Intelligence In The Odyssey

An important trait that an epic hero must have is intelligence . Odysseus's quick thinking, combined with his power in speech and many other characteristics, has gotten him and his crew out of many tight situations. One situation, for example, was when Odysseus and his men were trapped in the Cyclops Polyphemus's cave. Although Odysseus's curiosity wasn't what landed him into the situation in the first place, his demonstrations of powerful speaking were what eventually helped him escape. He manages to win over Cyclops in the story with a few clever words. "'Cyclops, try some wine. Here's liquor to wash down your scraps of men. / Taste it, and see the kind of drink we carried / under our planks" (Homer 1052). Odysseus is a very good leader in the Odyssey because he is very intelligent and quick thinking. “Cyclops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey, than lay down with a mast of his sheep” (Homer 1050). He tricked him into eating so he could kill him.
Odysseus plays with the Cyclops's emotions by luring him with the wine and calling him "a bloody monster". The Cyclops is obviously pleased with the spoken words and actions, and as a result, he gives in and 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 …show more content…
There are many quotes that can prove odysseus is an intelligent leader. Another example of Odysseus's intelligence was when he outsmarted Polyphemus by telling the cyclops his name was "Nobody." He also had the plan to carve a giant stake out of a tree in order to blind the cyclops, enabling him and his men to be freed from Polyphemus's cave being tied to the underbelly of the cyclops's sheep. A consistent argument that people continue to make that odysseus can show intelligence but also can act very