Homer, the author of The Odyssey, created a hero with negative attributes named Odysseus in his epic poem. The epic hero, Odysseus, attempts to return home after 17 years of absence. During his expedition, the poem describes Odysseus' traits, whether faulty or heroic, as he travels across countries to return home. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is patient, logical and cunning, but so disloyal, arrogant and ruthless throughout his journey home, which ultimately allows Homer to explore the theme of having a clear mind and making decisions Rational reasoning is crucial to resolving any situation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In the Odyssey, Homer illustrates Odysseus' heroic traits, such as his patience, logic, and cunning, using epithets and details. For example, Homer describes Odysseus' incredible patience through the use of an epithet when Calypso states how long she kept Odysseus in solitary confinement. After Hermes orders Calypso to free Odysseus, she says to Odysseus, "Son of Laertes, versatile Odysseus, after these years with me, do you still long for your old home?" Despite this, I wish you good luck. By describing how long Odysseus was held captive and how he still desires to return home, he truly describes his determination and patience to return home. Odysseus waits patiently for 7 years on Calypso's island, always dreaming of returning home and longing for his wife is an extremely crucial detail to clearly show what a dedicated hero Odysseus is. Furthermore, as a testament to his perseverance, Calypso calls Odysseus "Son of Laertes, all-round Odysseus" to truly showcase Odysseus' greatness and tenacity. Additionally, the details used as Odysseus calmly analyzes the situation in the cave truly reveal his logical side to things. Asked by his men why they do not kill Cyclops when he sleeps, Odyssey states that "if I killed him, we would die there too, for we could never move his heavy door slab aside." During Odysseus' response to his men, Homer gives some details, such as the fact that he thought about the situation and decided not to kill the Cyclops because then they would be trapped. With these details, Homer attempts to highlight Odysseus and how he logically thought through the situation. Odysseus wants revenge on the Cyclops because of his fallen soldiers, but soon realizes that his haste to kill the Cyclops would only lead to their inevitable doom. Additionally, Homer describes how Odysseus defeated the Cyclops in detail while simultaneously expressing his cunning nature. After the Cyclops become drunk from drinking the wine, Odysseus explains: "Now, by the gods, I thrust my great hand deep into the embers, charring it again, and I encouraged my men while speaking to them of battle to keep their courage: no. give up now” (Homer 9, 282-285). In Odysseus' description of how he took revenge on the Cyclops, Odysseus explains how he obtained the drink from Polyphemus and then stabbed him in the eye with a burning pike. By giving the details of deceiving the Cyclops into drinking wine and becoming drunk, Homer thoroughly depicts Odysseus' cunning nature. Odysseus deliberately got Polyphemus, the Cyclops, drunk so that he would become sleepy and unresponsive so that they could continue the plan to stab him. Although Odysseus has a fair share of heroic traits, he also has flaws to counter them and make him seem less like a hero. Throughout the Odyssey, Homer uses 5 : 50-51)..