Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. An example of odysseuss effective leadership would be his ability to think ahead, for. He shows this weakness is when he and his crew are sailing in the sea of the sirens and, after sticking wax up the ears of all the crew members so they couldnt listen, odysseus insists upon being attached firmly to the mast just so he could hear the enchanting songs of the mermaids. On the surface, odysseus decision to go ashore seems to be a seriously bad leadership decision. Dec 04, 2011 50 thoughts on week of 124 the odyssey book 9 nick k 4 december 5, 2011 at 3. In the book the odyssey by homer, the hero odysseus has many humanlike flaws like excessive pride, selfishness, and lack of leadership that gets him and his crew into tough situations. In the book, the odyssey by homer, there are many internal and external conflicts that affect odysseus from getting back home to ithaca. While odysseus sleeps, athena makes her way into the phaeacians city in the beginning of book 6 in homers the odyssey. The flaws of odysseus 11 november 2016 in the book the odyssey by homer, the main character odysseus could be defined as being a strong, noble, and courageous man who is confident as well as a heroic phenomenal athlete.
Nov 16, 2009 63 thoughts on question wk of 1115 the odyssey book 9 alyssa s november 16, 2009 at 4. Dec 06, 2011 another flaw of odysseus is curiosity. He was a greek hero, the son of anticlea and laertes, a great leader and eloquent speaker. Odysseus could almost always find a way out of difficult situations using his wits. What are weaknesses displayed by odysseus in the odyssey. Afterwords zeus sent the rest of his men to a island, and the island has lotus flower which some of his men ate and it made. A case of polumetis against the singleminded two eyes give us depth, profundity. Odysseus names himself and begins telling the story of his long travels after leaving troy. Strengths and weaknesses of odysseus free essay example. In book ix, odysseus briefly describes the time he spent with calypso, who kept him prisoner, and circe, full of craft who kept him in her palace. I am such a one as can sing before you as to a god. Book 9 opens with what might be termed an apologia on the part of the poet.
What is an example of when odysseus shows hes strong in the book, the odyssey. They have killed and enslaved plenty of men and women when odysseus shows self control and decides that it is time for them to leave before the real army comes. But odysseuss prudence gives out in his second boast. In homers the odyssey, the main character odysseus demonstrates these flaws throughout his journey, constantly struggling through the eternal fight for realization of life and death, and is weighed down by the never ending power struggle of nature versus mankind. What examples of human weakness can you find in the actions of odysseus and his crew. Adam consents not, alledging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarnd, should attempt her found alone.
Odysseus does, all the while pretending to be an old beggar. In his madeup story, he that hes heard odysseus had just left an island when the beggar arrived. Since odysseus, or nobody, gave him the wine, hell eat nobody lastthats the guest gift. But he cant keep up the charade for long, and during a performance of a song about the trojan war, odysseus is unable to hold back his.
Odysseus cannot not avoid scylla and charybdis on his journey home. Odysseus cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Odysseus draws his sword to kill the cyclops in his sleep. Odysseuss quick thinking helps him out of some very tough situations, as when he escapes from the cave of the cyclops in book 9, or when he hides his slaughter of the suitors by having his minstrel strike up a wedding tune in book 23. There are, however, not perfect and sometimes make poor decisions. In book 9, odysseus greatest weakness as a leader of men has to do with. Narrative and thematic techniques in books 9 and 19 of the odyssey david taylor what could be finer than listening to a singer of tales.
When odysseus and his crew approach the island of helios, even though odysseus has been told to avoid the island, odysseus gives in to the pleading of his men to land in order to seek food and water. Odysseus wanted to leave, but his men decided to stay and plunder and feast. Although he is admired for his physical resilience and strength, he is famous for his wittiness. Cyclops, in the end it was no weak mans companions you were to eat by violence. Back up your answer with specific details from the book. Scylla and charybdis represent the inevitability of loss, of having to choose between the lesser of two evils, of human choice. When odysseus returns to ithaca in book of the odyssey, athena disguises him as an old beggar, even going so far as to shrivel his skin, remove the russet curls. In odysseus, his weakness of pride causes him to alert the cyclops to his identity as well as earn poseidons wrath. A good example of this is when he taunts the cyclops and is then cursed by poseiden.
The sum of all human traits is defined as human nature, meaning the excuse for our vices, and the flaws of mortal life. While we may not consider this a weakness, for odysseus it is. He is also a convincing, articulate speaker and can win over or manipulate his audience with ease. Book 9 summary in book 9 of the odyssey, odysseus tell the story of him and his men stumble upon an island with a numerous amount of animals to eat. In the beginning of the journey, he and his men sacked the city of the cicones and carried away many spoils. Their faults can get them into trouble if they arent careful.
In the book the odyssey by homer, the hero odysseus has many humanlike. As a result of this quote and the events from book 9, odysseus can be considered an. Despite the warning of not taking the cattle with him to his. The odyssey book 9 the cyclops lyrics in this passage, odysseus and his men have just escaped the land of the lotuseaters, where they given fruit causing the crew to forget about going home. You should be able to cite examples of a few of these in. Here is how odysseus tells the story to the phaeacians. Telemachos shows his hospitality by inviting the guest in as soon as he sees him well, technically her, but telemachos doesnt know that, refraining from asking his name and business, and immediately taking him inside, stowing away his effects, and feeding him at a fine table.
Adam and eve in the morning go forth to thir labours, which eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart. Odysseus did not only have mental strength but physical strength as well. In homers the odyssey, the main character odysseus demonstrates these flaws throughout his journey, constantly struggling through the eternal fight for realization of life and. You must consider consequences beyond the immediate. Homer does give odysseus a slight change and a little bit of growth by the end of the story when odysseus is more likely to be patient. From troy, the winds sweep him and his men to ismarus, city of the cicones. What is the mood of odysseus and his men at the end of this excerpt from the odyssey.
However, along with odysseus heroic qualities, the odyssey also reveals three. What is an example of when odysseus shows hes strong in the. Certainly odysseus does grow in wisdom and judgment throughout his ventures. The odyssey book 9 flashcards flashcard machine create. However, along with odysseus heroic qualities, the odyssey also reveals three major flaws of his. The men plunder the land and, carried away by greed, stay until the reinforced ranks of the cicones turn on them and attack. In book 9, odysseus greatest weakness as a leader of men. Diomedes speaks out against that plan, saying that he and his cocommander sthenalus will fight, if needs be. Odysseus has the defining character traits of a homeric leader. Odysseus taunts the cyclops which makes poseidon mad at him etc etc bad things. The nymph calypso has held odysseus captive for seven years on the island ogygia, and the goddess athena has come before an assembly of the gods to plead for his release. Satan having compast the earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist by night into paradise, enters into the serpent sleeping. All of the traits described above exemplify odysseus heroic qualities for which he is known and admired. Odysseus is most responsible for the deaths in book 9 of the odyssey.
They come ashore on this island only to find themselves in a cave that belongs to the cyclops polyphemus. The cyclops asks odysseus where he has landed his ship. Scylla and charybdis are involved in every decision we make. Leadership skills good leaders inspire those who follow with words as well as actions. Odysseus makes up an elaborate story about being a commoner from crete, who coincidentally has suffered many of the same trials that odysseus did. When escaping from the cyclops, everything would have gone smoothly for odysseus and his men if odysseus had just kept his mouth shut, rather than bragging about who he was. Everyone fails to string odysseuss bow, except odysseus, who then wins the contest with his. Odysseus shows his great strength in book 18 when a dumb suitor that the other suitors like to tease shows up. In most greek mythology, like the odyssey, gods appear like human beings to help or punish their subjects. Everyone encounters their own cyclops a formidable opponent whose weakness is their selfrighteousness.
In the odyssey, while leaving polyphemos cave in bk 9, odysseus taunts the blinded polyphemos until the cyclops responds by heaving. Everyone fails to string odysseus s bow, except odysseus, who then wins the contest with his. List the ten story elements that are common to all stories of a heros journey, such as star wars, the lion king, the wizard of oz, or the odyssey. At times when he is not busy being arrogant, odysseus is showing self control, such as at the beginning of his trials in book 9 when odysseus and his men raid a coastal village of ismaros. What are weaknesses displayed by odysseus in the odyssey by. What is an example of when odysseus shows hes strong in. I sing to the gods and to human people, and i am taught by myself, but the god has inspired in me the songways of every kind. Nobility odysseus also showed that he was a man of sublime character by treating all his men equal even if he had a higher than some of them. Cyclops, if any mortal human being asks about the injury that blinded you, tell them odysseus destroyed your eye, a sacker of cities, laertes son, a man from ithaca. His selfcontrol while dealing with the suitors insults is exemplary and contrasts, for example, with his earlier irresistible urge to announce his name to the cyclops in book 9. Oct 23, 2007 odysseus shows his great strength in book 18 when a dumb suitor that the other suitors like to tease shows up. Odysseus, quick on his feet, says that theyve been shipwrecked by poseidon. Odysseus and his men ate the lotus and it made them fall asleep. Characters in odyssey with examples and analysis literary devices.
In the odyssey, odysseus, being human, sometimes makes errors in judgment and puts himself and his men in danger. Odysseus is a combination of the selfmade, selfassured man and the. Polyphemus promised to eat him last and fell asleep, vomiting human flesh. Dec 19, 2016 since odysseus, or nobody, gave him the wine, hell eat nobody lastthats the guest gift. Instead, he wants to treat the cyclops like a human being and play the part of good guests more on that hospitality thing. Odysseus faced a number of obstacles on his way home from the trojan war that poseidon, god of the sea, placed in his way. Diomedes speaks out against that plan, saying that he and his cocommander sthenalus will fight, if needs be, alone. Pride odysseus was also affected by his ego or pride.
In homers classic epic, the odyssey, odysseus demonstrates characteristics of both an effective and ineffective leader. This is shown in an act of hubris in book nine of the odyssey, when odysseus taunts the cyclops polyphemus after blinding him, which leads odysseus to be cursed by poseidon. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. Odysseus without the help of any gods effortlessly breaks the poor mans jaw. How odysseus fooled a cyclops the great courses daily. So they burn an offering in the monsters cave and wait for his return. Hero cycle book 9 of the odyssey represents the trials part of the hero cycle. Reluctantly, odysseus tells the phaeacians the sorry tale of his wanderings. This is shown in an act of hubris in book nine of the odyssey, when odysseus.
Odysseus is going to head home just as soon as he consults an oracle. When his men were tied at the bottom of the ship, he was the last one to hold on until he was able to escape. The odyssey books 912 summary and analysis gradesaver. When escaping from the cyclops, everything would have gone smoothly for. Odysseus has three serious personality flaws of having hubris, or excessive pride, of being excessively curious, and having a lack of leadership or vigilance which cause him to prolong his journey, endanger his men, and compromise his relationships. In book 9, odysseus greatest weakness as a leader of men has. Lord alcinous, renowned above all men, verily this is a good thing, to listen to a minstrel such as this man is, like unto the gods in voice.
Odysseus introduces himself and begins his story, starting with the moment his men leave troy. Seeing their chance, odysseus and four other men heated up the sharpened club and used it to gouge out the cyclops eye. His strengths, such as his intellect, help him to escape from the cyclops cave in the ninth book of the story. The odyssey book 9 ciconeskikonesismaros by maddie haines. In the odyssey, he appears in book 11 and shows odysseus the way to go to ithaca and allows him. The cyclops, also quick on his feet, bends down, grabs two men, and promptly eats them. Page numbers are not going to mesh as my copy is an online version. The vices of human nature in homers the odyssey essay. After the end of the war, odysseus was standing on a cliff, overlooking the sea, praising himself for his cunning in fooling the trojans with the. The god panic grips the achaeans that night, and agamemnon calls the chieftains to council. It is what costs him so much loss of time on his way home. The first flaw of odysseus that causes several setbacks in his endeavor to get back home is hubris excessive pride.
Although most heroes seem superhuman, they often have humanlike weaknesses. The odyssey book 9 ciconeskikonesismaros by maddie. Odysseus and his men got passed polyphemus by waiting for him to fall asleep. Spitting up gobbets of human flesh along with the wine, the cyclops falls asleep, and odysseus and his men go to work, driving the stake into polyphemuss eye. Odysseus angered the sea god poseidon, who has been hindering odysseus s return to his home in ithaca. Odysseus angered the sea god poseidon, who has been hindering odysseuss return to his home in ithaca. In book 9, odysseus describes his adventures with polyphemus, the cyclops. This point in the story i respect odysseus strength because he destroys this man effortlessly on his own. Although pride can be a good thing, he is claimed to possess too much of it. Odysseus men had to go into battle with the cicones and he lost six men.
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