My definition of a literary epic hero is “a character who is clever, brave, and a good fighter.” In the epic poem "The Odyssey," the main character, Odysseus, fits this definition perfectly. Odysseus is incredibly clever, like in the episode “The Cyclops.” He is also brave. The episode “Sailing from Troy” showed that. Finally, the episode called “Odysseus’s Revenge” proves that he is a strong fighter. Odysseus can be considered an epic hero because he has some of the characteristics necessary to be one.
In the episode “The Cyclops," Odysseus is shown having the epic trait of cleverness. Odysseus and his men were sailing home from fighting in the Trojan War, when a sudden wind and current change sent them off course. After fighting the Cicones on the island Ismarus and being tempted by sleep-inducing lotus flowers, they find themselves landed on the beaches of the Island of Cyclopes. They go to explore one’s cave, but they get trapped. To escape, Odysseus gets the Cyclops drunk, and then stabs his eyes so that he’s blinded. Then, Odysseus and his men hide under the Cyclops’ sheep. The poem says, “I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the ogre’s bed, then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded on the left and right. So three sheep could convey each man” (378-392). This idea worked well because the Cyclops couldn't see them, he depended on his hearing and sense of touch to find them in case they try to escape. This was very clever because, since they're underneath the sheep, though, he cannot hear or feel them passing by him. Now they have a perfect escape route back to the ship. This proves that Odysseus is very clever. He’s not only clever, though, but also incredibly brave.
The episode “Sailing from Troy” proved that Odysseus had another trait of an epic hero: bravery. In this episode, he and his men had just won the Trojan War, and were on their way...