Preview

Odysseus As A Good Leader In The Odyssey By Homer

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
438 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Odysseus As A Good Leader In The Odyssey By Homer
In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus is a good leader because he proves his bravery by fighting antagonistic forces and puts other people before himself.
Odysseus is a good leader because he demonstrates his boldness by battling opposing foes. Odysseus and his crew are trapped in a cave and are trying to get out without receiving any harm from the cyclops.. Before the cyclops makes the first move, Homer states, “Straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye, and I leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill in planking…” (ln 314-318). When it says, “Rammed it deep in his crater eye”, it illustratesproves that Odysseus defeats the cyclops. WhileThe cyclops has the potential to kill Odysseus, but Odysseus is wise because he saves his menOdysseus has a strong will to save his men and jumps into action. In another account, Odysseus prepares himself to fight Scylla. The author states, “Circe’s bidding
…show more content…
Two of Odysseus's men are put in a trance due to the opium from the lotus-eaters. Homer emphasizes how helpful Odysseus is by saying, “I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest” (ln 84-86). Odysseus drags his men to the ship, so they are not abandoned. Odysseus also helps someone who is on drugs, who can potentially die. As Odysseus and his crew are rowing past the Sirens, trying to not get entranced. Odysseus ties himself down to the boat and says, “If I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me” (ln 534-535). Even though Odysseus is suffering from the noise, he does not want his men to stop and help him. Odysseus cares for the lives of his men and would preferably endure the pain himself than lose them to the Sirens. Odysseus’s good leadership throughout the epic is the reason why he accomplishes his main goal of getting back to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Initially, using his boundless bravery and extraordinary leadership instincts, Odysseus is able to spare several of his crew men’s lives from the monstrous Cyclops'. Although the Cyclops is a “mighty man” with great strength, Odysseus “[speaks] up in reply” to him because of his gallantry (Homer 152, 278-80). Odysseus knows that standing up for his men is the only way to protect them, he must be brave and demonstrates this by sacrificing himself to prevent the giant man-eating Cyclops from consuming his men. He “[drew] the sharp sword from [his] hip” and “[stabbed] him where the midriff holds the liver”, blinding the immense beast (154, 324-27). Odysseus’s bold decision to stab the Cyclops requires superior leadership, facing a giant individually…

    • 152 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Odysseus shows heroic qualities in the passage about the Cyclops. It states in the passage “ Odysseus is the cleverest of greek heroes because he is guided by the goddess of wisdom, Athena.”. Clever is a quality that heros have. This shows that Odysseus has a heroic quality.…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Odyssey is about the adventurer and leader Odysseus who is on an epic journey back home. The only problem is his crew that went along on his journey was all met in an untimely demise, the reason being, Odyessus was unfit to be a leader among his crew. This was a tragedy could have been avoided. In this analysis it will tell the reader on why Odysseus was a terrible leader for this epic journey to begin with.…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Level 1: What do the gods decide on when Poseidon is away for the fate of Odysseus?…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    {Odysseus is a hero in The Odyssey because of his bravery throughout the story, The Odyssey. He may have made a few unintelligent decisions however one can’t blame someone for an unintelligent decision. Odysseus was only human and no one is perfect. }…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The gods have played their part altering the course of the hero’s voyage. Seemingly, in the epic harmony does not last long and challenges follow Odysseus like a plague. Calypso, the audience believes holds the last installment of the global journey, our hero has yet more battles ahead of him. In fact, the king of Ithaca wandered the Mediterranean and its coastal lands for 10 years before finally arriving home. As waves crash against the raft, “he was seen sailing the ocean”(284). The sea near the land of the Phaeacians is only one region Odysseus has been driven to. All these occurs as a number of loyal citizens and a hopeful family await his return, a period when others dependence on him shines through. As Odysseus is under the angry waters…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What do you consider to be a hero? What traits should a hero have? My hero is Odysseus. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus proves to be a true epic hero through his intelligence, bravery, and loyalty.…

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A great leader is one that should be cherished by all. Odysseus had every right to lead the men that followed him into battle. When the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, lead his men into Troy, they only followed his footsteps because they respected him, trusted his actions, and believed he had their best interests in mind. After conquering the empire of Troy, Odysseus was enforced with the task of bringing his men safely home to their lovely country Ithaca, a task only accomplishable by the greatest of leaders. Several hardships were thrown onto the path leading back home. Fate set Odysseus and his men's ship on course to a harsh island home to one of the most gruelling creatures to set foot in Odysseus’s path. This obstacle along with many more test…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus, the hero of The Odyssey, has found himself in many interesting, as well as dangerous, predicaments. Although these predicaments were extremely challenging, Odysseus always found a way to survive. His survival depended on his mind and body combined. Without this important balance of thought and strength, it is obvious that Odysseus would not have made it home safely, or he may have not even made it home at all. Throughout The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus showed amazing personal qualities that enabled him to survive his adventures.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus Leadership Essay

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Odysseus, in Homer’s The Odyssey, displays both strong and weak leadership skills in certain situations. Odysseus stays protective and caring but isn’t very trusting or open to his crew. He doesn’t tell his crew about what the prophet said, and what was in the bag from the Wind King. When the crew was on the Island of the Sun God, Odysseus blatantly said for them not to touch the cattle. Yet he failed to explain the consequences. Since his actions illustrate both strong and weak leadership, each even affected the way Odysseus would lead the crew.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Odysseus A Good Leader

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What is good leader? Good leader is a person who can lead a group or a team towards achievement of goal successfully. In a group, a leader is very important for group’s success. How can Odysseus be considered as a good leader? I don’t think he is a good leader and there are several reasons why I don’t think he is a good leader.…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Odyssey Final Essay

    • 923 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, The hero Odysseus displays many heroic traits that make him an epic hero. The Odyssey is about Odysseus journey home after the Trojan War. On his way back home, he harms a Cyclops’s eye, so Poseidon becomes very angry and make Odysseus’s trip extremely difficult. Odysseus encounters many monsters and his entire crew perishes. When he finally returns home after 20 years, Athena helps him reunite with his son and kill all on the suitors that have made themselves at home in his house with his wife. Some of the many characteristics that Odysseus shows throughout his journey may include courage, leadership and curiosity.…

    • 923 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    On the subject of heroism, Maya Angelou once wrote that “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people” (Angelou). The general picture that comes to mind when the word “hero” is said is the idea of Superman or Wonder Woman; however, a true hero is anyone who tries to make their world a better place. Odysseus, the hero in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, fought in the Trojan War and embarked on a ten year journey to return to his kingdom, Ithaca. During his quest to return home, he encounters many supernatural forces that show both his heroic, and not so heroic actions. He faces countless challenges, meets new people, and has to make sacrifices for the overall benefit of his crew (Bowler and Homer 645-705).…

    • 1620 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Homer's Odysseus: A Hero

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Odysseus has his weaknesses but also his flaws. He was prideful and arrogant at times. Odysseus was thought to be violent and cruel. This is his weakness. But most of the time had his flaws. A great flaw he had was having humbleness and admitted that the gods have helped him his struggles. passing out advise to his son Thelemachus. Advising his son to be patient is some great advise anyone would love to have. All of these qualities are characteristics of a great leader.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    World Lit

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    * Odysseus and his men were very strong to be able to deal with the encounters that they had to endure. Odysseus was a very worthy leader.…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays