Odysseus, Brains not Brawn

By: Ryan Harkleroad, Scott Moskal, Elizabeth Engel, and Connor Walsh

Strong Men Don’t Cry“She found him sitting upon the shore. The tears were never dry in his eyes; life with its sweetness was slowly trickling away” (65).

Analysis: Hermes proclaims to Calypso that she must release Odysseus. She agrees to let go of Odysseus. The quotation above describes the scene when Calypso slowly approaches Odysseus. She finds him crying upon a shore; however, strong men don’t cry.

Strong Men Don’t Cry

Famous For His Cleverness“Prince Odysseus Laërtiades, now is the time to show your famous cleverness!” (66).

Analysis: Calypso proclaims to Odysseus after they have eaten dinner on how clever and wise Odysseus has become. She discusses with him about the long journey Odysseus will soon take to return home; however, the trip back home is interrupted by the Earthshaker Poseidon.

Famous For His Cleverness

Odysseus not so brawny“Then Odysseus felt his limbs grow weak, and his heart failed within him” (72).

Analysis: The Earthshaker Poseidon has a dislike for Odysseus. Odysseus sails easily for seventeen days, but on the eighteenth day, he is disturbed by Poseidon when he sees the island of the Phaeacians. Poseidon knocks Odysseus about in a monstrous way as to knock Odysseus off his boat. Odysseus falls into the water, but Almighty Zeus has granted Odysseus to see land. Odysseus is able to reach land safely due to his wise actions of grabbing hold of a rock while Poseidon passes waves upon him.

Odysseus not so brawny

Cyclops Confusion“Cyclops do you ask me your name? Well, I will tell you, and you shall give me the strangers due as promised. Noman is my name; Noman is what mother and father call me and all my friends” (114).

Analysis: After Odysseus serves Polyphemus several cups of wine, Odysseus tells him his name is Noman. This decision demonstrates Odysseus’ cunning and smart thinking as he tricks Polyphemus so he will not be caught for his actions.

Cyclops Confusion

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Apr. 2014. http://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com>.“Book 5.” Passalacqua-English1-Per5-2010-2011. n.p., n.d. Web.

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"Never Give up." Never Give up. n.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. <http://loryngerencser.edublogs.org>.

"Odysseus Biography." Odysseus Biography. n.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. <http://www.irasov.com/Odysseus.htm>.