- Which adventure do you feel was the most difficult one Odysseus faces? Why?
- Which adventure do you feel was the least difficult? Why?
- During these adventures, which decision was the best? Why?
- What is Odysseus's worst decision? Why?
- What do the majority of Odysseus's decisions during these adventures show about his character?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Adventures & Decisions
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In my own opininon, the hardest adventure Odysseus ever faced was battling the cyclops. I think that, that was the hardest adventure becuase the cyclops had power of over Odysseus and his men and also was 10 times the size of Odysseus and his men. This was a very hard adventure becuase the cyclops had put a rock that shut the cave and only the cyclops can move it. I think that is the most diffcicult adventure of Odysseus. The adventure that I thought was the easiest was when Odysseus was on Calypso's island, Ogygia. That was pretty easy but he did try to escape but was caught and brought back. The reason why it was easy becuase he was on her island for seven years and he was getting all the service he needed. Although, he was still sad and determined to go home becuase he was missing his wife a whole lot. The way he got off Ogygia was when Hermes sent a message to Calypso and said that, you need to set Odysseus free. The best decision that Odysseus made was to blind the cyclops. That was a good decision becuase it was smart of him to do so becuase the cyclops only had one eye and if he got drunk and didn't have that one eye, he is useless. Odysseus had gotten him drunk first, and then while he threw up and went to sleep, Odysseus had stabbed his eye leading the cyclops to panic and push the rock. The worst decision that Odysseus made was to go to Haides. I think that him going to Haides was a bad idea becuase many people and gods said that you can die or lose your soul if you go there and isn't the best place to go. It was pretty foolish of Odysseus to go there becuase he knew that he might die but still took the risk and went. I think what these decisions show about Odysseus is that he makes the best ones and tries to make the decisions that are good for everyone. That's the thing that Odysseus did when he was making a lot of the decisions; he was thinking of everyone else too and thought the best for himself and everyone else. That's what decisions show about Odysseus's character.
I think the most difficult adventure Odysseus faces, was the one with the Cyclops. He had to really think about how they were going to escape. Also he had to watch his own men get picked up and eaten right in front of him. The adventure that was least difficult to me was when they went to Aeolus, because they got helped there. They were fed and they were given a new sail to help go faster. They didn’t really face any challenges here the only challenge was to keep going and not give up. The best decision was to hide under the sheep; he saved his life and his friend’s lives in making this decision. His worst decision was to yell out his name and everything to the Cyclops because Poseidon was his dad and Odysseus would latter pay for what he did. Majority of his decisions show that he will do anything to get home safely to his wife Penelope.
I think all of Odysseus’ adventures were difficult because Poseidon was always trying to stop him, but out of all his adventures, I believe the sirens were the most difficult. This was Odysseus’ toughest adventure because he had to lose six men on all of his ships and he did not want to do that. Odysseus’ easiest adventure was in Aeolus because he did not do anything, he was helped. During these adventures, the best decision was when Odysseus thought of the Trojan horse. This was smart because it ended the battle in Troy and helped Odysseus win the battle. Odysseus’ worst decision was when he was taunting the giant. This was a bad idea because it caused Poseidon to want to kill him. A majority of Odysseus’ decisions in these adventures show that he is smart, cunning and tricky. For example, when he thought of the Trojan horse, it showed that he is smart. In addition, when he was on the Cyclopes land, he got the Cyclopes drunk and Odysseus and his men were able to escape. This situation shows that Odysseus is cunning and tricky.
I think passing through the area of Scylla’s Cave was the toughest adventure for Odysseus because he knew he had to lose six men, and there is noting he can do about it. The lotus island was the least difficult because Odysseus only had to tie up his men. The best decision was to save his men from Circe because his men could have been left there. The worst decision was when Odysseus let his men go into the port of Laestrygonia because his men all got killed by the Laestrognians. These decisions show that Odysseus is pretty smart because none of them made him get killed.
-I think the most difficult adventure for Odysseys was when he had to go through the canal and face the six headed dragon thing and that whirlpool with teeth.
-I think the least difficult was when he went to the underworld because he didn't have to do much. Just look at dead people.
-I think that the best decision Odysseys made was when he had his men stuff their ears with bees wax and have them tie him to the pole to evade the sirens.
-I think his worst decision is when he lets his men eat the cattle because he knows its cursed and his men all die.
-I think it shows hes brave because hes not afraid to show leadership
During Odysseus' journey, he faced many of those which are the most difficult, least difficult. And his decisions, which one was the best, and what does these good decisions show about Odysseus' character.
I think the most difficult journey he faced was he was stuck with the Cyclopes, because during that experience, it was like a matter of live or death, nothing else to think about. During that time, he was looking at his comrades die, being eaten by the Cyclops, that's when the time, I think that he tasted death close to him. But not all of Odysseus' adventures is full of hardship, some of them were quite easy to face for Odysseus. The least difficult adventure of Odysseus, I think, is when he was stuck on the Lotus Land, because all he had to do was to drag his comrades from the Lotus eaters to his ships and bind them until the addiction of Lotus goes away. During his adventures, he had to make decisions, whether if it's bad or good. The good decision he made was probably when he decided to tell everyone about his journey, and letting everything out from his mind. The bad decision that he made is when he told the Cyclops his real name instead of the made up name when he blinded the Cyclops, which would have not brought many challenges up to face Odysseus, and just for information, the Cyclops was Poseidon's son, the God of the sea, so during Odysseus's journey, Poseidon brought great horrors to poor Odysseus. These bad and good decisions show that Odysseus is a normal human being, and that just like everyone else, he makes mistakes.
The adventure that took the biggest toll on Odysseus, seems to be the one where he has to face Schylla and Charybdis. For the other adventures, Odysseus and his crew didn't know what would become of them. But in this one, Odysseus knows that if he wants to survive , he has to sacrifice six of his men to the terrifying monster. It was also one of the hardest because of the cries Odysseus heard. "...I heard them call out my name in one last despairing cry... while they screamed and stretched out their hands to me in their mortal agony...." (pg 158). The least difficult adventure was the one where they had to pass the sirens. All they really needed to do was to block their ears. And they passed them with ease. The best decision Odysseus made was the one when he was trapped in the cave of Polyphemus. With out his quick and clever thinking, they would have been trapped there to be eaten alive. Odysseus' worst decision was to brag and taunt Polyphemus. Hubris got the better of him which led to him being cursed by Polyphemus and Poseidon. Making it so that his journey back home would be agonizing, long, and strenuous. But for the majority, Odysseus' desicions showed us his bravory, courage, cleverness, and smartness.
The most difficult adventure for Odysseus was when he went Calypso's island. I think this because she wouldn't let him off her island and he missed his men. The least difficult was when he created the Trojan horse. This is because he only made a horse.
•Which adventure do you feel was the most difficult one Odysseus faces? Why?
I think Odysseus's hardest adventure was when he was being held prisoner at Calypso's island. I think this because he was there for more then seven years and he missed his family a lot. Also i think it was hard because it was probably hard for him to resist immortality that Calypso said she would give him.
•Which adventure do you feel was the least difficult? Why?
I think the easiest adventure for Odysseus was lotus land. This is because he didn't have to do much except eat lotus flowers.
•During these adventures, which decision was the best? Why?
I think Odysseus's best decision was to leave lotus land. This is a good decision because if he didn't leave he would forget about his home and stay there forever.
•What is Odysseus's worst decision? Why?
I think Odysseus's worst decision was not watching his men closely enough. As a result of not watching his men they at the sacred sun god's cattle. This was bad because it made it so he lost all his men and has been away from home for 20 years.
•What do the majority of Odysseus's decisions during these adventures show about his character?
I think in the story Odysseus makes more good decisions then bad ones. this shows that Odysseus is smart and he thinks about things before choosing what to do. Also it shows that Odysseus cares a lot about the outcomes of certain events and sometimes makes bad decisions to help him in the future. One of the bad decisions Odysseus makes it blinding Polyphemus. when he does it, it is a bad thing to do but it helps them escape.
The most difficult adventure Odysseus faces was Cyclopes land. This is because once Odysseus and his men were trapped in the cave he had to think of a way to get out of there. Odysseus had to make the Cyclopes move the giant rock so they could leave. But the Cyclopes wouldn’t move it so Odysseus blinded him so he would move the giant rock over the opening. The least difficult adventure was Ogygia. This was least difficult because Calypso imprisoned him and he didn’t have to do any thing. She tried to get him but he refused. All Odysseus had to do was wait until Calypso let him go. When Odysseus thought of the Trojan horse was the best decision he made. This is because it aloud him and his men to leave troy. The worst decision was when he left his men alone while on Thrinacia and went off on his own. This was bad because he men were starving and ate the cows, which they weren’t allowed to do. They were punished by the gods. Odysseus decisions show that he is a smart person that make some mistakes but can recover with his other ideas.
I feel that the most difficult adventure that Odysseus faces is returning to his home in Ithaca. I think that this is the hardest because he has so many encounters on the way home. He visited many islands that all were attributes to the downfall of most of his men. For example Odysseus and his men visited Lotus Land, they ate Lotus which they quickly became addicted to it and forgot about their homes. Another example is when they were trapped in Polyphemus’s cave on Cyclopes Land. When he had escaped the Cyclopes had prayed to Poseidon could not return home with all his men, he got his wish. He had originally had twelve ships, it was reduced to one.
I think the adventure that was least difficult was at Aeaea (Circes Island). This was the least difficult adventure because Odysseus did not have to think a plan to escape or get his men back like he did on other islands. In fact, Odysseus had an interaction with a god in disguise before arriving at Circe’s house. The stranger said to Odysseus,” Are you coming to set them free? I fear that you yourself will not return either and will have to stay there with the rest of the,. But never mind, I will protect you and get you out of your difficulty. Take this herb, which is one of great virtue, and keep it about you when you go to Circe’s house; it will be a talisman to you against every kind of mischief”(128).
During all of his adventures, the best decision took place at the city of the Laestrygonians. The men were horrified at the sight of the queen, she called her husband and the men started to be massacred. “… he set about killing men. He snatched up one of them, and began to make his dinner off him then and there…they threw vast rocks at us from the cliffs as though they had been mere stone”(124). Odysseus had decided to cut the cable of his own ship and had left the horrid land.
Odysseus’s worst decision was not telling his men that there was gold and silver at the bottom of the bag of winds. This was the worst decision because Odysseus was greedy and that was the downfall, he did not want his men to find out but they did and that sabotaged the voyage. “ They loosed the sack, whereupon the winds flew howling forth and raised a storm that carried us weeping out to sea and away from our own country”(122). That took them far from their home yet again.
From all these decisions, it shows that Odysseus is a witty character but sometimes looses is his composure and makes a mistake. For example when all his men were being killed at the city of the Laestrygonians, he cut the cable of his ship to protect the rest of the men, the ship, and the ship. An example of making a mistake was not telling his men about the treasures in the bag of winds. They had gotten curious of the treasures, they opened it and created a storm and had sent them away from their home yet again.
1. The most difficult adventure for Odysseus was when he went to Heleous' island, Lastrygonia.I think this because he was warned not to eat the sheep and the oxen and if he did his men would be killed. Also, his ship would be destroyed and if he lived he would have a long adventure home. IN the end, his men ate the sheep and the oxen. His men were killed and his ship was destroyed. Odysseus had lived but he only had a little piece of his ship left.
2. The least difficult adventure for Odysseus was the island of the Sirens. This was the least difficult because as long as he did what he was told there was no way of him and his men getting in trouble. One thing they were told to do was put wax in his men's ears so they could not hear the song. Another thing that he was told to do was to have his men tie him to the mast of the ship.
3. Odysseus' best decision was when he got the bag of winds from Aeolis. I think this because the bag of winds helped him get from one island to the next faster than by ship. it would have taken him longer to complete this adventure if Aeolis had not given him the bag of winds.
4. Odysseus' worst decision was when he left his men on the island of Lastrygonia so he could go pray. Then he fell asleep. If he had never left his men he could have supervised them and they would not have eaten the sheep and oxen. Eurylochus talked all of Odysseus' men into cooking eating the sheep and the oxen. If this had not have happened then Odysseus would still have his men and his ship.
5. These adventures show many things about Odysseus' character. One thing that it showed was that he was brave. Odysseus was brave because he was never afraid to go to any of these islands. Another thing was that he was caring. Odysseus really cared for his men and did not wan to loose them. Also, he cared about the gods and goddess' that helped him.
When reading the “Odyssey” by Homer, I found that on Odysseus journey home he had
to make a lot of decisions, some were good and some were bad. One of the worst decisions that he made was after he left the Cyclops land. When he was at the Cyclops home he stabbed a Cyclops eye and tried to escape. He did escape because he hid under sheep that the Cyclops let out every morning. After they were shortly out at sea he screamed to them, who he was, where he lived. A quote that shows this is, “Cyclops, if anyone asks you who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Odysseus, son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca.” This is a bad decision because the Cyclops father is Poseidon who is the god of the sea and can punish Odysseus for what he did now that he’s back at sea going to his next destination.
The adventure Odysseus faced that was the most difficult was when he went to Thrinacia. In Thrinacia his men betrayed him because they ate cattle of the sun god Helios. I think it was most difficult because his men went against what he said about eating the cattle. It was hard for Odysseus because he lost all of his men. The least difficult adventure he faced was when he went to Scheria. I think it was because in Scheria Odysseus was taken care of by the king. King Alcinous gave him clothes, food, and helped Odysseus get home with a boat. Odysseus did not need to do much of anything because he was given gifts and helped home to Ithaca. The best decision he made was in the Cyclops land when he blinded the Cyclops to wait for him do open the cave before they stabbed him and ride on the sheep to disguise themselves from the blind Cyclops. Throughout the whole story the best decision was to listen to Athena because she helped Odysseus because she was very wise. The worst decision he made was to not tell his men about the bag of winds from Aeolus. If he were to tell his men about the bag of winds and let them know that it was not gold inside the bag they would not have been tempted to look inside. If Odysseus did not keep that secret they might have gotten safely back to Ithaca together and not have had to go through many of the other adventures that killed all the others except Odysseus. I think the adventures show that Odysseus thinks differently than others. He does thing the way most others would not think to do. He is very wise.
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