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Dylan Pillsbury SWBAT: Argue and support their claims in

Mrs. Stultz five paragraph essay.

English 1p Per.5

9 June 2017

Odysseuss Journey

When people go to war, they don't know whether they are going to come back, and they

could risk not seeing their families ever again. In the literary work, Odyssey, by Homer, the

reader is introduced to the life of Odysseus and his journey home. After Odysseus went to the

Trojan War, he had a long and very difficult expedition home. While he was on his long course

home, he visited many islands, and encountered countless monsters. By examining the work,

Odyssey, readers can see that Odysseus is irresponsible, cocky, and patronizing due to him not

taking actions for his men and himself. He is often found thinking that he is more than he is.

Along with his godawful actions, he treats his men with arrogance.

Taking responsibility for something or someone, means that if an individual or someone

else does something, they are liable and are in charge and in control of them. Odysseus does not

take authority because he does not tell his men the wise information to help them get through the

tough situations. Before they enter the monster's cave, Odysseus decides to tell the men only of

circe's warning about the sirens whom they will soon encounter (Homer 394). This example

explains that he did not tell his men of the two monsters in the cave, but only of the singing

sirens. This connects back to the thesis of Odysseus not being constrained because he did not tell

his crew important information that they needed to know. Furthermore, Odysseus is not
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responsible because he does not take the blame for actions that his crew did. When they are on

the land of the sun god, Driven by hunger they ignore Odysseus's warning not to feast on

Helios cattle. This disobedience angers the sun god Zeus sends down a thunderbolt to sink

Odysseuss ship ( Homer 398 ). This quote is showing that his crew did not listen to him and

Odysseus did not take responsibility and he paid for it. This can connect back to him being a bad

leader because he cant keep his crew good and does not know how to handle them. Readers can

come to the conclusion that Odysseus is a bad leader because he can not take the responsibility

for his and his crews actions.

When someone is cocky it means that they think they are better than they really are.

Odysseus can be seen as cocky because although he is good, he does makes some mistakes and

still thinks he is the best ever. While he was talking to king Alcinous, Men hold me formidable

for guile in peace and war: this fame has gone abroad to the skys rim ( Homer 7-10). This

quote is showing that he is bragging about how famous he is in war and that he will always be

remembered forever for battles in war. This is true because he was good in war, he is making

himself sound way better than he actually is. In addition, he can be seen as overconfident

because he is willing to leave his home and parents to be happy. While he is still in king

Alcinouss island, Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his home and his parents (

Homer 24-25 ). This quote is explaining that Odysseus is willing to never see his home and

family ever again because he thinks that he is to good for them, hence being cocky. It is apparent

that Odysseus is arrogant because he thinks that he is too good for everyone else. Readers can

come to the conclusion that Odysseus is cocky because he thinks way too much of himself and

puts himself above everyone else

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Patronizing is when a person treats others with arrogance. Odysseus can be seen as

patronizing because he treats his crew with arrogance and doesnt care much of them. After

escaping from the cyclopss cave, I would not heed them in my glorying spirit but let my anger

flare ( Homer 414-415 ). This evidence is showing that he did not listen to his men and

completely ignored his crews advice. This can relate back to the thesis because he is patronizing

his crew and treating them bad. In addition, when Polyphemus ate some of his men he did not

do anything to defend them at all. While they were in the cyclops cave, Then he dismembered

them and made his meal gaping and crunching like a mountain lion ( Homer 195-196 ). This

quote is showing how Odysseuss men are being eaten and in this, he does not show any emotion

toward them being killed. This can connect back to being patronizing, because he was treating

them like they were not very important and that they werent worth his time. After this readers

can come to the conclusion that Odysseus did not care for his crew at all and that he treated them

with arrogance.

Some may think that Odysseus is a good leader and cared for his crew, however in

reality actually is not. Although people may think he is a good leader, it can be shown that he is

not by him not being responsible and not taking responsibility for his and his crews actions. It

can also be shown that he is a lousy leader because he was very cocky on his voyage, making

himself bigger than he is, and being patronizing toward his crew, treating them cheap and with

arrogance. This epic poem suggest the theme of, when you are trying to achieve a goal, you will

do whatever it takes, even if that means you only care about what happens to you.
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