Heroes in the Epic Stories of Odyssey, Aeneid, and Antigone

Throughout time, heroic tales have been a source of entertainment. For many, they offer hope and inspiration. Heroic tales often involve a battle, not necessarily a war, but a battle of will or good versus evil. The protagonists in Odyssey, Aeneid, and Antigone are considered heroes. When faced with options for which way their life will go, these characters choose the more difficult path. They never give up on what they believe in. They continue their path because of there courageous since of duty and destiny. While cultural changes dictate what is considered heroic, bravery and self-sacrifice remain constant throughout time. To begin, Homer’s Odyssey tells the epic story of the Greek hero Odysseus and his struggle to return home. Odysseus was away from home for twenty years; he left behind a loving wife and a newborn son. He sacrificed his home and family to wage war against the Trojans. The epic tale of The Odyssey begins at the end of a ten-year battle in Troy; Odysseus is instrumental in winning this battle. Odysseus is clever and quite cunning; he often uses this throughout his adventures to escape danger. Odysseus devises a plan for the Trojan horse that leads to the downfall of Troy. This plan alone would have been enough to gain â€Å"hero† status in his time. In the Greek culture, warriors often achieve immortal fame through heroic deeds in battle. Once the battle is over, Odysseus’ focus changes to his journey home. During this journey, he faces with many obstacles.Show MoreRelatedGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pagesabout  the  exploits  of  gods   and  heroes  and  their  relations  with  ordinary  mortals.   The  ancient  Greeks  worshiped  many  gods  within  a  culture  that  tolerated  diversity.  Unlike  other  belief   systems,  Greek  culture  recognized  no  single  truth  or  code  and  produced  no  sacred,  written  text  likeà ‚   the  Bible  or  the  Qur’an.  Stories  about  the  origins  and  actions  of  Greek  divinities  varied  widely,   depending,  for  example,  on  whether  the  tale  appeared  in  a  comedy,  tragedy,  or  epic  poem.  Greek   mythology  was  like  a  complex  and  rich  language