Question

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.

The wind that carried west from Ilium
brought me to Ismarus, on the far shore,
a strongpoint on the coast of Cicones.
I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.
Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women,
to make division, equal shares to all-
but on the spot I told them: 'Back, and quickly!
'Out to sea again!' My men were mutinous,
fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep they
butchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,
feasting, while fugitives went inland, running
to call to arms the main force of Cicones.
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.
Which central idea should be included in a paraphrase
of this excerpt?
O The forces sent by Cicones to fight Odysseus and
his men arrived during the early morning hours.
O Odysseus and his men fought the forces of
Cicones better on the ships than on land.
O The forces sent by Cicones to stop the plundering
of Odysseus and his men were skilled and
powerful.
O Odysseus views the army sent by Cicones as
punishment from the Greek god Zeus.

Answer 1

Odysseus displays traits of an epic hero throughout the text. Epic heroes are described as having superhuman strength, courage and intelligence. Odysseus displays the trait of intelligence (wit and cunning) in his altercations with the Cyclops and Scylla. In terms of the Cyclops, he needed to find a way out of the cave; in regards to Scylla, he needed to keeps his cool so that his men wouldn't be alarmed.

Heroes also risk their life for glory and the greater good. Odysseus displays this trait in killing Polyphemus. Another heroic trait would be taking on a quest or going on a purposeful journey. Odysseus fulfills his journey (quest) when he travels to Hades.

Step-by-step explanation:

Odysseus displays traits of an epic hero throughout the text. Epic heroes are described as having superhuman strength, courage and intelligence. Odysseus displays the trait of intelligence (wit and cunning) in his altercations with the Cyclops and Scylla. In terms of the Cyclops, he needed to find a way out of the cave; in regards to Scylla, he needed to keeps his cool so that his men wouldn't be alarmed.

Heroes also risk their life for glory and the greater good. Odysseus displays this trait in killing Polyphemus. Another heroic trait would be taking on a quest or going on a purposeful journey. Odysseus fulfills his journey (quest) when he travels to Hades.