(This question is based on the book 'The Odyssey' by Homer. Thank you)

What is at least one character trait of Odysseus (like brave, arrogant, patience etc.) and explain how he demonstrates this trait with a textual example (must give an example from the text).

Then, compare the epic hero of Odysseus to a hero in your life today. This could be a person you know or someone from a movie or book.

Thank you.

Answers with Explanation:

1. What is at least one character trait of Odysseus and explain how he demonstrates this trait with a textual example.

One character trait of Odysseus is "courage." Even if he was just a mere human, he fought against a giant like "Cyclops Polyphemus." He was brave enough to enter the cave of Cyclops in order to save his men. He wasn't afraid to die, though he described Cyclops as a "horrid creature, not like a human being at all." He even risked his life to get the attention of Cyclops so it could drink the wine, which could make it weak. Then he and his men struck the eyes of the Cyclops and this he stated in his story to the Phaeacians, "So we seized our stake with its fiery tip  and bored it, round and round in the giant’s eye till blood came boiling up around..."

2. Compare the epic hero of Odysseus to a hero in your life today. This could be a person you know or someone from a movie or book.

If I were to compare Odysseus to a person in my life, I would say my "father." Just like Odysseus, my father is courageous enough to win in any situation, just so he could send all of us (since were are seven siblings) to school. He never thought of himself and always look forward that his kids will have a better future. Odysseus was, similarly, the same with my father when it comes to taking care of his men and his family. Both of them are courageous enough not to surrender in any situation.

in the short story the slip-over sweater by jesse stuart, the main character and narrator shan is friends with grace, an intelligent girl he has known since childhood and with whom he used to be in love.

at the beginning of the story, shan believes he’s no longer in love with grace, but loves jo-anne instead. in order to buy a slip-over sweater and have jo-anne wear it so that the other students would know she loved him too, shan takes a loan at the bank.

while jo-anne is wearing shan’s sweater, his friend grace starts to wear another popular boy’s one, roy’s sweater. because of that, the other students begin to pay attention to grace and compliment her perseverance and effort. they admire her for walking 5 miles to school every day, despite the weather, and still getting the best grades. shan, who knows all of that for a fact, says, as the narrator, ‘and i knew she had the durability and the toughness of a storm-battered mountain oak.’ he compares his friend’s strength – not only physical, but also of character – to an oak tree, whose wood is known for being sturdy.

as the story goes on, shan changes his behavior out of concern for the debt he has to pay at the bank. his new girlfriend jo-anne never asks him what is wrong nor offers any sort of . instead, she breaks up with shan for not being as fun as she thought he was supposed to be. grace, however, not only asks about shan’s problem, but him make the money he needs. shan can’t but notice how different the girls are and what a wonderful person grace is.   even though he used to find jo-anne prettier at the beginning of the story, he now says, ‘grace was as beautiful as our mountain was in april, prettier than a blossom of wild phlox or a mountain daisy.’ his comparing grace to a mountain or something that exists on a mountain (such as a mountain oak or daisy) certainly has important meaning since shan loves the mountain and everything about it and he knows the mountain thoroughly. shan also loves and knows grace as completely as he does the mountain.