Character Traits Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Improved Essays
Have you ever spent a long time away from your friends and family? In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus explains the obstacles he had to go through when he was away from his home for 20 years after the Trojan war. To get back home to his wife and son, he had to show several key character traits. Odysseus and I both show cleverness, compassion, and pride.

The second trait that Odysseus and I share is compassion. Odysseus shows compassion multiple times through the books. One time that Odysseus showed compassion is when his shipmates ate the Lotus flower when they landed near Ismarus. Odysseus explains this struggle when he says, “Then I sent out two picked men and a runner to learn what race of men this land sustained. They fell in, soon enough,

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Heroes are people who are above average people who go out of their way to help other people like veterans, men and women who risked their lives so that we could be able to do the things we enjoy in life. Even veterans were around in Ancient Greece. Even Odysseus was a veteran he fought in the trojan war 3000 years ago, and in other times fighting to get back home to his family. A perfect example of a veteran is odysseus from the Odyssey. He travels all around greece on his way from the trojan war.…

    • 160 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Odysseus’s life and experiences that he had to face relate to the tough experiences I and other teenagers have went through. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus had to choose really tough decisions just like me. Though he was on a journey to be re-united to the love of his life, and his son, and I am on my journey of life. Also, Odysseus’s problems might be a little more complicated than what i face, they still are hard to deal with. When I was born…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Book 18 1. Irus’ foolishness was shown when he believed that he was the smartest and strongest beggar in Ithaca. His pride led him into a fight with Odysseus, where the stakes had been continually pushed up by the suitors as the tension grew. When Odysseus finally revealed his strength, Irus was very intimidated and wanted to back out, but was threatened to be punished by Antinous if he did so. In the end, Irus lost the fight and suffered the consequences of his pride.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The text states, “Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home: Laertes' son, I mean, who kept his hall on Ithaca.” (Homer) Zeus made Odysseus’ journey as difficult as possible, but he overcame every obstacle put in his path. Odysseus could have easily given up when faced with Zeus’ challenges, but instead he was tenacious in his efforts to find a way to get home, showing his determination to succeed. In conclusion, The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus demonstrated the traits of curiosity, intelligence, and determination, these traits defined him as a…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Odysseus Journey

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Odysseus’ Journey” The epic poem we all know shows much detail of struggles that is being thrown at the ‘Teller of Tales’ Odysseus. “The Odyssey” by Homer shows that Odysseus goes through so many things to get back home to his wife Penelope on the land of Ithaca, but which part is most importantly impacted on the hero? A hero’s qualities are most defined by his journey and adventure, not the end of it. Through the book, beginning to end Odysseus mostly shows Loyalty, Intelligence and Leadership.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Character Traits

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Arête and Metis Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has been blessed with magnificent abilities, cunning wits and combat superiority. Throughout his journey, he showed many examples of excellence and wits, or what Greeks called Arête and Metis. He battled giant Cyclops and raging sea monsters. He even fought a whole army of suitors with only the help of his son and two loyal herds. Not only did he display amazing skills, or Arête, he also showed great Metis.…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the best relationships you have are the ones at home with your family. These relationships you can never forget and can last a lifetime. In the book The Odyssey, Odysseus struggles for ten years to come home to his family after the Trojan War. At home, in Ithaca, he has a wife, Penelope, and a son, Telemachus that he loves dearly. He is always eager to find some way to get closer and closer to his home.…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus displays traits proving he is a strong leader of men on his long journey home. One trait Odysseus exhibits is intelligence. For example, on Jerba Island, Odysseus and his men encounter the “Lotus-Eaters”, a group of people who inhabit the island and indulge on the native mind altering plant, the Lotus. Learning from his previous mistakes at Ismarus and trying to grasp more knowledge about their race, Odysseus uses the tactic of dispersing his men about the island. The final verdict to send out only three men, a runner and two messengers, will prevent a majority of his crew from dying in case of attack and corroborate his intelligence.…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Homer’s epic, “The Odyssey”, is a heroic tale that tells the story of a hero by the name of Odysseus and his journey to get back to his homeland of Ithaca and his family he left there. Odysseus, throughout the story shows the true trait of an epic hero. Although he isn't the perfect person he shows loyalty, compassion, and determination throughout his journey to Ithaca. Amongst many other things these traits show the heroism of Odysseus during his journey.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    So, after the Trojan war, Odysseus, along with his men, is in attempt to get home in Ithaca with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus in which he confronted many obstacles. Many readers observe that Odysseus is very arrogant and shows that he cares more of himself than anything else. This is highly obnoxious and very disagreeable. Odysseus is a very superb mortal. He shows outstanding leadership during the Trojan War, shows a very clever mind in which he uses logics and strategies to overcome danger, and great care towards…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Homer once stated “what he greatly thought, he nobly dared”. These words eloquently written in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, capture how Odysseus’ personality traits and attributes positively affect the hero status he has earned. His courage, wisdom, and intelligence drive his quest to return home to be reunited with his wife Penelope, and son Telemachus. Over the span of twenty years, Odysseus, pushed to the limits physically through battle, uses his will and perseverance to come out a hero. Homer highlights the emotional toll Odysseus faced after losing so many of his men in battle only to masterfully regain his family and homeland.…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What if the person one looks up to or longs to return is not the person they expect that person to be? In the Odyssey, by Homer, this is the case for Odysseus. He is not the man everyone thinks he is. To begin with, the epic the Odyssey is about the return of the “great” king of Ithaka, Odysseus, from the Trojan War. He spends ten years fighting the war and is now on his way home where he is creating tension that is prolonging his return to Ithaka.…

    • 1948 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, shows many characteristics that help him throughout the story. He shows strength by overcoming hard obstacles. He shows courage by never giving up. He also shows clever by figuring out a way to escape many obstacles. Odysseus has many other characteristics, but in my opinion, these are the most important.…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Homer’s “The Odyssey”, Odysseus goes through a twenty year struggle to return back home to Ithaca. Poseidon delayed Odysseus’ homeward return from the Trojan War. Through his long journey to return to his home, his people, and Penelope and Telemachus. Odysseus reveals many virtues and vices, that he struggles with. His men also struggle with vices, which at the end costs them their lives.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In The Odyssey, Homer provides us with the adventurous tale of Odysseus, who sometimes seems as if he is more god than human. But his character flaws quickly remind us that he is similar to us in more than one way. Just like me, Odysseus can be rather curious and possessive at times. A common trait that connects Odysseus and me is our curious nature.…

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays