Odysseus Challenges

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In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men are on their way back home from the decade-long Trojan War. At each location the crew arrives, a new challenge arises. Odysseus’ journey home lasted 10 years and consisted of 18 destinations; most of the places having challenges where Odysseus and his men need to strategize to survive. In order to think two steps ahead of the different things Odysseus encountered, Odysseus has to outwit and be cunning to succeed in overcoming these challenges and adversaries. Odysseus utilizes his intelligence with the giant cyclops, the sirens, and disguising himself when he finally makes it home, and ultimately teaches important lessons on these strengths to the reader. Odysseus’ fourth destination was …show more content…
Polyphemos, Poseidon’s son, is a giant cyclops that Odysseus and his men encounter. Polyphemos takes all the men to his house and locks them in with a massive boulder that only Polyphemos can move. Cleverly, Odysseus introduces himself to the giant cyclops with, “My name is Nohbdy. Mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.” (Fitzgerald 382). Once Odysseus blinds the giant cyclops with a spear, Polyphemos shouts out, “Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me” (Fitzgerald 383). This intelligence made no other cyclops come to the rescue because they did not think anything of the screams of Polyphemos. Now, since the blind giant cyclops could not see any of the men, all the remaining were able to hide under sheep until Polyphemos released the sheep, reuniting the men with freedom and leaving the island. This character strength teaches the importance of always being one step ahead. Odysseus’ 12th destination consisted of sirens which would captivate sailors and bring them closer to the island until they would drown and be eaten by monsters. To avoid this, Odysseus proactively put wax in everybody’s ears and tied himself to his

Challenges Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

think, how is my life like that of Odysseus’. Throughout this essay, the story will be described and compared to my life. The challenges that Odysseus faces in his journey will somehow relate to my life, and the challenges I face, not just right now, but maybe later. At the beginning of the Odyssey, Odysseus is sitting beside his wife Penelope as she is going through labor. The baby is then born, followed by despair the next day. Two men come to Odysseus, requesting his help along side…

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The Challenges Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

on the different obstacles you face when you are attempting to achieve a goal, or a dream. Odysseus goes on the very dangerous journey back to his homeland, Ithaca. He encounters several monsters and road-blocks that make his journey incredibly difficult. My Ithaca is to travel to all 7 continents, and my mentor, my mom, can hopefully come on some of those journeys with me. Different challenges that Odysseus face, that compare with my life, are the Lotus Eaters, the Sirens, how much information to…

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Odyssey: the Journey of a Hero Essay

particular journey, as detailed in Homer's The Odyssey, is one of struggle, loss, heartache, pain, growth and triumph. It is comprised of many steps that Odysseus has to overcome and battle through in order to achieve his final goal of reaching his home and his loved ones. From the Call to Adventure to the Freedom or Gift of living, Odysseus conquered them all. The story begins in the middle of the story, as many of the oral Greek traditions did, with the Journey of Telemachus to find his father…

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Odysseus Leadership Qualities In Homer's Odyssey

Odysseus’ Leadership Qualities Homer recites the journey of Odysseus attempting to return home, to Ithaca, after being in Troy in an epic named the The Odyssey. Greek gods are extremely impactful in the voyage of his crew and himself. Without challenges, leadership skills are not able to be identified as clearly. Not all the gods cause challenges for Odysseus to encounter yet some do. Athena, god of wisdom, is a mentor for Odysseus throughout the challenges the other gods put him in. For example…

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Odysseus Difficult Decisions In Homer's The Odyssey

In the epic “The Odyssey” by Homer Odysseus has several challenges to overcome to back back home. I can relate because I have difficult decisions to make. Odysseus and I are alike because we both have challenges to get through. Odysseus was trying to get back home but I am trying to play college baseball. They both come with difficult decisions which every part of life does too. Like I said I plan to play college baseball at Maple Woods. Unlike Odysseus taking 10 years to get home Maple Woods would…

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The Hero's Journey In The Odyssey

In Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Odysseus does complete the Hero’s Journey since Odysseus departs for home, goes through and overcomes many challenging trials, and then proceeds to return home to his life. Odysseus does complete the Hero’s Journey because he leaves his everyday life to go on a Journey. Penelope talks to the beggar(Odysseus) and tells him what happened to Odysseus “Odysseus left us years ago when he went off to Troy” (980-981).Odysseus left home to go and fight the Trojan…

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How Is Odysseus A Hero

The Odyssey, Odysseus tries to get home to his wife and son, but he goes through so many challenges in his attempt to get home. Along the way Odysseus goes through life threatening challenges and could have died while trying to get home but in the end he is able to get home to his wife and son.Odysseus shows he is not a hero because, yes he is physically stronger, intellectually stronger, and emotionally stronger but in the end of it all his only goal was to get back home. Odysseus shows he is not…

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Odysseus Vs Beowulf Research Paper

Beowulf and Odysseus. They have their strengths and weaknesses as well as a drive to succeed. Odysseus and Beowulf, although both egotistical and prideful, always manage to complete the task ahead of therm. Both Odysseus and Beowulf, have their demons that they concur in the end. Their demons being monsters and pride. Likewise, Odysseus and Beowulf are both clever individuals that overcame their challenges. Odysseus overcomes cyclops, calypso, sirens, Scylla, and Thrinacia. Odysseus faces the Gods…

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Adventuring In The Odyssey

his relaxed lifestyle and decides that he wants to set back onto sea. Odysseus wants to leave a safe life behind him and use the remainder of his years back onto sea for all the adventures that will come even if it goes terribly wrong. Odysseus is an old man with a passion for adventuring that never went away and I say he was addicted to it because he could not be relaxed with a non-adventurous life, loves to face the challenges…

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How Is Odysseus An Epic Hero

Monica Mulligan Odysseus is an epic hero because he undertakes tasks no one else dare attempts, and because he takes a long journey and barely makes it home alive. In Homer’s, The Odyssey, we are introduced to Odysseus, the, main character. Napoleon once said, “True heroism consists in being superior to the ills of life, in whatever shape they may challenge us to combat”. Napoleons quote is relative to the odyssey because Odysseus overcame any challenge that stood in his way so that he could get…

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