Odysseus Characteristics - 1083 Words

The Odyssey, an epic, thousands of years old and yet still read today by many. It tells the story of Odysseus and his journey home to his wife, Penelope. Odysseus is one mythic Greek hero renowned for his brain as well as muscle. He is the paragon of a Greek hero who embodies balance, well-roundedness, and wholeness: a sound mind in a sound body, a speaker of words and a doer of deeds, strength and gentleness (moral courage and a good heart), bravery on the field of battle and appreciation for the beautiful. Odysseus demonstrates an exemplary ideal of how well-rounded and balanced everyone should seek to become. Odysseus possesses a sound mind in a sound body, meaning he is both intelligent and athletic. Many characters only possess one of†¦show more content†¦The two qualities balance one another out nicely, and if Odysseus doesn’t possess both characteristics, the suitors will defeat him. One who is a speaker of words and a doer of deeds is a leader. Odysseus preoves to be a good leader through out many trials and tribulations. Firstly, he decides to go to war with the Greeks even though he does not wish to leave Penelope, and son, Telemanchos, in Ithica. However, showing great selflessness, he puts aside his personal desires and offers himself to the protection of his country. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, â€Å"Homer portrayed Odysseus as a man of outstanding wisdom and shrewdness, eloquence, resourcefulness, courage, and endurance† (â€Å"Odysseus†). During the war with Troy, he suggests the stratagem of the Wooden Horse. This becomes the infamous means which ends the Trojan War. He also bravely protects his men from many setbacks on their voyage home such as the encounters with Polyphemus, Circe, the sirens, and Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus is brawny, and works harder than most anyone. â€Å"You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron† (Homer 12.279-280). His strength and moral courage become quite clear during several predicaments he is involved in, including when he fights off the suitors, and escapes from Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Odysseus’ encounter with and escape from Polyphemus is hisShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of Odysseus1037 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is a hero? A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and outstanding achievements. Odysseus has many characteristic of a hero. From being determined to get back to his homeland and family, to being courageous about everything. Lastly to being smart and intelligent about what he does on his journey home. Odysseus displays all of these traits very well in the book The Odyssey by Homer. People in todays world who are fearless and are determined to go what it takes to r each their goalsRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus1317 Words   |  6 Pagesexample, in The Odyssey by Homer, the main character Odysseus has many valuable traits that cause him to be seen as a hero. Throughout his adventures and journeys of, Odysseus portrays many qualities of a hero. These qualities, such as his thoughtful cleverness, strength and leadership, along with his determination are the reason why he is able to make it back to his homeland after 20 difficult years at sea, and be considered by many, a hero. Odysseus’ cleverness and ability to think ahead are just oneRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus1440 Words   |  6 Pagesby Homer, Odysseus goes through this epic sea voyage that takes him nearly 10 years. Along the way, Odysseus faces many challenges he has to overcome in order to reach Ithaka, his home, but all his crew members end up dying because of Odysseus’ actions. Like the quote said by the Prophet Muhammad, Odysseus isn’t able to reach home quickly because of his arrogance and other flaws to his personality. Many readers will argue that Odysseus is a hero for returning home heroically, but Odysseus has manyRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus750 Words   |  3 Pagesclever Odysseus â€Å"How do you like the beating that I gave you, you damned cannibal† (9.397-398)? This quote is from The Odyssey by Homer. This story is about the main character Odysseus and takes place after Odysseus defeated the Trojans in the Trojan War. After defeating the Trojans Odysseus is trying to get back to his home Ithaca. The story also mentions the cleverness and arrogance of Odysseus. Odysseus shows these traits in the confrontation with Polyphemus and the Sirens. Odysseus is arrogantRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus755 Words   |  4 PagesOdyssey written by Homer is an adventure filled story with the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus is a man that many would call arrogant, but when it comes to his men, he does what is best. He and his men fought against many foes to get back to his home island, Ithaca. They stayed alive through Odysseus’s leadership, and through his leadership, his men stood strong to the very end. Some of the traits that qualify Odysseus as an outstanding hero that readers can admire include is his loyalty, strengthRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus852 Words   |  4 Pagesthinks of when it comes to heroes. Odysseus is not only a king that goes through a lot, but he also has so many more features to his personality. Each trait develops over the course of the story and by the end of the book, Odysseus is a hero. Courage is the first trait someone might notice, because he is willing to take risks and give up ev erything, even his life. Intelligence is present in almost everything Odysseus does. Lastly, leadership is a trait that Odysseus has had since the very beginningRead MoreOdysseus : The Characteristics Of A Homeric Hero1720 Words   |  7 Pagesqualities (483). Odysseus fulfills all of the requirements for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, while his superb displays of strength and cunningness have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His arrogance sets him back, but his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. In the first few lines of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes himselfRead MoreCharacteristics Of Odysseus As An Archetypal Hero873 Words   |  4 Pagesall want to be one. And some are just natural born heroes, for example, Odysseus from Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey†, he is the archetypal hero in many ways. However, John the savage, from Aldous Huxley’s â€Å"Brave New World† has the characteristics of an archetypal hero but in the end, nothing is really achieved for him. Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell created the characteristics of an archetypal hero. They created these characteristics based on recurring patterns, images, and situations found in: mythologyRead MoreEpic Heroes : The Characteristics Of Odysseus1105 Words   |  5 Pagesachievements. Commonly, epic heroes would share similar characteristics which define them as one. Characteristics of epic heroes can be compared between different famous epics. Odysseus fits the criteria of an epic hero because he embodies the cultural values of perseverance, courage, and being loyal to his family and crew. Initially, Odysseus undergoes tasks, but perseveres through them even though they are nearly impossible to complete. After Odysseus passes the Sirens, he soon approaches the island thatRead MoreThe Four Characteristics Of Odysseus959 Words   |  4 Pagesyour best to learn from the wrong ones, -Unknown. In the epic poem, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, the main character shows positive traits of a leader. I believe that Odysseus is primarily an effective leader. Now, yes he made poor judgment calls but that’s what being human is about, making mistakes learning from them, and moving forward. Odysseus showed many of the four traits including Communication, Delegation, innovation, and motivation in either a positive or negative way. Although he used these traits