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Odysseus Characteristics

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Odysseus was an effective leader in battle, an amazing fighter, and he was the person who helped defeat Troy by using the wooden horse. Although everyone thought this was a heroic action by Odysseus to obtain victory, the gods were not so happy with him, especially Zeus. The gods punished Odysseus by making his journey back home difficult for him and his men. Even though Odysseus was being challenged by gods, he had traits that were of an epic hero. Also, throughout his journey he had friends and companions to help him travel back to Ithaca safely and obtain his kingdom once again. One of Odysseus’s key characteristic was wisdom, which he used during his journey back to Ithaca and to reclaim his kingdom. When Odysseus and his men arrived at the Land of Lotus Eaters, “Then I sent out two picked men and a runner to learn what race of men the lad sustained… those who ate this plant, the lotus, never cared to report, nor to return” (Homer 564). Odysseus was wise enough to only let a …show more content…

When Odysseus and his crew were on the island of the Cyclopes, “straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye” (Homer 570). The spike was so heavy that it required 5 men, including Odysseus, to ram the spike into the Cyclop’s eye. Not only did they have to carry the spike, they also had to run and leap into the Cyclops in order to stab his eye. Odysseus and a few others also killed over 100 suitors, “While he had arrows he aimed and shot, and every shot brought down one of his huddling enemies” (Homer 612). He then continued to kill every suitor with a bow and arrow as they rushed at him when Telemachus went to grab his armor and sword. By himself he killed more than 50 of the suitors which shows the amount of strength he has. Not one of the suitors’ strength could match Odysseus because every one of them had fallen before

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