free. Calypso is angry that Odysseus chooses his wife over her, a nymph, when he has the option to be immortal and remain with her forever. To her distress, Odysseus cleverly responds, “My lady goddess, here is no cause for anger./My quiet Penelope--how well I know--/would seem a shade before your majesty,/death and old age being unknown to you,/while she must die. Yet, it is true, each day/I long for home, long for the sight of home (718)…” The way in which he words this response is perfectly structured. In saying it, Odysseus is strategically flattering the beautiful nymph, and being sure not to offend her in any way, as to ensure his freedom. He has a natural charm and well-spoken tongue that assists him throughout his travels. Another great example of Odysseus’ sneakiness is evident as he and his men are restrained in the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and they need to find a way out fast. Odysseus conjures a brilliant idea and slyly offers the Cyclops a gift, saying, “Cyclops, try some wine./Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men (725).” He convinces Polyphemus to drink the very strong wine, causing him to pass out, so Odysseus and his crew can carry out his ingenious plan. Still, there is a point in the poem where
A case in point is when three of his men eat the Lotus flowers that make them forget their desire to travel home. As the men are browsing the land and longing to stay forever, Odysseus saves them. “I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships,/tied them down under their rowing benches,/and called the rest: ‘All hands aboard;/come, clear the beach and no one taste/the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home (721).’” He directs them in what to do, and warns them, leaving no man behind, and getting them all off of the island to safety. Conversely, Odysseus does not exercise his authority over his men adequately while on the island of the Cicones. He tries to tell them they should leave, but they do not listen. “’Back, and quickly!/Out to sea again!’ My men were mutinous,/fools, on stores of wine (719-720).” This is suggesting that Odysseus does not have much control over his men because they are not listening to his warnings, but he tries to persuade them to leave. It is not in the fault of Odysseus that his men are foolish. He cannot make them do anything, he can only try to guide them in the right direction. In addition, an added case of Odysseus’ leadership that the narrative displays, is as he and his men are approaching the area where the sea monsters, Scylla and Charybdis, reside. The men are getting frightened and dropping their oars not wanting to go on. Being …show more content…
An occurrence of this is when he is stranded on Calypso’s island, and Zeus mandates that he be set free. Calypso is angry that Odysseus chooses his wife over her, a nymph, when he has the option to be immortal and remain with her forever. To her distress, Odysseus cleverly responds, “My lady goddess, here is no cause for anger./My quiet Penelope--how well I know--/would seem a shade before your majesty,/death and old age being unknown to you,/while she must die. Yet, it is true, each day/I long for home, long for the sight of home (718)…” The way in which he words this response is perfectly structured. In saying it, Odysseus is strategically flattering the beautiful nymph, and being sure not to offend her in any way, as to ensure his freedom. He has a natural charm and well-spoken tongue that assists him throughout his travels. Another great example of Odysseus’ sneakiness is evident as he and his men are restrained in the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and they need to find a way out fast. Odysseus conjures a brilliant idea and slyly offers the Cyclops a gift, saying, “Cyclops, try some wine./Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men (725).” He convinces Polyphemus to drink the very strong wine, causing him to pass out, so Odysseus and his crew can carry out his ingenious plan. Still, there is a point in the poem where