ipl-logo

Examples Of Quick-Wit In The Odyssey

517 Words3 Pages

The Odyssey is an Epic Poem by Homer about what happens to Odysseus and his men on their journey. The story starts with Odysseus telling a story to a king. Throughout the story we can observe the actions of Odysseus and form a personality. Three key traits shown by this character include foresight, resilience, and quick-wit.
Foresight is revealed early in the story when Odysseus and his crew are trapped in a cave with a cyclops after a misunderstanding, “If I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slab aside” pg. 761. The reader may notice another scene that displays foresight, “Therefore you are to tie me up, tight as a splint, erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be united, take more turns of the rope to muffle me.“ pg. 783. Both of these quotes act as support to the claim. To further elaborate, Odysseus doesn’t think on impulse, instead he plans for the future. This trait is vital as a leader, as he should be certain to not make a mistake otherwise his entire crew may suffer. …show more content…

“My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.“ pg. 768. His fast thinking creates a much easier way for him and his men to get out of dangerous situations. He came up with the name Nohbdy within seconds and without hesitation, but even better, the use of this exact name stopped the other cyclops’ from knowing about them. “... and I grew sick with fear. But I gave command to my officers.“ pg. 777. This quote further explains the point as to show his prompt and keen mindset. The way that he commanded his officers as if they had nothing to fear kept the group together, helping them to feel more secure in their

Show More
Related

Examples Of Odysseus Authority

743 Words | 3 Pages

They poured sweet sleep upon my eyes” (311. 320-338). Odysseus is showing authority by telling his ‘friends’ of the triggers on the island. If they are to interact incorrectly with it then they will be met with a consequence. Odysseus is showing strategic planning because he is predicting the future and taking the measures he thinks of to avoid harm. By doing this, he is taking into mind the well being of his men and himself so they can stay safe.

Read More

Strategic Qualities Of Odysseus

444 Words | 2 Pages

While Odysseus demonstrates that he’s strategic throughout the story, he also displays that he’s arrogant; however, these traits make Odysseus survive his journey. One of Odysseus’s positive traits is being strategic, As Odysseus is in the cyclops’s house, he pours the cyclops three bowls of wine to get him drunk & the cyclops drinks the wine. Homer, Author of The Odyssey, demonstrates that Odysseus is strategic by clarifying “Three bowls I brought him & he poured them down”(569). Odysseus & his crew being trapped brought the strategic trait out of Odysseus by Odysseus needing to do something to get out of the cyclops’s house or else he and his crew would have died. In addition to Odysseus being strategic he’s also very loyal, Homer, Author of The Odyssey, demonstrates that Odysseus is loyal by portraying “Put heart in me to eat & drink, you may by freeing my companions, I must see them”(1.92.93).

Read More

Odysseus: A True Leader In The Cyclops By Homer

937 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone knows the story of what came to be The Odyssey, but most do not realize that Odysseus is not what we call today a "jock with no brains''. The way that he able to "think on his toes" is what helps him become a strong leader. In the Cyclops, Odysseus was able to use his brains and bronze to escape the beastly Cyclops. Odysseus was also stuck with a decision, weather to take the path where they would have to inner come the man sucking, ship destroyer, Charybdis or thee huge-monstrous, Scylla. Odysseus was a strong leader and did everything he could to help his crew, because of the story the Cyclops and the story of The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis.

Read More

Odysseus's Leadership In The Odyssey By Homer

806 Words | 4 Pages

When Odysseus was stuck in the Cyclops cave with his men, he tricked the Cyclops into thinking his ship was destroyed. By saying “‘My ship? Poseidon Lord, who sets the earth atremble, broke it up on the rocks at your land’s end” (9. 273-274), he prevented the Cyclops from thinking about attacking the ship. This statement shows he was thinking ahead and using his intelligence and cleverness to keep them safe. When the Cyclops asks who he was, he said his name was “Nohbdy” (9. 360-361).

Read More

Examples Of Brawn In The Odyssey

931 Words | 4 Pages

This example shows how without Odysseus quick thinking, him and his crew would have all died proving that brains are more powerful than

Read More

Quotes From The Odyssey

616 Words | 3 Pages

At one point Odysseus meets Polyphemus, who is a Cyclops. He is also a son of Poseidon. Odysseus had to save him and his men from becoming the Cyclops meal. The author writes, “ 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 tuns a drill…” ( lines 289- 293). Odysseus shows his strength and determination when battling against this monster.

Read More

Examples Of Wisdom In The Odyssey

564 Words | 3 Pages

Homer describes cyclops how Odysseus “[T]hen slung a man under each middle one to ride there safety, shield left and right. So three sheep could convey each man (ln. 425-427). Odysseus was wise enough to know that the cyclops would feel his sheep’s wool as they went out of the mouth of the cave to graze. So Odysseus hid each one of his men strapped under the sheep. Not only does Odysseus have to escape the cave he also knows to not reveal who he is he does this by saying “my name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends call me Nohbdy”(ln.

Read More

Perseverance In The Odyssey

610 Words | 3 Pages

The character Odysseus in The Odyssey by Homer is portrayed as having wisdom, intelligence, and perseverance. While hurting the Cyclops Odysseus used his insight cautiously into this situation, when he misleads the Cyclops about his identity he demonstrated his sharpness, ultimately pushing through the grief of his men of Scylla. Wisdom is a character trait that can describe Odysseus. Without the wisdom of Odysseus' throughout the entire journey, he would not have been able to return home.

Read More

Candidate Watson Case Summary

172 Words | 1 Pages

He was instructing his subordinates to do things that clearly would not be affective, and yet he continued to do them. He was unable to see the error in his plans. It was evident that his team members were just following his orders even

Read More

Examples Of Intelligence In The Odyssey

488 Words | 2 Pages

While in Polyphemus’s cave, the men wanted to kill Polyphemus, but Odysseus knew better. He told them if they killed the Cyclops now they would never be able to get out of the cave because

Read More

Trickster Quotes In The Odyssey

222 Words | 1 Pages

In Homer’s The Odyssey the main character Odysseus is both a trickster and a hero in the story. All throughout the story Odysseus uses feats of intelligence and cleverness to defeat his foes. Odysseus proves himself as a trickster when he says “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy” (Odyssey 9.274-275). When trapped in the Cyclops cave, Odysseus tells him that his name is “Nohbdy”.

Read More

How Is Odysseus Clever

1013 Words | 5 Pages

He and his comrades need a way to escape but the large boulder only a cyclopes can move is blocking the only entrance to the cave. He once again creates a plan to trick the cyclops by telling him his name is "Nohbdy" so once he stabs him in the eye and the cyclopes call out for help but when they ask for who, he tells them nobody. The other cyclops open the way believing that the cyclops has fallen mad giving them a chance to escape (Homer Book 9 lines 27-30). This is such a brilliant way to trick the cyclops while also keeping some of his men alive and being able to

Read More

Trickery And Irony In Homer's Odyssey

527 Words | 3 Pages

This is called “The trick of Nobody”. Odysseus, tell the cyclops,“Nobody is my name. My father and mother call me Nobody as do all others who are my companions”(146). Odysseus then intoxicates and blind the cyclops. Polyphemus cries out “Nobody is killing me by force or treachery”(147).

Read More

Theme Of Cleverness In The Odyssey

774 Words | 4 Pages

One way that Odysseus shows cleverness is when he is able to get his men out of dangerous situations. Two stories in which Odysseus uses his cleverness to get him and his men out of dangerous situations are in “Scylla and Charybdis”, and “The Cyclops”. Another way how Odysseus shows his cleverness is he deceives others to his advantage. In “The Cyclops” he deceives Polyphemus when he tricks him into thinking his name is Nohbody, and this helps him to escape the island and not get caught. Cleverness is a trait in The Odyssey that helped Odysseus to get him and his men out of dangerous situations, and cleverness also helped deceive others to Odysseus’

Read More

Conversation Between Athena And Odysseus In The Book 13

797 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus has clearly learned not to be impulsive in his decision-making from his past errors, for example on the island of the Laestrygonians and that of the Cyclops, his bad decision making cost many of his men their lives. This decision to wait and contemplate where he is and think about his decision is very smart because at his palace, there is a “world of pain” (11.132). If he ran home, he might have been killed by the suitors. This question shows that after suffering so much, he finally has learned patience. In response to this, and his whole speech, Athena praises him and says he is “so winning” and he is “worldly-wise” (13.377,77).

Read More

More about Examples Of Quick-Wit In The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document