What does it take to be an heroic poem hero? To be an heroic poem hero you are required to hold five specific qualities. These consist of being human-like. being a confident and brave solider. aristocracy. and being in a verse form incorporating supernatural existences that has scene is huge in range. In the verse form the Odyssey. the chief character fits the standards. Odysseus is an heroic poem hero.
An of import trait to being an heroic poem hero is that the character is involved in a verse form complicated by supernatural existences. To sail place in book 12. Odysseus has to voyage through the passs between two monsters. Scylla and Charybdis. As he is coming up on Scylla. he describes her:
Her legs-And there are twelve- are like great tentacles. unjointed. and upon her snake cervixs are borne six caputs like incubuss of fierceness. with ternary serried rows of Fangs and deep esophaguss of black decease. ( 12. 46-51 )
These lines prove that the animal Odysseus is confronting is non a human being. It shows that Scylla has 12 tentacles. six caputs. and three rows of dentitions. No homo would hold any these features.
Not merely does an heroic poem hero have to be involved in a verse form with supernatural characters. but a verse form with a puting vast in range that involves more than one state. Odysseus tells the Phaeacians the narrative of his rovings in the beginning of book nine:
My place is on the ailing sea-mark of Ithica under Mount Neion’s wind-blown robe of foliages. in sight of other islands- Dulichium. same. wooded Zacynthus- Ithica being most lofty in that costal sea. and northwest. while the remainder prevarication E and South. ( 9. 10-15 ) Odysseus explains that he is from Ithica. He besides explains that there are other states around him. They are different than Ithica ; like being “wooded” or “lofty. ” This proves that he is portion of a scene that includes a scene vast in range.
Another of import trait is that the character has to be of baronial birth. high place. and legendary. Many people rely on Odysseus and trust him. He explains to the Phaeacians in book nine. before he begins his large escapade. “Men hold me/formidable for craft in peace and war: ” ( 9. 8-9 ) . He proves that he has assurance in his authorization. He knows his power ; how strong and relied on in society. This gives the Phaeacians an thought of how baronial and legendary he is.
Despite being legendary. an heroic poem hero is besides the same as any ordinary adult male with yearnings. desires. and failings. When Odysseus arrives at the land of the Cyclopes. his work forces advise him to snap some of the nutrient and leave. but to his and his crew’s hurt. he decides to remain. “Yet I refused. I wished/to see the cave man. what he had to offer-/no pretty sight. it turned out for my friends” ( 9. 130-132 ) . Though he knew it wasn’t the right thing to make. Odysseus decided to remain. It is a really human-like feature to do errors. Worlds do the things they want sometimes ; even if they know it’s non the right thing to make. It shows he can be really much like a normal individual at times and though he is trusted to ever make the right things. he messes up excessively.
Although heroic poem heroes have human-like characteristics. they are trained warriors and execute brave and ace human workss for the benefit of others. In book 12. Odysseus knows that the wrath of the monsters. Scylla and Charybdis. prevarication in front. Not desiring his work forces to be afraid and cowardly when they see the monsters. he prepares a address to fix them:
‘Friends.
have we ne’er been in danger before this?
More awful. is it now. than when the Cyclops
penned us in his cave? What power he had!
Did I non maintain my nervus. and utilize my marbless
to happen a manner out for us? ( 12. 143-147 )
Odysseus proves how heroic he is. He is a strong and intelligent when it comes to covering with danger. By stating this. he prepares his work forces non to be afraid and to swear him that everything will be all right. merely like all the other times he’s acquire them out of troublesome state of affairss. When they eventually reach the monsters. his work forces don’t chicken out and travel away with what he told them to make.
Odysseus is stated to be an heroic poem hero due to the features he demonstrates in the verse form the Odyssey. He reveals each of the five demands needed. He shows he has human-like features. strength. aristocracy and assurance in his authorization throughout his escapades in the Odyssey. With all these characteristics. any character could be an heroic poem hero. merely like Odysseus.
Plants Cited
Homer. “The Odyssey. ” The Language of Literature. Eds. Arthur N. Applebee. et. Al.
Evanston. Illinois: McDougal Little. 2002. 894-937. Print.
