Are Brains Mightier than Brawn? Although most Greek mythology shows that being strong can lead to being greater than others, what if I told you that a humongous and strong, brain-bashing cyclops was once defeated by a single wise man and his crew? The cyclops named Polyphemus who was humongous and strong according to the text "The Cyclops” because he could lift a giant stone that not even twenty-two normal sized four-wheeled waggons could shift, to close his cave. The wise man named Odysseus defeated the cyclops later in the story by creating a spear from the cyclops' green olive wood staff to get him drunk with wine and then stab him in the eye. Odysseus also told the cyclops that his name was Nobody so that if he cried for help from the other cyclops, they would think that nobody was hurting him. With this knowledge we can tell that, "The Cyclops", an excerpt from Homer's 'the Odyssey'" has many details and characters that show the theme "brains are mightier than brawn" is indeed true. Some examples of this were …show more content…
This is true because according to the text it says, “Standing beside this piece of timber I cut off a fathom’s length, which I handed over to my men and told them to smooth it down. When they had done this, they stood and sharpened it to a point. Then I hardened it in the fire, and finally I carefully hid it under the dung. I then told my company to cast lots for the dangerous task of helping me to lift the pole and twist it in the cyclops eye when he was sound asleep.” The pieces of evidence shown here explain that Odysseus cut off a piece of the staff next to him to sharpen it, fire it, and then stab it in the cyclops eye when he was asleep. Not only did he have that planned, but he did something even smarter to make the cyclops fall
In the epic The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus’ foolishness greatly impedes his journey home and costs him the lives of all of his men. After spending 10 years away during the war at Troy, Odysseus’ prolonged journey home lasts ten more years due to his constant foolishness along the way. After defeating the cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus turns and yells “‘Cyclops, if ever a mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home’ on Ithaca”’(Homer 501- 505). Odysseus tells that cyclops what his name is and where he is from just because he wants recognition for what he has just accomplished.
This plan required quick thinking and resourcefulness, which are qualities that make Odysseus a capable leader and hero. In Book 10 of “The Odyssey”, Odysseus uses both strength and strategy to overcome the challenges he faces during his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. The quote is “I drew it from the coal, and my men gathered round me, and some god breathed courage into us” (Book 10, lines 420-421). This quote shows Odysseus’ strength as he physically pulls a wooden stake out of a fire.
There are many examples in the Odyssey of why brains are better than brawn. One example is the story of the Trojan horse. Many people know that during the Trojan War, the Greeks were losing and to win, they made a weapon disguised as a wooden horse called the Trojan horse. Odysseus is the one who thought of the horse and without his smart idea they would have most likely
Odysseus knew about this and he knew that if they just killed the cyclops they were stuck in there forever. He came up with a genius plan. First they offered the cyclops wine to get him drunk and make him fall asleep so they could make their move. Next, they stabbed the cyclops’ eye out and escaped when he opened the door to call for
Odysseus begins his transition by showcasing his wit and intelligence through his success in the Challenges, but he makes foolish mistakes. This is evidenced when Odysseus and his crew encounter Polyphemus, the cyclops. Homer displays Odysseus’s intellect when he decided to use the pseudonym “Nobody,” and as a result displays quick
this quote proves that he has godly confidence by taking down the big Cyclops to save his army. This is why I think that in the epic poem The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus is an epic
Odysseus also demonstrates being crafty in the same episode. He shows craftiness by taking a tree trunk and sharpening it. He then puts the tip in the fire and uses it to stab the Cylops in the eye to escape.
Have you ever wondered why the nerd always wins against the bully in movies? This is because the person being bullied thinks more than the bully. In the story “The Cyclops”, Odysseus is a Achaean that belongs the Atreus’s son, Agamemnon, that get stuck in a cavern Polyphemus appears to be a giant that lives in the cavern. He thinks he’s more superior than others because he’s bigger than others but doesn’t care about how smart his opponent is. From this information, Polyphemus is someone who doesn’t think very much while Odysseus is the total opposite.
The Odyssey: Intelligence and Fate The Odyssey, by Homer, is an adventurous book about Odysseus and his journey against the gods to make it back home after being gone for twenty years. Throughout his journey, he faces many trials and tribulations, but he uses his keen intelligence over strength to return to his homeland, Ithaca, thus making his intelligence the elite factor in his success. An example of Odysseus’s intelligence over strength is when they were captured by Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son when they went to explore the land of the Cyclops.
In the section “In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave” from Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero through his character traits and behaviors. When Odysseus and his men attack the city of Ismarus, the Cicones’ strong hold, Odysseus made sure to fairly distribute the spoils among his men. Odysseus’s behavior shows that he is a great leader, a characteristic of a hero. While Odysseus and his crew are in the Cyclops’ cave, Polyphemus, the cyclops, notices them. Polyphemus asks who they are with a monstrous tone, “‘Strangers!'
He gave Polyphemus liquor, making him drunk, and shoved a massive makeshift spear into his the cyclops’ only eye. Polyphemus immediately moved the stone, but then blocked the entrance with
Homer writes, “if mortal man inquire tell him Odysseus raider of cities took your eye.” Odysseus first told the cyclops his name was “nohbody” which masked his
It also happened that the next morning, Cyclops did same act of killing two men and having them for breakfast and then rolled out the stone and had his sheep lead out safely and finally rolled back the stone. Therefore, Odysseus, seeing this ugly act of Cyclops devised a plan with his men by caving a large number of timber to have a sharp point and then hid it where no one can find it. Later on when Cyclops
The Odyssey - Intelligence VS. Strength In the story, The Odyssey, there are many instances that support the term ‘intelligence is more important than strength’. Odysseus used his mental intelligence to outwit the Trojan warriors.
Odysseus says, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows / gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops / as more than natural force nerved them; straight / forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it / deep in his crater eye, and I leaned on it / turning it as a shipwright turns a drill / in planking, having men below to swing / the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove” (Homer 479). Another example of him being brave is when he faces the suitors. Odysseus says that the suitors will pay in blood for what they did to his property and wife. The fight begins and Odysseus and his men get support of Athena. Odysseus and his men show no mercy and kill all the suitors.