Final answer:
Odysseus uses his cunning, or intelligence and strategic thinking, to defeat the cyclops in Homer's epic, The Odyssey. It is this trait that enables him to devise a plan to escape from the cyclops's cave and safely lead his men back to their ship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character trait that helps Odysseus defeat the cyclops is B) Cunning. In Homer's epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates his cleverness by devising a plan to escape from the cyclops's cave. He blinds the cyclops and cleverly hides his men under sheep to slip past the monster. His physical strength alone would not have been sufficient, and the encounter required quick thinking and deception to overcome the obstacle.
While loyalty, strength, and honesty are all traits that Odysseus possesses at various times, it is his cunning that is most directly responsible for his victory against the cyclops. His intelligence and strategic mind enable him to overcome challenges throughout his journey back to Ithaca from the Trojan War.