English 9H
December 3, 2009
Odysseus Essay
Heroic traits are admired and valued by all. In the history of mankind, many individuals appear who possess such noteworthy qualities. In the story Odyssey Homer writes about Odysseus the protagonist who bears the heroic traits greatly admired in ancient Greece. Out of the many great traits that Odysseus possesses, there are three that define him more than any. These characteristics are bravery, resourcefulness, and cleverness.
Odysseus exhibits bravery a multitude of times on his long voyage, as well as when he returns home. He remains quite calm and shows no sign of fear despite the fact that he and his men are trapped in the same cave as a bloodthirsty Cyclops. This shows that Odysseus can keep his composure even in bad or stressful situations. This shows that even at the prospect of death, Odysseus stays in control of his emotions. Odysseus also demonstrates bravery when he decides to fight the army of suitors with just himself and a few loyal men. This shows that Odysseus is not afraid of losing and possibly dying even when his enemies outnumber his fellow allies greatly. This shows that Odysseus is willing to take back what is rightfully his, even when he may be killed for it. These are just a few of the many fearless acts that Odysseus displays throughout the story.
Odysseus also shows great resourcefulness which is shown through his actions. When he and his men are trapped by the Cyclops, Odysseus quickly devises a clever plan for escape. This shows that even when there seems to be no possible escapes left, he continues to create, revise, and carry out his ideas and plans. This shows that even in the worst situations Odysseus can come up with a detailed and thorough plan to counter his current demise. Odysseus also shows his resourcefulness when he agrees with Athena and allows her to transform him into an old beggar so he can survey the state of his house. This shows that...