Odysseus proves to be a wise hero during his adventures through the Cyclopes’ island. This is seen while Odysseus is stuck inside the Cyclops’ cave with his shipmates, and had to get out by “twining cords of willow from the ogre’s bed then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely” (lines 378-381). Odysseus thought of a clever way to get him and his men out of the Cyclops’ cave. The men could not be seen by the Cyclops, and Odysseus’ plan worked! He saved his shipmates’ lives by getting them out securely.
During his time as Polyphemus’ prisoner, he was able to stay calm and use his wits to outsmart the Cyclops and escape. Unfortunately, his pride caught up with him. As they begin to set sail Odysseus bragged, “O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? / Puny, am I, in a Caveman’s hand?
Ulysses had devised an elaborate plan that would allow himself and his men to escape the cave in which they were being held. First he gave the Cyclops wine to make him sleep and then blinded him. This allowed him and his men to ride out unseen on the bellies of the Cyclops sheep. Ulysses was able to think on his feet and devise a plan utilizing the resources he and his men had in the cave and go them all out safely. Both characters also show bravery throughout their adventures.
An example of this is when Odysseus thinks that his plan to escape the Cyclops would actually work. First, he came up with a plan with his men. Second, he go the Cyclops drunk. Third, he and his men waited for the Cyclops to fall asleep. Fourth, they stabbed him in the eye with a gigantic sharp stick.
The Cyclops cave they were in belonged to Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son. Odysseus’ plan to defeat the Cyclops was to offer him some powerful wine to get him drunk. Then he would have him open the door and on their way out they would use a tree carved and shaved down like a knife, then heat it up and hide in poop. Then after the boulder was removed he would stab him in the eye then twist. Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is Nohbdy.
. .” This illustrates his bravery, but also his rash nature when he taunts him profusely and reveals his identity. He further shows his bravery and leadership in encouraging his men to help him attack the Cyclops in saying, “Courage, no panic, no hang back now.” He and his men slip past the blinded Cyclops riding under his sheep after he rolls the boulder away from the entrance of the cave. Odysseus is a highly respected king with a quick intellect and sometimes a rash nature which we see becomes much more patient in the final battle with the
He uses the sword that he had taken from the elves and kills the spiders, despite his fear of being eaten by them. “It had thought of starting the feast while the others were away, but Mr. Baggins was in a hurry, and before the spider knew what was happening it felt his sting and rolled off the branch dead” (160). Bilbo not only wants to overcome his fears, but he can follow through on his thoughts. He had the sword to kill the spider, yet Bilbo was still nervous. Also, if Bilbo hadn't overcame his fear of being eaten by the spiders, he would have never killed them and freed the dwarves, and without the dwarves there wouldn't have been a story.
J Santamaria Lit Discussion 5: Analogy (Irony) Quote: “Then raising the cup to his lips, quite readily and cheerfully he drank off the poison” Context: A Greek Philosopher (Socrates) has made the decision to end his life by drinking the cup of hemlock, since he states that he has lived a good life while Plato and other disciples are shocked by Socrates beliefs and what is happening right in front of them. Concept: The irony of the passage is revealed through the author’s diction, “cheerfully he drank the poison” and “quite readily, expose how Socrates even in the edge of his life is enjoying every bit of it, while his followers are terrified of death and will never willingly want to drink the poison. Connection: This literary device serves a number of purposes. This passage shows us that death is not as bad as we think as long as we don’t look at it negatively and we look at our accomplishments rather than our regrets. The irony is that Socrates acts relaxed and has positive body language as he drinks the poison when a lot of people in his place would instantly reject that idea.
Through these hardships our hero, Odysseus, shows a great amount of restraint that helped protect himself and get him and his men out of sticky situations.. Towards the middle of The Odyssey Odysseus is trapped inside of the Cyclops cave and is trying to figure out how to escape. “I considered whether to go near and draw my sharp sword and drive it into his breast; I could feel about till I found the place where the midriff encloses the liver. But second thoughts kept me back. We should have perished ourselves in that place, dead and done for; we could never have moved the great stone which he had planted in the doorway” (112).
Yet, he faces his fears head on, as the Trojans are in a battle to stay alive during a violent storm caused by the jealous goddess Juno. She has her reasons for not wanting Aeneas’ journey to be one of ease, but Aeneas demonstrates his leadership and proves that his priority is the well-being of his group. Once the ships safely land on the shore new Carthage, he provides food by “shooting and shooting til he won the hunt by laying seven carcasses on the ground” (Damrosch, Pike, p.691). Aeneas finds love with Queen Dido in Carthage, and although he could stay with her and fill the role of husband to the queen. He exhibits his obedience to the gods, “Duty-bound, Aeneas, though he struggled with desire to calm and comfort her pain… yet took the course