Question

Which excerpt from The Odyssey best shows Odysseus demonstrating the epic hero traits of strength and leadership? This was an army, trained to fight on horseback or, where the ground required, on foot. They came with dawn over that terrain like the leaves and blades of spring. So doom appeared to us, dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days. We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards, unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee: then two long days and nights we lay offshore worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief, until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining. We stopped to take on water. All ships' companies mustered alongside for the mid-day meal. Then I sent out two picked men and a runner to learn what race of men that land sustained. They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters, I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: ‘All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one taste the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home.’

Answer 1

The excerpt that shows Odysseus's epic hero traits of strength and leadership is his decisive action in saving his crew from the Lotus-Eaters, demonstrating mental strength and the ability to lead.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from The Odyssey that best exemplifies Odysseus's traits of strength and leadership is when he takes decisive action against the effect of the Lotus-Eaters on his crew. Despite their wailing, Odysseus does not succumb to the temptation of the Lotus and instead forcefully drives his men back to the ships, ensuring their safety and demonstrating his capability to lead and protect his crew. This action not only showcases his mental and physical strength but also establishes his capacity to make tough decisions for the wellbeing of his men, a key aspect of effective leadership.

Answer 2

Then I sent out two picked men and a runner to learn what race of men that land sustained. They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters, I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: ‘All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one taste the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home.’

The above is where he demonstrates both. In the first sentence, he showcases leadership by picking two men. In the second, he demonstrates strength by tying them down and he then shows leadership once more by directing/warning the men.