The Life and Adventures of Odysseus Through raging seas, and deadly creatures, Odysseus had to survive twenty years of pure and utter chaos. Odysseus, son of Laertes, and ruler of Ithaca, experiences the thrill of a lifetime while battling across the sea in hope of one day to return to his homeland and family. The story takes place slightly after the Trojan war was won by the Greeks, all thanks to Odysseus’ brilliant idea to enter the cities great walls. His men rode into the city in a huge wooden horse the Trojans thought was a peace offering; shortly after, the Greeks slaughtered the Trojans. In hopes of reaching home, Odysseus and his men sailed proudly in the direction of Ithaca. However, several mythical creatures present themselves through
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His great knowledge often resolved the various problems him and his men encountered on their journey. They arrived on an island and, “Then I sent out two men and a runner to learn what race if that land sustained”(Homer 92-93). In this quote, Odysseus exhibits his superior knowledge by only sending a few of his men rather than all of them. This particular decision had a positive outcome because the men who explored the island ended up enchanted by the lotus flower. Later on in the story, Odysseus shows the audience once more of his brilliant mindset. After the giant Polyphemus lost vision, his plan to escape “... drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came-and it pleased me well. The Cyclops’ rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet”(Homer 373-377). Another vivid idea was produced from Odysseus’ brain and this plan helped him and his men escape from the wrath of Poseidon's son, Polyphemus. Wisdom is one of Odysseus’ many features that proved to be extremely profitable from the start of the expedition to the …show more content…
Odysseus, the character that the epic poem is based around, shows the audience a wide variety of traits throughout his adventures. Two characteristics that stand out the most and represent Odysseus as a person would have to be his incredible wisdom and bravery. His wisdom is shown in the story when he nearly escapes the torture of the giant Cyclops’, Polyphemus. Bravery can be shown to the audience when he sacrifices his life to the siren’s luring voices for the lives of his shipmates. Although Odysseus did show a glimpse of human qualities, many can still conclude that he is an epic hero in this breathtaking journey. An epic hero is what Homer made out Odysseus to be, and he did an excellent job of portraying this vivid image in the reader's mind. Several quality traits can be seen in Odysseus, but his bravery and wisdom stand out the most to the
His great knowledge often resolved the various problems him and his men encountered on their journey. They arrived on an island and, “Then I sent out two men and a runner to learn what race if that land sustained”(Homer 92-93). In this quote, Odysseus exhibits his superior knowledge by only sending a few of his men rather than all of them. This particular decision had a positive outcome because the men who explored the island ended up enchanted by the lotus flower. Later on in the story, Odysseus shows the audience once more of his brilliant mindset. After the giant Polyphemus lost vision, his plan to escape “... drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came-and it pleased me well. The Cyclops’ rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet”(Homer 373-377). Another vivid idea was produced from Odysseus’ brain and this plan helped him and his men escape from the wrath of Poseidon's son, Polyphemus. Wisdom is one of Odysseus’ many features that proved to be extremely profitable from the start of the expedition to the …show more content…
Odysseus, the character that the epic poem is based around, shows the audience a wide variety of traits throughout his adventures. Two characteristics that stand out the most and represent Odysseus as a person would have to be his incredible wisdom and bravery. His wisdom is shown in the story when he nearly escapes the torture of the giant Cyclops’, Polyphemus. Bravery can be shown to the audience when he sacrifices his life to the siren’s luring voices for the lives of his shipmates. Although Odysseus did show a glimpse of human qualities, many can still conclude that he is an epic hero in this breathtaking journey. An epic hero is what Homer made out Odysseus to be, and he did an excellent job of portraying this vivid image in the reader's mind. Several quality traits can be seen in Odysseus, but his bravery and wisdom stand out the most to the