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Odyssey Model

The document discusses how Homer's epic poem The Odyssey presents the idea of heroism. It states that intelligence, and Odysseus' ability to outthink his adversaries through his intelligence, is what allows him to prevail and what makes him the hero of the poem. It provides examples from the poem that emphasize Odysseus' intelligence, including Nestor highlighting his intelligence and strategy during the Trojan War, his cleverness in escaping Polyphemus' cave, and Athena praising his craft and guile. The document argues that Homer emphasizes intelligence as a crucial aspect of heroism in The Odyssey.

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94 views2 pages

Odyssey Model

The document discusses how Homer's epic poem The Odyssey presents the idea of heroism. It states that intelligence, and Odysseus' ability to outthink his adversaries through his intelligence, is what allows him to prevail and what makes him the hero of the poem. It provides examples from the poem that emphasize Odysseus' intelligence, including Nestor highlighting his intelligence and strategy during the Trojan War, his cleverness in escaping Polyphemus' cave, and Athena praising his craft and guile. The document argues that Homer emphasizes intelligence as a crucial aspect of heroism in The Odyssey.

Uploaded by

brendantmoran
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey explores the idea of heroism and

presents its own understanding of what a hero is. Heroism in the


Odyssey has to do with one’s relationship with the gods, with one’s
ancestry, with one’s strength, and with one’s material wealth. But
perhaps the most crucial aspect of heroism in the Odyssey is
intelligence. Odysseus’ capacity to outthink his adversaries is precisely
what allows him to prevail, and what makes him the hero of the poem.
Homer emphasizes intelligence, and its centrality to Odysseus’
heroism, in Nestor’s account of the Trojan war; in Odysseus’ encounter
with Polyphemus; and in Odysseus and Athena’s scheme to kill the
suitors.

In Book Three, Homer, through Nestor, highlights intelligence and


aptitude for military strategy as extremely important traits. At this
point in the story Telemachus has traveled a long way to hear stories
about his father, and the talkative Nestor does not disappoint. He tells
Telemachus exactly what made his father stand out at Troy: “And no
one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning… As
long as I and great Odysseus soldiered there, why, never once did we
stand out at odds, neither in open muster nor in royal council: forever
one in mind, in judgment balanced, shrewd, we mapped our armies
plans so things might turn out best” (3.134-145). Amusingly, Nestor
does not just speak of Odysseus’ intelligence, but of his own. Since
Nestor presumably considers himself to be a hero, his boastfulness
reinforces the notion that intelligence and strategic aptitude are crucial
traits for a hero to have.

Later in the poem, Odysseus recounts his wanderings for the


Phaeacians, and in his story about his confrontation with Polyphemus,
Odysseus provides an example of the cleverness that Nestor has
spoken about. Odysseus explains that though he was pinned back in
the giant’s cave, and though he lost several of his men, he was able to
devise a plan to get his crew away from the island. When he reports
how the other Cyclops did not help Polyphemus, Odysseus stresses
that it was the intelligence of his maneuver that made him most proud:
“They lumbered off, but laughter filled my heart to think how nobody’s
name—my great cunning stroke—had duped them one and all” (9.461-
463). Through the entire story of Polyphemus’ cave, and especially
Odysseus’ pride in his accomplishment, Homer again emphasizes how
crucial intelligence is for a hero.

It is Athena who most directly asserts how important intelligence is to


Odysseus’ heroic character. After Odysseus has spun an elaborate
story, trying to conceal his identity from her, Athena is absolutely
delighted at Odysseus’ trickery: “As his story ended, goddess Athena,
gray eyes gleaming,, broke into a smile and stroked him with her
hand… Her words went flying straight toward Odysseus: ‘Any man—
any god who met you—would have to be some champion lying cheat to
get past you for all-round craft and guile! (14.324-331). Athena is the
poem’s most important god—she drives the action from beginning to
end—and it is Odysseus’ craft, his intelligence, that she prizes most of
all.

The concept of heroism is complex, and Homer presents us with many


different examples of heroic behavior. But his portrayal of Odysseus’
exploits in the Trojan war, his resourcefulness on his way home, and
his relationship with Athena leaves little doubt that intelligence is
crucial to this poem’s idea of heroism.

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