The Odyssey is a good example of how epic poetry is defined by archetypes. It was written by Homer and is about the journey that a man named Odysseus takes to find his way home after the Trojan War. The Odyssey and its characters are highly impacted by archetypes, or character traits that are created and recreated throughout literature, such as the companions, the evil figure with the ultimately good heart, and the loyal sidekick.
Odysseus’ men were the Achaeans that fought with him in the Trojan War. These men fit the loyal companions archetype throughout The Odyssey. Odysseus and twelve of his men get trapped inside of a cyclops’s cave. Even though some men are eaten while in the cave, the remaining men stay loyal to Odysseus and help everyone
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At first Telemachus does not believe that Odysseus has returned, but after Odysseus proves it to him he agrees to help his father reclaim the throne. This proves that Telemachus fits the loyal sidekick archetype. Telemachus tells Odysseus about what has happened since he has been gone and agrees to help him carry out his plan of reclaiming the throne. Telemachus says, “If we go in against all these, I fear we pay in salt blood for your vengeance” (998). Telemachus agreeing to help Odysseus even though he is doubtful shows that he is loyal and that he will do what it takes to get Odysseus his throne back. Telemachus also helped Odysseus win the fight against the suitors by killing Amphinomus and by bringing weapons for their friends to use during the fight. Telemachus, “ran to the room where spears and armor lay. He caught up four light shields, four pairs of spears, four helms of war high-plumed with flowing manes, and ran back, loaded down, to his father’s side” (1013). Telemachus proves that he is loyal to his father by helping him kill the people who tried to steal his land. Telemachus fits the loyal sidekick archetype because he was willing to fight and die for his father and he saved his father from Amphinomus.
The Odyssey is made up of archetypes such as the companions, the loyal sidekick, and the evil figure with the ultimately good heart. These archetypes play a big role in the story and influence what happens to Odysseus as he is traveling home after fighting in the Trojan War. The Odyssey is an example of how archetypes and typical themes were created in epic poetry, and are still used in literature
The fight between Odysseus and the archetypes is a continuous struggle; a struggle that occurred for ten years. This epic is known to all as The Odyssey. It originated orally from Homer, the most famous epic writer known to man, yet translated by Robert Fitzgerald. The Odyssey is about this mortal named Odysseus whom is trying to find his way home. He has to overcome many different challenges, along with archetypes.
273-275). This shows Telemachus being weak, because he has lost all hope for his father and his return and he also holds belief that his father, Odysseus is dead. This proves that Telemachus is still a boy in the beginning because, he is showing weakness by giving up and believing that Odysseus is dead and will never return. Another example of Telemachus being weak in the beginning is that he continues to lose hope and doubt his father 's return to Ithaca. Telemachus says, “Eurymachus, clearly my father 's journey home is lost forever/
In The Odyssey, Telemachus, son of Odysseus, was the man of the house after his father left for the Trojan War. When his father did not return to Ithaca, suitors flooded into his home, ravaging his food and overstaying their welcome. Throughout the “Telemachy”, Telemachus overcomes his uncertainty and insecurity in his potential power. Telemachus starts off as a young minded, immature boy who comes of age by seeking revenge, grasping hospitality and developing his faith. Telemachus was too scared to even tell his mother about his desire for the suitors to be gone.
Loyalty is a trait exhibited when Odysseus jeopardizes his own life and goes to rescue his crewmen on Kirke’s island. Odysseus presents skillfulness when he plans to kill the suitors in a productive and quick way. Determination is displayed when Odysseus is on Kalypso’s island. He is so determined to get home and to escape Kalypso’s imprisonment that he says he would die rather than spend another moment on the island. Loyalty, cleverness, and
After Odysseus reveals himself and they start fighting, Telemachus kills a suitor just to save his father. Odysseus loves his family and would fight till the death to save them. In “The Odyssey” written by Homer, it shows how much Odysseus cares about Penelope just to risk his life to be with her. In my essay you learned how I think Odysseus is loyal, trustworthy, strong-hearted, and a hero.
All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.
Ask yourself this question: are you loyal to the law? Do you think the law deserves loyalty from you? The character Odysseus in the novel The Odyssey , by Homer, is in a similar situation. That is, does Odysseus deserve loyalty from his crew? After fighting 10 years in the trojan war, Odysseus begins his lengthy journey home.
The Odyssey by Homer revolves around the character, Odysseus, and his ten-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. As the epic’s idol, he displays the combination of a clever, handsome, and courageous man popular among the mortals as well as the gods. Essentially, he embodies the ideals of the ancient Greek culture, being adorned with many favored characteristics of the era. However, an intriguing aspect of Odysseus lies in his personality. As the protagonist, he does not manifest the entirety of a stereotypical hero because Odysseus has a fatal flaw—his arrogance.
In his journey, he gets help from Athena and wise knowledge from Menelaus. He takes risks, shows strength, confidence, and responsibility towards the end as he fights alongside his father. After enduring hardships and overcoming obstacles, Telemachus evidently matured into a man who made his father
Homer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable. The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors. One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War.
Odysseus’s traits help him achieve his goal of returning to his home. Odysseus and his men have a lot of willpower to continue traveling after some dangerous and life risking experiences with cannibals, lotus-eaters, cyclops and many more creatures that could of killed Odysseus and his whole crew. Odysseus's confidence and epic hero traits only increase as the story goes on, his confidence in his men increase as he starts noticing how strong and powerful his men can be, and also shows confidence in
After weeks of struggle, Athena sends Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, to his father. Once Odysseus reveals his identity to his son, Telemachus questions how a low-life looking beggar could be his noble father. The unrecognizable father tells his son, “It is no hard thing for the gods of heaven to glorify a man or bring him low” (Homer 633). One can see Odysseus’ impersonation of a beggar and the proverb symbolizes a growth in character. To be brought low in the hierarchy, Odysseus experiences struggles in the commonwealth.
There are few fictional characters who so accurately depict the ancient archetype of a hero as Odysseus. In Homer’s The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Odysseus is departing from the Trojan city of Troy in order to reach his home country of Ithaca. Throughout the course of his journey, Odysseus is faces multiple challenges testing his leadership, vigor, and wit in order to prove himself to be a true hero. He accomplishes this by bringing about multiple heroic feats and upholding the impuissant and helpless.
The epic characteristics include a vast setting, supernatural forces and superhuman courage. In The Odyssey, the central character Odysseus is a war hero who is travelling back home. He face many challenges in
The Epic Hero of The Odyssey The Odyssey is a tale of a great hero trying to get home. An epic hero. An epic hero is a courageous and honorable person. Homer’s character Odysseus exemplifies this in many ways.