Quinnlyn Diehl Diehl 1

Mrs. Weaver

LNG 311

10 December 10, 2010

Unforgiving Journeys of Odysseus and Percy Jackson:

Many heroes like Odysseus and Percy Jackson, are described and known for having

distinct heroic qualities which show in the book The Odyssey by Homer and in the movie Percy

Jackson and the Lighting Thief by Rick Riordon. Though these characters have similar heroic

traits they both have different goals to reach by facing death through many difficult obstacles

which they must overcome.

Even though each hero is from a different time and place, they both have similar heroic

qualities. Odysseus is the ‘perfect’ hero. He is strong, fast brave, determined, and keeps to his

word even though he is at the verge of death every where he travels. Percy on the other hand is

much younger and he doesn’t discover he is also cunning, strong, brave, and determined until he

has to use these gifts to save his mother. Heroes are looked upon as role models because they

have the ability to save lives and protect. If given these special abilities, why would they want to

be embraced? Odysseus understands he has a job to do as a leader and father to embrace his

talents to protect his wife Penelope, his son, and his kingdom which were all trashed by over 100

suitors. But because Percy is already in his teen years when he has to start protecting his mother,

he has no experience but he learns how to use strategies to help him along the way. Both heroes

must use their special abilities to conquer demons, monsters, Hades, and the evils that lurk in

mankind.
 Odysseus faced many challenging obstacles, as did Percy, but the reasons for wanting to

overcome these parallel situations were different for each hero. Odysseus was very experienced

at fighting and was away from home for twenty years fighting the Trojan War. He devised a plan

to defeat Greece by using his skills to come up with the plan of the Wooden Horse.