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The Importance Of Metis In The Odyssey

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The Importance Of Metis In The Odyssey
Throughout The Odyssey, the Greek vocabulary word metis holds the most importance because of the clever, life-saving decisions Odysseus makes. Throughout the epic, Odysseus is faced with several challenges to overcome. His quick-witted (wily) personality and intelligence is what eventually gets him out of these situations. For example, on the island of the lotus-eaters, Odysseus’ men become addicted to the louts flowers and intend to stay on the island forever. Odysseus was smart enough not to eat the flowers and to bring his men back aboard the ship: “But I brought them back, back/to the hollow ships, and streaming tears—I forced them” (9.110-111). Odysseus seems to always know the right thing to do in every situation. When the Cyclops Polyphemus

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