Odysseus Hero Characteristics

Polyphemus is startled to see Odysseus and his men. Polyphemus snatches two men and makes his meal. Odysseus wants to take his sword to Polyphemus but knows if he kills him now he won’t be able to escape because of the giant boulder. The next day while Polyphemus is pasturing his sheep, Odysseus finds and hardens a wooden staff. When Polyphemus returns, Odysseus offered Polyphemus some wine. “‘Here, Cyclops, drink some wine after of human flesh, and see what sort of liquor our ship held. I brought it as an offering thinking that you might pity me and send me home. But you are mad past bearing. Reckless! How should a stranger come to you again from any people, when you have done this wicked deed?’ So I spoke; he took the cup and drank it off, and mighty pleased he was with the taste of the sweet liquor, and thus he asked me for it yet again:

Odysseus is the leader of his men and it is his job to return them home safely. They look up to Odysseus and follow him, whether they believe he has made the right or wrong decision. When Odysseus and his men are stuck with the cyclops it is Odysseus that comes up with the plan to save them. Odysseus is smart and is favored by Athena and as such, Athena helps him devise a plan. One time when Odysseus’ men do not seek his advice they make a mistake and it costs them on their journey. “While Odysseus is sleeping the men open the bag, thinking it contains gold and silver. The bad winds thus escape and blow the ships back to Aeolus’ island.” “Book Ten, Page 916.” The quote shows that the men need Odysseus there to help them and that without him Odysseus men make stupid decisions. Because the men opened the bag Aeolus did not help them again, he believed that their voyage was cursed.

In the story Odysseus, after the cyclops grabs two his men, has the ability to kill the cyclops immediately but then thinks otherwise,” I had the spot when sudden fear stayed me; if I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slap aside”(292-295). Odysseus is able to see the flaw for him and his men in killing the cyclops immediately and rethinks his choices saving his men from dying inside the cave because they are unable to move the boulder. This shows Odysseus is able to think of all outcomes in an instant and can choose the more likely beneficial decision for the future of his men. After resisting to kill the cyclops Odysseus get the cyclops drunk and when Polyphemus asks Odysseus’s name he responds with this.” You ask my honorable name? Remember the gift you promised and I shall tell you. My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy”(358-361). By fooling the cyclops into thinking his name is Nohbdy the other cyclopes will think he is saying nobody when he cries for help, so no one will help him. This shows that Odysseus is both a fast thinker and can think ahead to benefit his men and lead them out of any

In The Odyssey Odysseus stands up for his men who are traveling to war with him when Athena accuses them of not displaying much talent. It would be difficult for Odysseus to stand up for his men while talking to a goddess. However, he handles himself very wisely explaining to Athena the positive qualities in each of his men. In The Odyssey after Poseidon grows angry with Odysseus telling him he will suffer, it only makes Odysseus determination in himself increase. A hero is one who never gives up, so one major character traits they should obtain is determination Although Odysseus is beaten down by the god of the sea it does not decrease his determination. During the journey back from the war in The Odyssey after Poseidon has warned Odysseus that he will not make it home Odysseus not only works well with his men, but also is very self reliant. Self reliance is a huge part of becoming a hero because you have to be prepared at all times if something was to happen to your acquaintances, you need to have the confidence to fulfil your goal.

According to Odysseus, “...I was left brooding and full of dark plans, longing to have my revenge if Athena would grant my prayer” (Homer 99). As soon as Odysseus encounters Polyphemus, the Cyclops carelessly kills and eats his men. This causes Odysseus to instantly seek revenge and make him go blind. Later on, after Odysseus showcases his resourcefulness in devising a plan to escape the Cyclops’ cave, he becomes impudent and depicts arrogance. The story says, “...if ever any one asks you who put out your ugly eye, tell him your blinder was Odysseus, conqueror of Troy, the son of Larts, whose address is in Ithaca!”

“Cyclops- if any man on the face of the Earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so- say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!” (Homer, 227). This act puts him and his crew in danger because the Cyclops is the son of the god Poseidon. Polyphemus then offers a prayer to his father to take revenge on Odysseus. “Hear me, Poseidon who circle the earth, dark-haired. If truly I am your son, and you acknowledge

As a result, Polyphemos takes two of Odysseus’ men and “...dismembered them and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion”(378). Odysseus and his soldiers are angered by the loss of two of their men. So Odysseus hatches a plan to kill the Cyclops in his sleep only for him to realize that “...if I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slab aside”(378). Once the morning comes and Polyphemos leaves to herd sheep, Odysseus conducts his men to carve a huge wooden pole and sharpen its ends with fire. When the Cyclops returns, Odysseus feeds him wine to get drunk and pass out.

Odysseus is a hero because he acts courageously while facing the many challenges he encounters. Odysseus’s shows great bravery when he engages in physical challenges. Odysseus daringly fights against the suitors, while significantly outnumbered: “For I must

The Cyclops eventually became drunk and Odysseus and his men stabbed him in the eye. The Cyclops began screaming in agony in order for other Cyclopes to come and they did. When they came they began asking the Cyclops why he was yelling and he said, “ Nohbdy, Nohbdy tricked me, Nohdy’s ruined me!” the other Cyclopes thought he was saying nobody so they left. The Cyclops whose name is Polyphemus then laid in front of the exit of his cave so he would know if Odysseus and his remaining men were trying to leave.

Odysseus portrays himself as anything but a hero throughout Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. He has no regard for anyone’s feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. Odysseus feels he is always the leader and no one can tell him otherwise. Odysseus should not be considered a hero because he portrays himself as a selfish man that failed his crew, and is controlled by his hubris.

Odysseus’s most known trait of an epic hero is his intelligence. He is always thinking and he is usually one step ahead of everyone else. He was also the one to come up with the idea of the wooden horse to finally end the Trojan war. On his long journey home, he encountered some obstacles that could not be overcome with just fighting and strength, like Polyphemus the cyclops. When Odysseus and his crew came upon Polyphemus’ island they helped themselves to his sheep, they then established a plan to blind the cyclops by stabbing him in the eye. Odysseus called himself Noman so that Polyphemus wouldn’t know his real name and tell his brothers who hurt him (Homer 104-108). But Odysseus didn’t show his intelligence for long. When him and his men got away from the cyclops and were on their ship, Odysseus yelled, “I say, Cyclops! if ever anyone asks you who put our your

The Cyclops is obviously pleased with the spoken words and gestures, and as a result, he gives in to his greed as he takes the wine. Odysseus's confidence in his own ability was the first step towards his success with the Cyclops. However, he has to take it a step further in order to make a successful get-away. Once again, a demonstration of his sharp intellect shows how Odysseus is smarter and more cunning than the average human. A quote that demonstrates his intelligence is,

Odysseus is one of the greatest epic heros in the history of literature. The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic poem, which depicts the journey home of Odysseus. Angering many gods, this voyage takes him through multiple obstacles, and ends up taking almost twenty years longer than it should've. Throughout his journey, “The Son of Laertes” must get his crew out of trouble multiple times. He uses his intellect and other strengths to do so, and never gives up, no matter the circumstance. Even after losing everything he needs in a storm worthy of the gods, Odysseus still never gives up, and gets himself out of trouble yet again. Throughout his entire journey, coming home from the Trojan War, Odysseus repeatedly uses many heroic traits to get himself and his crew out of many unfortunate situations. These heroic traits, how Odysseus uses them, and the steps of his journey all come together to illustrate that he is an epic hero. Odysseus characterizes himself as an epic hero based on how he almost perfectly follows the characteristics of an epic hero, gets his crew out of trouble multiple times, and follows the Hero's Journey.

Odysseus heroic qualities are strength, courage, dignity, a thirst for glory, and self-confidence. He also shrewd and ingenious, all of which make him the ideal hero in both the physical form and the spiritual aspect. Odysseus being faithful and loyal to his wife shows his dignity. Even though he has been away from his home and family for twenty years his only thoughts are with them. He overcomes all the extreme dangers he encounters showing his strength and courage. His shrewdness and intelligence shows when he, the King of Ithaca, is disguised as a beggar before Telemakhos.

Odysseus and his crew were captured and trapped by the giant named Polyphemus. When the Cyclops spotted him and his crew he started to eat them, so in order to escape Odysseus decided to get Polyphemus drunk. “Cyclops try some wine. Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men...He seized and drained the bowl, and it went down so fiery and smooth he called for more.” (343-349) Odysseus's most favorable trait in this external conflict was that he was a great strategist. Instead of fighting the Cyclops physically he made a plan to trick Polyphemus. He got the gaint drunk knowing that people don't think or act very wise when they are drunk. After Odysseus got the Cyclops drunk he informed him that his name was “Nohbdy”. The giant believed him, saying that he was going to eat “Nohbdy” after he ate his friends. “‘My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends everyone call me Nohbdy.’ And he said ‘Nohbdy’s my meat, then after I eat his friends” (369-362). After Odysseus got Polyphemus drunk Odysseus told the Cyclops that his name was Nohbdy, but because the giant is not in his right mind he didn't realize what Odysseus was doing. Odysseus proves he was plan was successful when Polyphemus falls into his trap. Odysseus took advantage of the situation and physically harmed the Cyclops’ eye while he slept. Blinding him Odysseus and his crew were able to escape, once again