Essay on The Odyssey, by Homer, is an Epic - 888 Words

An epic is a long, episodic narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a historical or mystical hero. Episodic narratives have a larger story broken down into closely connected, but individual and separate sections. Some important qualities that distinguish an epic are unrealistic antagonists, the Gods and Goddesses playing important roles, and a story involving the re-establishment of a proper leader. â€Å"The Odyssey†, by Homer, is an epic because Odysseus (the hero) faces supernatural antagonists, the gods and goddesses play an important role, and Odysseus is being restored as a rightful leader. Throughout the story, Odysseus faces several supernatural antagonists. One of these antagonists is a creature named†¦show more content†¦A regular human is incapable of performing that feat. The being must be enormous and supernatural in order to be able to hold two men in his hands with ease. The monster is an antagonist in the story because he is putting Odysseus at a disadvantage in his quest by preventing the escape of Odysseus and his men. During the story, Odysseus faces several supernatural antagonists including Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cyclops. However, supernatural antagonists are not the only things that make â€Å"The Odyssey† an epic. Odysseus and his crew receive help from and face many gods and goddesses. One example of these Gods is Zeus. In the story Zeus exclaims â€Å"Let me throw down one white-hot bolt, and make splinters of their ship in the Winedark sea†. (Homer 627) Zeus is talking from his point of view in the statement. In Greek Mythology, Zeus is the king of all gods and his lightning bolt is a symbol of his power. Zeus makes himself important by threatening to destroy Odysseus’ ship. If Odysseus’ ship is destroyed, it would take a major toll on Odysseus and his men who are trying to return home from the Trojan War. Therefore, Zeus is a God with major importance in the story. Furthermor e, Odysseus also has a conflict with Poseidon. The monster named Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon. In the escape fromShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Homer s Odyssey1480 Words   |  6 Pagesdid the writing of Homer’s The Odyssey. The Odyssey is an epic poem that is the sequel to the Iliad, which is the story of the Trojan War that was fought between Greece and the city state of Troy. The sequel is about a man named Odysseus, his family, and his lifelong journey home. The Iliad was an epic poem that got its toes wet with topics such as human thought and introspection, but that was all secondary to the actual themes which were power and war. Homer’s Odyssey is exactly like its prequel becauseRead MoreThe Odyssey Of Homer, A Homeric Epic Essay1550 Words   |  7 PagesThe Odyssey of Homer, a Homeric epic translated by Richmond Latimore, has an abundance of women, all of whom fulfill various roles within the narrative. 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Homer represents this in The Odyssey when Odysseus repeatedly engages in unfaithful acts towards Penelope, in an attempt to mimic Zeus, the king of the gods. The Odyssey, by Homer, an epic of Odysseus 10 year journey to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. While Odysseus combats mythical creatures and has to face the unsupportingRead MoreHomer s Epic Hero, The Odyssey, By Homer1670 Words   |  7 Pagesafter war. King of Ithaca, Odysseus was a Greek champion in the Trojan War. However, he is known best not for his heroic acts during combat, but for his journey back to Ithaca, to his wife and son, in the ten years that follow. In Homer’s epic hero, The Odyssey, the Greek poet tells of Odysseus’s hardships and how he used his heroic traits to overcome them. The myth is told in twenty four books. Odysseus is a hero because of his cleverness, loyalty, leadership, and courage. Odysseus is, withoutRead MoreThe Epic Of Homer s The Odyssey965 Words   |  4 PagesAn individual s characteristics are the key to their conduct and this is very true in Homer s the Odyssey, which takes place in 700 BC in the Mediterranean, near Greece. The epic story is about a Greek hero, named Odysseus, who has left his home country to fight in the Trojan War twenty years earlier. The focus of the epic and his mission now is to make his way back home to Ithaca. On his way, he shows some great qualities along with strengths that influence the course of his journey. Despite OdysseusRead MoreHomer s Odyssey : The Epic Hero999 Words   |  4 Pages Odysseus can be classified as one of the most well-known epic heroes, and a clear example of Greek priorities and ideals. Written many years after, the Aeneid likewise depicts an epic hero, Aeneas, that also completes a long journey and has closely related aspects to the story of the Odyssey. 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They are considered role models in a sense, thus providing the lessons, morals, and beliefs. Whether it is judging right from wrong, accomplishing the greater good, and many others teach lifelong messages that will continue to be passed down generation after generation. The Odyssey w as written by a blind poet named Homer, who was also renowned author of The Iliad