In the Odyssey, the hero Odysseus portrays characteristics of both a hero and a leader, but what is the difference between them? The Odyssey is an epic by Homer, comprising several stories from his period. This epic takes place after the battle of Troy, with the epic hero Odysseus trying to return to his homeland. During Odyssey's journey home, he encounters many monsters and supernatural entities. In the end, Odysseus survives and returns home, telling this epic tale to King Alcinous. There are many differences between being a hero and a leader, however, there are also similarities between them. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus appears to portray the characteristics of a hero as he focuses more on himself and his survival trying to operate alone. …show more content…
This quote is important because Odysseus only thought about himself and got several of his men killed. When Odysseus's crew approaches the sirens, he tells the crew, “None of the rest should hear that song,” Odysseus has himself tied to the mast, only letting him hear it. This quote supports the characteristics of wanting to act alone and focus on himself, this is true he believed that only he should hear the song while the others should not. Overall, Odysseus portrays many hero-like traits as his team went on many adventures while facing many adversaries. Later in the epic, Odysseus becomes a leader as he starts to think about others while trying to keep them calm and inspire them. Early in the Odyssey, the muse proclaimed, “He fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home.” This tells how he fought for both himself and his comrades during the battle. This evidence is important because it shows that Odysseus is also a leader. After all, he cared for and led his crew back home after the
In The Odyssey, Odysseus goes on a long journey in which he takes part in dangerous adventures. Odysseus is an example of Homer’s greek hero. He is a leader of his people and they depend and follow him. Odysseus is brave; he believes in himself and trusts that he is doing the right thing. Odysseus values his honor and is confident in himself.
In the Odyssey, Odysseus was a very effective leader in many ways. One example is when Odysseus protects one of his crew members after he was turned into a pig.The crew was very hungry, and was on Circe's island. Some members went off to find food, and one came back with a pig. He said that they couldn't eat this pig because it was his friend, and that Circe turned him into a pig. Odysseus showed leadership by telling his crew to wait, and to let him go and see if he is telling the truth. Odysseus He had to sacrifice himself to Circe, so she could change his men back to humans. Odysseus was brave, and strong. He climbed up the mountains, and gave himself to Circe, but the whole time was thinking about his wife, Penelope. Another example is
Throughout the time being on this island full of cyclops, Odysseus has showed his ability to think of a well put together plan. The next way Odysseus shows he is a great leader was how quick he was to react to a situation. In book X, lines 137-146 Odysseus shows his skill of reacting quickly when they were on the island and they started getting slaughtered but Odysseus got his men out of there. There was much chaos and commotion but Odysseus figured out what he needed to do to get his men out of there quickly and still alive. He even made a quick decision to cut the rope to his own ship leaving some men behind but this in the end saved more men rather than if they had stayed trying to fight back. Also in book X, lines 287-290 Odysseus shows his skills when one of his men come running back after the other men got turned to pigs by the girl. Right as Odysseus heard of this he grabbed his bow and was about to head out. Instead of Odysseus leaving those men there and sailing away he tries to go fight
In the Odyssey, Odysseus is a very good example of a strong, wise, responsible hero throughout the epic. Although there are people at home he loves and cares for but as the good leader he is, he sacrifices those things like his wife and child to go to war and lead. Odysseus was the main factor for the greeks winning the war of troy. Even if he wasn’t the main leader he still showed his signs of leadership in his actions. Odysseus is a great leader shown by his actions.
Odysseus was a leader who faced many challenges throughout his long journey and overcame them with the heroic attributes of intelligence, bravery and cleverness. When he completed his service fighting in the war, he could not have guessed the trials that would come his way. However, throughout the story, we have much evidence to show the strength and determination he showed, especially when facing the one-eyed cyclops, Polyphemus.
The Odyssey provides many instances of leadership shown in the main character, Odysseus. The epic written by Homer follows the twenty year quest of Odysseus as he tries to find his way home, running into many mythological Greek characters along the way. Odysseus is illustrated as a bad leader as he leads his men on something of a wild goose chase through ancient Greece. Odysseus repeatedly puts his men in the grip of death while on their way home. After escaping the Cyclops, in whom’s cave many men were eaten alive, he shouts back from his ship, “‘How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!’” (The Cyclops. 478-480). His statement angers the Cyclops, causing
In Homer's The Odyssey Odysseus can be seen as a terrible leader. This point can be very easily seen from the many fails of his pirating career. One may also see him as a very strong and good leader, but what are the major points for this belief? For example, one episode that his good leadership is shown is when Odysseus saves his men from complete destruction on the Cyclopes island. He helped his men escape from the cannibal ways of Polyphemus by tying them to the underside of goats, "and with that threat he let my ram go free outside." (9.515). Odysseus even gets his men out to their ship safely, ". . . and a welcome sight we were to loyal comrades- we who'd escaped our deaths." (9.520-521). Another episodic example is when Odysseus helped
In Homer’s “The Odyssey,” there is a clear display of Odysseus’ leadership skills. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, spent many years stuck out at sea along with his crew members. During that time, Odysseus was the leader of the ship, and he made many decisions that put his position as leader in doubt. He would make important decisions when he was not in the right state of mind, refuse to listen to the advice of others, and put too much faith in his men. Furthermore, when he did these things, it would cause harm not only to their journey back home, but to their lives as well.
Odysseus was a strong leader for many reasons, one of those reasons was because he was a good and quick thinker. When his crew and himself were stuck in the cyclops' cave, Odysseus was able to think up a plan to escape. He used what they had around them and crafted a spear in which he used to stab the cyclops' eye, this lead to his crew being able to escape. All in all, with the evidence of Odysseus thinking of a plan to escape from the cyclops, this shows that he is a good thinker, this supports that Odysseus is a strong leader.
They say leaders can be heroes, but heroes can’t be leaders. While both roles overlap, leaders and heroes have distinct responsibilities and characteristics. Heroes solve current problems and emergencies, and leaders create permanent change. As Odysseus, the epic hero in The Odyssey by Homer, makes his journey home from the Trojan War, he shows skill when protecting his men from mythical creatures and challenges. When Odysseus’ crew faces challenges, Odysseus creates strategic plans and maintains his crew’s morale.
At the beginning of The Odyssey Odysseus’ leadership appeared to be beneficial towards his men and overall group. For Example, when Odysseus and his crew encountered Polyphemus, “I asked my comrades...into the great Cyclops’ eye when sweet sleep overtook him”(179). Odysseus is trying to blind the Cyclops so that he can get away easier.
Odysseus in the Odyssey was a leader, he showed traits of both strong and weak traits of a leader. In the Odyssey Odysseus was a leader to his men. He told them what to do and how to do it. For example when we went passed the sirens on his way home, he he put beeswax in their ears so they were not able to hear him. He told them to tie him up so he didn't go near them.
Have you ever had to take a lead on a group project or lead a group in general? Well, if you have, what does it mean to be a good leader? In Odysseus' case he was a great leader who managed to guide his men and himself back home, while fighting through challenges and obstacles along the way. Odysseus is a character in the Odyssey, a tale filled with incredible stories of fantasy. The Odyssey (considered a myth) displays a great sense of what it means to be a great leader.
First of all, Odysseus was very selfish during their journey back to Ithaca. For example,“We lit a fire, burnt an offering, and we took some cheese to eat; then sat in silence around the embers, waiting”(Homer 219-222). If Odysseus took the cheese and left, his men would not have had to dealt with Polyphemus. He put himself before his men because he wanted a gift from the cave owner. Odysseus was also selfish when he sailed near the lands of Sirens.“Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your oarsmen’s ears with beeswax kneaded soft”(Homer 669-671). Although Circe told Odysseus to steer clear of the area, Odysseus wanted to be known as the man who survived a Siren’s song. He put his own men in danger just because he wanted to become famous. Odysseus was also very arrogant to think that he could get past the Sirens.
Odysseus is a courageous leader because he saves his crew in combat many times. One way Odysseus shows he is a courageous leader is by proving his worth in combat. Odysseus is obviously a good fighter because he survived the Trojan War, if he had not have been a