Odysseus, from the Odyssey written by Homer, is known as an epic hero. An epic hero is a man, very rarely a woman, who seems to conquer most problems he encounters, and who is usually protected by or descended from gods but does not possess and god-like powers himself. He is faithful to his family, his country, and the gods. He is brave, tries to overcome evil with good, is intelligent, and is guided by the gods. Because they feel fear and make mistakes, epic heroes are not supermen; however their faults do not hinder their ability to overcome their trials and contributions. Odysseus is portrayed as an epic hero because of his m ...view middle of the document...
He was courageous enough to put his life in jeopardy so his men and himself could continue on their way home.Odysseus takes pride in himself, which is good. It shows that he'knows he is a good leader and that he knows what he's doing. The only thing is that this pride sometimes gets out of control. An example would be when Odysseus told the Cyclopes his real name after leaving the island. This put him and the men in danger, but of course he saved himself from it. Odysseus's pride can sometimes get a hold of him, but this shows that he is not perfect; it is a flaw in him that proves he can make mistakes.Perseverance, an impressive quality known in epic heroes. Odysseus definitely has this. Odysseus is being punished by having to go through obstacles after obstacles, but he always pulls through, like the time when he sailed by the lotus-eaters. He could have given up then, and gone to forget about the dangers that would await him, but he knew that he must get home. Home was his goal and nothing would change that. He knew what must happen, he knew he was a leader and had to get through the obstacles, know matter what.Odysseus has many great qualities within him. Some of these include courage, pride, and perseverance. Odysseus, being an epic hero, can get through almost anything. He also has flaws to make up for all the strong qualities he bares. In conclusion, Odysseus knows what he's doing, has the guts to do it, and knows how and when it should be done.
