Essays on Odysseus

Many debate over the definition of a hero. While the ancient Greeks defined a hero as a male, usually of royal or godly descent, my definition is quite different. A hero is someone who completes some significant heroic act with some difficulty or hardship, not...

A leader is one who shows courage, nobility, confidence, cleverness, has a keen intellect and motivates those around them. Odysseus, the protagonist, is portrayed as an epic hero who uses his courage and wit as he goes on a journey to reclaim his life. Odysseus’...

Arguably one of the most famous poems centered around a homecoming, Homer’s The Odyssey tells the story of literature’s most famous veteran, Odysseus, and his journey home. After ten years of fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus’s priority (and the entire plot of the book)...

In the vast universe of Greek mythology, perhaps one of the best-known and revered works is the epic poem The Odyssey, attributed Homer. This legendary work examines many aspects of human nature, notably the distinction between moral and political behavior. The main character in the...

Odysseus is an effective leader by the way he positively motivates, delegates, and innovates his men but struggles a little bit on communication. Odysseus demonstrates effective delegation in the task he gives to his men. When Odysseus and his men come across an island and...

Homeric epic heroes have long been considered superior to normal human beings. Throughout a variety of epic poems, the traits of a hero are clear: strength, courage, and intelligence. The Oxford Dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage,...

Being an epic hero isn’t always about putting others before you. It takes great responsibility and patience to prove you’re worthy of such a prestigious title. In Homer’s epic poetry The Odyssey, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, is attempting to return home after battling for ten...

What is a hero? Is it someone who acts as a fool, at times, or is it someone who is courageous and intelligent? In Homer’s The Odyssey, the epic hero Odysseus faces several impediments during his 20 year journey from home. He first had to...

The Odyssey is a story about Odysseus’ return home, and the struggles he faces. Odysseus is a king who is deeply respected for his combat triumphs and heroism in the trojan war. He is missing for 10 years and his wife Penelope longs for his...

Being a leader is a very honorable and important status. In order to serve as a good leader one must have certain qualities about their personality and abilities. Leaders must fall above their followers in certain ways, like levels of knowledge and readiness for whatever...

What does it mean to be a hero? There are several definitions for the word, and there are many examples of heroes in history and everyone’s daily lives. However, The Odyssey also exhibits some acts of heroism. Such as the protagonist, Odysseus. Odysseus is a...

Trickery is common in Greek mythology. Especially among Gods and Goddesses. They use their power of trickery to trick and deceive humans, to fulfill their wishes. An important figure in Greek mythology is Metis. She is the Goddess of wisdom and intelligence. Interestingly enough, Odysseus...

Comparing and contrasting two stories can actually be quite interesting. It shows how characters are similar and different from one another, and it can show how the plots are similar and different. When it comes to comparing and contrasting two stories, it is usually easier...

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both deals with characters that question their mortality due to death. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are motivated by attaining glory and honor. Both of these stories show how fame can interact with how your life turns out in the...

Despite the idea that literary works stem across a multiplicity of genres and were composed in different time periods, they always seem to have one underlying core: a similar thematic idea or overarching moral of the story. One theme that seems to be the underlying...

As a species, humans have specialized in not only exaggerating the remnants of our survival instincts, but also incorporating intangible concepts into our daily lives. From calculus to gravitational time, people have been steadily implementing new discoveries in hopes of improving the human timeline. Despite...

In book 6, in the evening, Nausicaa, the Phaeacian princess is visited by Athena in a dream and obliges her to clean her dress. Once Nausiacaa wakes up, she takes her maids and a mule-pushcart, and the maids clean her attire in the ponds by...

Odysseus exemplifies adventure, courage, and the values of the Greeks, but does that make him a hero? An epic hero is not only a personification of that culture but also the best version of that culture. The Odyssey is a narrative poem that was sung...

Prompt 2 – The Humbling of Odysseus The Odyssey presents its readers with many moments of grief – Penelope grieves over the possible loss of her husband, Telemachus is riddled with the grief the suitors give him by trying to take over his missing father’s...

In the first chapter of his novel, How to Read Literature like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster discusses the idea of a quest narrative. “They [protagonists] go because of the stated task, mistakenly believing that it is their real mission. We know, however, that their...

In the 21st century, I would consider a hero a person who commits acts of courageousness and kindness. Many people would recognize this individual as a true hero if they did these acts for the sake of helping others. After fighting in the Trojan War,...

Literary history is filled with tales of travelers. These travelers journey to lands far and wide, gaining new experiences and knowledge of cultures around the world. As much these literary travelers can tell readers about the new cultures they encounter, their stories also contain a...

Thought history humanity has always traveled. From prehistoric nomads to modern day migrants and vacationers, there have always been various types of travelers who travel for different reasons. Through looking at ancient texts and observing the world today, it is evident that travelers of all...

Alysandra Bui Hist 010 Professor Chrissanthos TA: David Shanta July 18th 2018 The Gods of Ancient Greek Lives Starting from the Dark Ages through the Archaic period of ancient Greece, various aspects of Greek life had changed with the addition of a writing system and...

“I wish that he may return safely so that I may hold his hand once more, and we may become a family once more.”However, this did not go to plan for the young Penelope after the Trojan War had ended, as Odysseus had not yet...

After the events of the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men headed back home to Ithaca. En route, they unknowingly stopped at the island of the Cyclopes to gather supplies for their long journey home. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of the island were not very friendly...

Odysseus: A Realistic Barbaric Hero The ancient hero, often being assumed to be a beacon of perfection and civilization among the hordes of barbarians, is considered by modern standards to be less perfect, but more realistic. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the...

The Odyssey, by Homer, tells the tale of warrior-king Odysseus and his misadventures and accomplishments along his journey. With strength of character, a quick wit about him, and the gods on his side, Odysseus suffers through enumerable trials in order to see his wife, Penelope,...

With intelligence, courage, determination, and other heroic qualities, who wouldn’t want to have a hero, or much less be one? That’s right- no one! We all have heroes in our lives, and we probably have all taken them for granted at one point. But have...

The foreboding dark mist in the gloom of the night (141) shadowing Odysseus arrival to the island of the Cyclopes suggests a sinister and frightening site. Recounting the unnaturalness of the occupants and the horror of the ensuing events, Odysseus narration seemingly confirms this interpretation....