Odysseus As An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

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According to Bob Riley, “Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines a hero as A man generally admired or acclaimed for greater qualities or achievements in any field. In The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character, Odysseus, can be described as an epic hero. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus faces many challenges which ultimately reveal his heroine characteristics. Odysseus displays many valuable traits such as his spiritual strength, his astounding intellectual intelligence, and his great problem-solving skills. Throughout the epic, Odysseus faces many challenges which ultimately reveal his immense intellectual intelligence. Early on in Odysseus’ journey, he and his men …show more content…
Using his intellectual skills, Odysseus offered Polyphemus a delicious wine. The Cyclops demanded more and asked Odysseus for his name. Odysseus replied, “My name is Nohbdy. Mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy”(9.274-275). Odysseus knows that when he stakes Polyphemus in the eye, he will roar for help. The ulterior motive behind the fake name is that when other Cyclops arrive to help Polyphemus, he will say that nobody has hurt him, resulting in the other Cyclops leaving. This emphasizes the idea that Odysseus is intellectually stronger than other men because he has ulterior motives to harmless actions and strategizes when he finds himself facing a challenge. The challenges that Odysseus faces will help reveal other characteristics that Odysseus possesses throughout the epic. Throughout the epic, Odysseus’ relationship with the gods is revealed. He is known to be spiritually stronger than other men, which is a characteristic that makes him a great epic hero. Upon Odysseus arrival home to his kingdom that stands on the island of Ithaca, he is disguised as a beggar which was granted to him by the goddess,

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