Odysseus, a Heros Journey - 913 Words

The Hero’s Journey: The Odyssey by Homer is the story of Odysseus, a very brave, strong and smart Greek mythic hero who embarks on an epic journey. His journey fulfills all the requisites of a Hero’s Journey. Odysseus’ Journey takes him through various mental stages which will be outlined in bold. Odysseus’ ordinary world is that of the island of Ithaca where he lives with his beloved wife. When he was looking for a bride, Odysseus visited Sparta where he met Menelaus who was to wed Helen, Zeus, the mighty king of gods’ daughter. During this visit, he swore loyalty to Menelaus not knowing that he would one day be called to carry out his promise. The Call to Adventure or Action indeed comes when Menelaus calls all the†¦show more content†¦However, that is not the end of his ordeal; it is only the beginning as he still needs to make his way home. Test, allies and Enemies mark Odysseus’ journey home in a cyclical pattern. Tests are followed by periods of reprieve/rest where Odysseus benefits from the help of Gods, followed by trials where he is forced to face enemies again. It almost seems like he undergoes a circle of being tested and helped. His Fir st Trial/Test occurs when a storm blows him and his crew to a city on the coast of Thrace where they fight the Ciconians. Although they manage to escape, a terrible storm is sent their way by Zeus who is angered by their attack on the Ciconians. Odysseus encounter with the Cyclopes, where he not only tricks one, but teases and taunts him, angers Poseidon, god of the sea. â€Å"Poseidon decrees a cruel fate for Odysseus and his sailors. It will be many years before Odysseus reaches home†p.20. This ordeal is followed by reprieve whereby Aeolus, guardian of the winds, opens the doors to his palace. Enemies take different forms: lotus flowers, tempting cattle, Cyclops, serpents and whirlpools. However, his biggest enemy of all is Poseidon, god of the sea. Those who give him assistance are Aeolus, Circe and Calypso. Having survived his journey and arriving in Ithica is not the end of his ordeal, Odysseus still has to reach within himself to summon self control. He must resist the temptation of reclaiming what is justly hisShow MoreRelatedA Heros Journey with Odysseus1192 Words   |  5 Pages A Hero’s Journey with Odysseus Of all literature works read thus far, the Odyssey full fills the hero’s journey in all aspects of the story. Throughout this story there are vivid examples of how the hero’s journey is outlined. From the beginning of â€Å"the hero’s journey†, which is the call to adventure Odysseus will begin his journey when he makes the choice of going into battle in the Trojan War. 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Odysseus and Arthur Dent, described by Homer andRead MoreEssay An Epic Odyssey1544 Words   |  7 Pagesand occur in grand settings. Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, meets these traits and is considered a prime example of an epic hero. His story is told in Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad. However, Odysseus’s journey sets him apart from other epic heroes. Most heroes follow the hero’s journey, in which a hero begins in the ordinary world, is called to destiny, crosses the threshold, defeats obstacles, receives help, defeats the undefeatable, and then returns home. Odysseus does not strictly follow thisRead MoreLiterary Criticism Of The Odyssey1604 Words   |  7 Pagesand it is the second-oldest extant work of Western literature. The Odyssey is an epic poem and can be understood through the lens of archetypal criticism which explores themes that are based on heroism and the protagonist Odysseus is an epic hero who undergoes a ten-year journey to return to Ithaca. 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