Odysseus Character Analysis

Odysseus is an epic hero, he is a natural leader and at some points in the book smarter than everyone else. After stabbing the cyclopes in the eye and the cyclopes moving the boulder Odysseus had to think of a way to get his men out safely and this quote shows his intelligence and leadership skills "I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the cyclops's bed; then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely,

Since the cyclops’ vision is impaired, Odysseus “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 left and right/So three sheep could convey each man” (Homer 500). Odysseus possess the trait of cleverness which is demonstrated through his quick thinking and by only using using the resources available to free his men from Polyphemus’ grasp. He is a man to be revered because he uses his cunning skills to help others reach safety. Odysseus is also the last man to exit the cave because he puts their lives before his. He is also willing to take the responsibility and consequences of their actions. For example, if the cyclops were to notice him he would force his men escape and leave him behind to be devoured. Odysseus is a hero, for his willingness to put his companions’ lives before his own and use of his wits to save those around him.

Around the 1200 B.C., Odysseus was sailing the Mediterranean Sea for the purpose of reaching home. In his long narrative poem, The Odyssey, Homer conveys how Odysseus desperately wishes to go home to Ithaca. However, he faces brutal treatment and obstacles from several different antagonists, and more obstacles appear when he reaches home. Odysseus came across many external conflicts, which he dealt with intelligence, determination, and loyalty.

These qualities are favoured and held in high regards by the gods. Which is why Odysseus has so much help from the gods, but is also the why he encounters their justice as well. Odysseus is viewed as being smart, because of the multiple times he used his intelligence to overcome adversity. Odysseus created the master plan to use the Trojan horse to invade Troy, which is what led the Greeks to win the war. Throughout The Odyssey, there are multiple situations where Odysseus uses his brilliances to get him through tough predicaments. He creates a sea worthy craft, made from what little resources he had in just one day, to leave Calypso’s island. (pg. 54-57) Which most people could never have the power to do

Odysseus Overcame his foe (the cyclops) because of his analytical skills he was always focused on the current task which was to get out of the cyclops's cave alive. After the cyclops had ate two of his men Odysseus knew he was a threat but he thought to himself “ If I kill him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slab aside.”-(Homer) This quotes show how Odysseus thinks analytically by thinking ahead on how to escape. He then put his goal into a step by step plan. He starts by blinding the cyclops by stabbing his eye but now he needs to escape and Odysseus says “ Twining cords of willow from the ogre's bed; then slung a

Odysseus was known for his many of his mental traits, but his most useful ones were his bravery cleverness, and wisdom. Without these helpful traits he probably would have died from the very beginning. Fortunately, he was granted with these traits so that he could come back to his kingdom of Ithaca to see his wife and son for the first time in twenty years and to also kill the suitors that tried to kill his son and take his wife, land, and possessions from him.

Odysseus’s escape from the Cyclops is one of great intelligence. A Cyclops is a giant one eyed monster. Homer said, “The booming voice and the very sight of the monster filled us with panic” (IX, 256). From the first moment Odysseus and his men set eyes on the Cyclops they know they are in trouble and will not be able to get out easily. The Cyclops, Polyphemus, eats two of Odysseus’ men from the start. As soon as this happens, Odysseus

First, one of the recurring themes in the Odyssey is that of cunningness over strength. Although Odysseus was known to be a strong and powerful of individual, his cunning was his strongest asset when it came to overcoming the obstacles in his travels. Instead of relying solely on his strength, he relies on his minds ability to deceive and manipulate individuals to do as he pleases. An example of this is seen when Odysseus with the help of Athena disguises himself as an old beggar. Instead of simply going to his home

One of Odysseus’s most well known traits is his ability to use his wits to conquer challenges that stand in the way of him and Ithaca. Out of the many examples strewn in the epic, the tale of the Cyclops is the most obvious situation that clearly depicts the main character’s sharpness. In this scene, Odysseus and his men are trapped and must escape the Cyclops, Polyphemus. After they have already struck Polyphemus in the eye, ruining his vision, the men tie themselves to the underbelly of the rams in order to sneak out when the animals are sent to the pasture. In the text it states, “Blinded, and sick with pain from his head wound, the master stoked each ram, then let it pass, but my men riding on the pectoral fleece the giant’s blind hands blundering never found.” This excerpt conveys that Odysseus’s astute plan worked efficiently because none of his crew was noticed by Polyphemus. Odysseus was able to flee the Cyclops, which is respectable considering he used his brains rather than brawn.

“Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure more than a man can? Do you never tire? God, look at you, iron is what you’re made of” (12.162-164). In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, the focus is on the journey of Odysseus, the island of Ithaca’s king, after he defeated the Trojans in a war that spanned ten years. He travels far and wide in an attempt to get home to his wife and son, but is repeatedly blocked from doing so by gods, nymphs, and monsters alike. He’s a skilled warrior that fears next to nothing and this poem follows him as he uses these facts to his advantage. Odysseus is persuasive and clever and refuses to shy away from a challenge that requires either one of these characteristics.

Throughout The Odyssey, the audience often feels sympathy for Odysseus and his men: our idealistic minds want to root for the long lost king to make it home to his true love and his kingdom. His return home takes priority in our minds, causing us to root for the fall of anyone and anything that may come in between him and his happy ending. At a closer glance, however, it seems that Homer does not want us to blindly root for the human adventurers. It may be his intention to reveal the humanity and redeeming qualities of the so-called monsters in the epic. In Book 12, lines 251 to 256 of his epic, Homer demonstrates this point with the following simile, describing sea monster, Skylla, capturing six of Odysseus’ men out of their ship:

Odysseus is known for being a war hero during the Trojan war. During his treacherous ten-year journey back to Ithaka to regain his crown as King of Ithaka. Although Odysseus is arrogant, he is very witty trying to get his men safely to Ithaca. Odysseus is witty as he outsmarts those trying to keep him from reaching his homeland.

He also shows he is smart when he lies to Polyphemus and says “We are from Troy, Archoeans, blow off course by shifting gales on the great sea; homeward bound, but taking routes and ways uncommon”. And finally Odysseus shows that he is cunning when he say “I tied them silently together twining cords of willow from the ogers bed; then slung a man under each middle one to ride to safety. Based on the evidence given I can clearly see that Odysseus was a hero.

Although Odysseus is physically strong, his true strength lies within his intelligence. He openly evaluates each situation he is faced with, demonstrating the logic he employs in making his decisions. Throughout his journey, his quick thinking allows him to escape many tests and battles that he encounters. Without utilizing brute strength, he blinds a Cyclops, resists Circe, and braves the Underworld. He is also willing to pay the price for knowledge. For example, he blocks his men’s ears with wax and has them tie him to the ship to ensure he resists the urge to jump overboard and is able to continue to steer the ship while passing through the

One of the biggest traits Odysseus shows throughout the story is his bravery. The whole story Odysseus shows his courage. Taking every mission knowing there could be death; Odysseus still did not give up. Odysseus did whatever it took to make back to Ithaca for his wife and son. Odysseus showed courage by outsmarting the Cyclops. Odysseus went to the land of the dead just to bury a dead shipmate with no fear. But Odysseus showed his every bit of bravery when planning and fighting against the suitors. Odysseus set up plans to kill all the suitors with only 3 people with him. Odysseus refused to back down from the suitors so when the time came he was prepared. When all the suitors were killed Odysseus and his family had finally reunited. After 20 years of Odysseus bravery had all paid off. That’s why I think Odysseus shows he has lots of bravery throughout the story.