Odysseus was a very sturdy individual who was forced to leave his kingdom of Ithaca to embark on a journey to fight the Greek battles and conquer Troy. To do this, he had to leave behind his newborn son Telemachus and his wife Penelope the queen. The war lasted 10 years, and after the battle was over, Odysseus and his fleet split up and attempted to return to Ithaca. There he was favored by Athena, goddess of crafts, knowledge and the arts, and scorned by Poseidon, god of the sea. His journey home was derailed and Odysseus finally returned home after 20 years. Throughout the journey, Odysseus encountered many different situations in which he made respectable choices, but the poorer ones landed him in a pit of trouble. Odysseus had a remarkable realization when he rejected Calypso's offer to become immortal. She wanted to sleep with him and keep Odysseus on his island for herself. Odysseus declined Calypso's offer without the slightest hesitation, comparing his wife Penelope to Calypso: "I am well aware that my wife Penelope is in no way as tall or as beautiful as you." She is only a woman, while you are an immortal. (Homer 62) Calypso's desire for Odysseus forced her to speak words to frighten him. “Odysseus, noble son of Laertes…but if you only knew how much suffering awaits you before you return to your own country” (Homer 62) Odysseus stuck to his belief of remaining determined and moved forward by building a ship like a raft from the materials washed up on the back of the island. Odysseus' determination pushed him beyond the limits of normal men while crossing the seas. His journey has led him to face many challenges that most men would not bear to face. . middle of paper......a minimal appearance of Odysseus. The Iliad focuses on the qualities needed to be a champion, and most of the plot is based on a love triangle that manifested into a war, which ultimately caused Hector's death. The Odyssey depicts the death of Achilles and is based on Odysseus' attempt to return home after the 10-year battle at Troy. The Odyssey has consistently emphasized the concept of what it takes to be a true hero. man needs intelligence, bravery and perseverance to be considered a true hero. Both literary works expose battles and challenges that the characters fought to overcome. Works cited by Homer, Samuel Butler, Andrew Lang and Homer. The Iliad and the Odyssey. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1999. Print. Homer, Robert Fagles and Bernard Knox. The Iliad. New York, NY, USA: Viking, 1990. Print.