Odysseus and Achilles

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Homer's two central heroes, Odysseus and Achilles, are, in many ways differing manifestations of the same themes. While Achilles' character is almost utterly consistent in his rage, pride and near divinity, Odysseus' character is difficult to pin down to a single moral; though perhaps more human than Achilles, he remains more difficult to understand. It shows how both heroes are defined not by their appearances, nor by the impressions they leave upon the minds of those around them, nor even so much by the words they speak, but almost entirely by their actions. Action is what drives the plot of both the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" and action is what holds the characters together.

From the Paper:

"Odysseus is a peculiar mix of both heroic and intelligent qualities that make him seem both human and supernatural. The Odysseus portrayed in the Iliad somewhat contrasts the Odysseus we see in the Odyssey. For the purposes of the former, he is represented as a man of conviction, possessing significant military genius and guile, as well as persuasive capabilities. In the latter, however, some of his more ignoble traits are revealed: he is a braggart, he almost dishonorably uses poisoned arrows, and he shows conceit in his victory over the Cyclops."

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• Analytical Essay # 146670 : "Odysseus: A Different Type of Hero"

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