ipl-logo

Intelligence And Strength In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

555 Words3 Pages

In many stories, the hero uses either his wit or strength to solve problems. However, in the epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus, the main character, uses both intelligence and strength in order to overcome the problems he faces. Both are used many times in the epic, but Odysseus relies more on his intelligence. This is shown many times, such as when he kills the suitors that stay in his home, encounters the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and when he decides to immediately leave the island of the Lotus Eaters. During the time when Odysseus killed the suitors, intelligence was more important than strength. This is shown by how he hides his identity and only reveals it to a few that he knows will aid him. As the text states “Would you be men enough to stand by Odysseus if he came back?” (Homer 215-217). This line shows Odysseus testing two servants of his if they are still loyal to him. Since he is disguised, he is able to test the two men to see if they are truly trustworthy. In the same story, Odysseus displays great strength that allows him to kill the suitors. For example, in the text …show more content…

This line reveals Odysseus’s great and powerful strength, as he is able to accurately shoot a bow that many men could not string.

Show More
Related

The Epic Hero Traits Of Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

166 Words | 1 Pages

On Island #3 in Homer’s The Odyssey, the epic hero trait that Odysseus displays is being clever. Odysseus and 12 of his men go into a cave on Kyklopes Island. The cave is owned by Polyphemus, the kyklopes. Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cave and Odysseus comes up with a very clever idea.

Read More

Archetype In The Odyssey

1116 Words | 5 Pages

In this case, Odysseus distinguishes himself as the widely celebrated Trojan War hero, instead of the old beggar he appears to be, by virtue of his great strength and skill, showing the importance of that trait to the storyline and the Greek people of that time. Odysseus' physical strength assists him in defeating many enemies, human and mythical, and is fundamental to his role and an epic

Read More

Odyssey Guilt Quotes

953 Words | 4 Pages

“With that he trained a stabbing arrow on Antinous … just lifting a gorgeous golden loving-cup in his hands, just tilting the two-handled goblet back to his lips, about to drain the wine—and slaughter the last thing on the suitor’s mind” (Homer 22.8). Not to mention the fact that murder is a terrible thing for any character to do, but Homer exaggerates the brutality of the murder. In doing so, Homer opens the reader’s eyes to a whole new perspective of Odysseus and his character. In summary, Homer greatly focuses on the many qualities of Odysseus, allowing the reader to form an honest

Read More

Examples Of Lying In The Odyssey

642 Words | 3 Pages

After intruding in an archery competition and hitting the target straight on, Odysseus begins to brag about his skill. After he had hit the target he turns and says, “‘ Telemakhos, the stranger you welcomed in your hall has not disgraced you. I did not miss, neither did I take all day stringing the bow. My hand and eye are sound, not so contemptible as the young say.’” ( Fitzgerald 405)

Read More

Examples Of Odysseus An Epic Hero

615 Words | 3 Pages

“How dare tell me to treat you with warmth? You who turned my men to swine in your house now you hold me here as well - teeming me with treachery you lure me to your room to mount your bed.” Odysseus was an Epic Hero here because even though he loved his wife very much and didn’t want to lay with another woman he did anyways in order to save his men. This action showed that he didn’t think only about himself that he cared for others next Odysseus tricked a cyclops in order to protect him and his

Read More

Odysseus: The Ironic Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

509 Words | 3 Pages

There is a thin line between right and wrong and depending on which side of the line you tread across will determine if you are admirable or illaudable. Throughout “The Odyssey” Odysseus displays many negative characteristics that almost push him to the other side of the line, but for every negative characteristic there are two or more positive characteristics. In this epic poem, Homer uses many positive characteristics to further Odysseus’ character as an admiral hero. One reason Odysseus is an admirable hero is because he has astonishing strategy skills that always guarantee his men’s victory in battle. Because of this many, “Men hold me / formidable for guile in peace and war,” (Homer 19).

Read More

Examples Of Intellect In The Odyssey

296 Words | 2 Pages

The epic hero Odysseus, in the epic The Odyssey, shows a lot different traits, but the most evident and important is the intellect. One of the situations in which Odysseus exhibits intellect occurs when he meets the Cyclopes Polyphemus. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his men, but Odysseus tells him that his name is “Nobody” so when he contrives how to blind him and the Cyclopes yells to his brothers that the “Nobody” blinds him, his brothers don’t come to help him.

Read More

Examples Of Justice In The Odyssey

755 Words | 4 Pages

But, after angering Poseidon by blinding his one eyed cyclops son, Odysseus must go through brutal situations to get home thanks to the fuming god. The theme, the search for justice, is very prevalent in this text because of the fight between Odysseus and the suitors, the reunion of Odysseus and his wife Penelope and when Odysseus visits his father Laertes and Athena must restore peace because of the fight that breaks out there. To begin, the theme searching for justice is shown clearly when Odysseus returns home and kills the suitors. The text states, “Odysseus took aim and hit him with an arrow in the throat.

Read More

Physical Strength In The Odyssey

1281 Words | 6 Pages

Odysseus uses his strength to get revenge on the suitors. Odysseus knows that he was no match for the suitors so, he comes up with a plan. He decides to disguise as a beggar and this shows strength because he was going up against the suitors. When Athena nods at Odysseus, Odysseus will signal Telemachus to round up all the deadly weapons kept in the hall, and stow them away upstairs in a storeroom. Telemachus should just leave a pair of swords for the two of them.

Read More

Odysseus Weaknesses In The Odyssey

364 Words | 2 Pages

In 'The Odyssey' an epic poem written by Homer, a Greek poet, tells the tale of how the King of Ithaca, Odysseus, goes on an eventful adventure that costs him 20 years and all of his men. In this epic poem, Odysseus demonstrates many strengths and weaknesses. Odysseus' strengths are put to use and show how smart he can be. However, his weaknesses put him through many hardships and show what he needs to work on. Odysseus has many strengths.

Read More

Odysseus: An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

196 Words | 1 Pages

In part one of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses his epic hero qualities to help him out on his quest to get back home to Ithaca. He’s shows superb intelligence when fighting the cyclopes in “Book 9.” That’s a quality of superhuman intelligence that Odysseus possessed all throughout his entire journey. Another epic hero quality that helped Odysseus was help from Greek gods and goddesses. In part two of Homer’s Odyssey, Athena helped out Odysseus when he got back to his home land.

Read More

Identity In Odysseus Of Homer's Odyssey

463 Words | 2 Pages

Although Odysseus is still hiding his identity, Penelope’s confidence grows because she knows that this will force Odysseus to finally come out of disguise and compete in the contest to finally prove that he is indeed the one true Odysseus, king of Ithaca. During the contest while the suitors struggle, Odysseus still disguised as the beggar pleads to Antinous to give him a shot at stringing the bow. They are enraged by the fact that a mere beggar will even think of competing but most importantly they are frightened he will prevail. Penelope uses this moment to finally get Odysseus to reveal his true identity. Odysseus proves his identity by stringing the bow and successfully shooting it through all twelve

Read More

How Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

541 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.

Read More

Suitors In The Odyssey

388 Words | 2 Pages

The suitors always underestimated Odysseus’s son Telemachus who somewhat had the same mindset as his father. Before the end of battle between Odysseus and the suitors, Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, joined into the fight and successively killed someone who tried to kill his father. This showed couragement and treachery on both accounts because nobody expected Telemachus to be able to fight (Forman). During the battle, the goddess Athena helped Odysseus to fight against the suitors. Ulysses with Minerva against the suitors was a huge battle between the deities and the people, since Minerva or Athena was the people’s mentor and they had hope that the goddess would be with them instead of Odysseus.

Read More

Odysseus Character Analysis Essay

574 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus was a man of great stature and strength; however, Odysseus was not only physically strong, but mentally strong as well (Olson). We can see Odysseus’ mental strength, or cunning, and bravery when he is in the den of Polyphemus and devises the plan to save him and his crew by calling himself nobody and stabbing out the cyclops’ eye. He also recognizes that he

Read More

More about Intelligence And Strength In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document