Odysseus showcases his hero-like qualities when he manages to outsmart the Cyclops Polyphemus by giving him a false name. When the Cyclops asks his name, he says “My name is Nohbdy. Mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.” (9.275) By telling Polyphemus that his name was Nohbody, which sounds an awful lot like nobody when said aloud, he has managed to make any call for help useless. Most people in his situation would have likely panicked and not been able to come up with a proper response, and yet, Odysseus had quick enough wit to not only come up with a name, but also made sure that it would work in the Cyclops’s favor. …show more content…
It states that, after the arrow struck the target, “Then Zeus thundered overhead, one loud crack for a sign.” (21. 115) You see, most mortals can only dream of gaining a god’s attention, much less have Zeus himself approve of their actions. Meanwhile, Odysseus managed to gain his approval without even meaning to, an impressive feat, to say the least. To achieve such an achievement would require one to grow close to the gods in terms of spirit and by proving themselves worthy of their