What is a hero? Is this someone who sometimes acts like a jerk, or is this someone brave and intelligent? In Homer's The Odyssey, the epic hero Odysseus faces several obstacles during his 20-year journey away from home. He first had to leave his wife and newborn son to fight for 10 years in the Trojan War. Odysseus won the war, but he faced many obstacles on his way home. He met the Cyclops, Polyphemus, the six-headed monster, Scylla, and finally Calypso, the beautiful sea nymph. After 20 years, Odysseus finally returns home, but finds himself facing a huge ordeal with the suitors. Through it all, Odysseus shows the indomitable characteristics and qualities of a hero, such as intelligence, loyalty, and courage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Odysseus has demonstrated intelligence on several occasions, but in “The Cyclops,” Odysseus displays eminent intelligence. Odysseus first creates a plan to get his crew out of Polyphemus' captivity. After Polyphemus falls asleep on the first day, Odysseus's first thought is to kill him, but he decides against it. He thought that if he "killed him, they would perish there also, for they could never push aside his heavy door-slab." Once the night has passed and morning comes, Polyphemus goes shopping and Ulysses decides to create a spike to take out one of his eyes. Odysseus first makes him drunk so that when he asks Odysseus further questions, Odysseus can deceive him; this is another tactic Odysseus uses to keep himself and his men safe. As said, he is asked what his name is, and he responds with “Nohbdy”. Polyphemus does not recognize this name, as Ulysses predicted. It was essential for him to know the name of Odysseus because he would have known how to protect himself from Odysseus, as the prophet Telemus had warned him. After Polyphemus fainted from wine, Odysseus and several of his men put out his eye with the tip of the olive tree. As Polyphemus opens the rock slab to cry out for help from other Cyclops, Odysseus tells his men to tie themselves to the rams' feet. He told them to do this because he knew that Polyphemus would only be able to sense his men by touch, thus letting them escape. This demonstrates Odysseus' intelligence and intellect, as he has the quick wit to respond with a false name. Intelligence is one of Odysseus' most notable qualities, as he took certain measures to keep himself and his crew safe in the crummy situation with Polyphemus. On the contrary, Odysseus showed himself to be boastful after escaping from Polyphemus' cave. He acted this way towards Polyphemus, saying things like "How do you like the beating we gave you, you damn cannibal?" "Eater of guests under your roof." This confirms that Odysseus is a fool because after Odysseus mocked Polyphemus, the Cyclops prayed to Poseidon to ensure that Odysseus "loses all his companions and returns under a strange sail to bitter days at home" (Homer 909). This is said to be one of Odysseus' flaws as a hero. He tends to be arrogant and proud throughout his journey which results in a very long way home. Loyalty is also one of the most important qualities of a hero, including Odysseus. Odysseus remains loyal to his crew until every one of them dies. When Odysseus and his men find themselves stranded on the island of the witch Circe, several men find Circe's cave and all but one, Eurylochus, enter. Circe makes sure those who enter are relaxed so that when she gives them a drink,,.