Odysseus as the Epic Hero
I. Introduction - In Homer's The Odyssey the tale of a man's journey back home after long years at war is also the tale of a man's spiritual journey through his own soul.II. The beginning - Odysseus leaves Troy feeling almost immortal and this pride is what leads to his downfall and second rise.III. The middle - Odysseus undergoes his symbolic death and rebirth.IV. The end - Odysseus has regained power over his household and has restored order to his life. In Homer's The Odyssey, the tale of a man's journey home after long years at war, is also the tale of a man's spiritual journey through his own soul. Odysseus' role as an epic hero is modified throughout the epic poem. As Odysseus leaves Troy for home, he is the typical bloodthirsty warrior. During the course of his trek, he undergoes a symbolic death and rebirth. Upon his arrival in Ithaka, the wiser man he has become is evident. The Odyssey is Odysseus' story of his journey not only from Troy to Ithaka, but also from bloodthirsty warrior to epic hero.
Instead, he has changed into a man desperate to reclaim his throne and home. But when day came he sat on the rocky shore And broke his own heart groaning, with his eyes wet Scanning the bare horizon of the sea. Odysseus and his crew do not heed Teirasias's warning, and the entire crew save Odysseus is lost at sea. I stormed that place and killed the men who fought. The strong god glittering left her as he spoke, And now her ladyship, having given heed To Zeus's mandate, went to find Odysseus In his stone seat to seaward-tear on tear Brimming his eyes. Once he has landed on Phaiakia, Odysseus realizes that he can not continue on as a bloodthirsty warrior, but rather must heed the wisdom passed on to him by those he met in Hades and change his outlook. Even within his own home he does not reveal himself but issues a warning to the suitors. The sweet days of his life time Were running out in anguish over his exile, For long ago the nymph had ceased to please. Through a symbolic death and rebirth, Odysseus has become a man who is worthy to be called an epic hero. Odysseus has battled his fellow man and won; he has struggled with monsters and triumphed; he has grappled with temptation and overcome human desire; but most importantly, he has combated against the evils of his own soul and prevailed. Our minds are as the days are, dark or bright, Blown over by the father of gods and men. The first lines of Odysseus' story display his warrior side. Bibliography Works CitedHomer. Unlike the bloodthirsty warrior he once was though, Odysseus does not rush in and fight; instead, he bides his time and gathers assistance. The lack of effort on Odysseus' part implies that he did not truly care if the men ransacked Ilion.
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