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Odysseus As A Leader In Homer's The Odyssey

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In the first few chapters of The Odyssey, Odysseus repeatedly proves that he is a valuable leader. In “The Lotus-Eaters,” Odysseus and his crew land on an island where people eat Lotus, a “honeyed plant” (line 97). The Lotus-Eaters offer this plant to Odysseus’ men. After three of his men ate this fruit, they wanted to stay on the island forever. Odysseus’ loyalty helps save his men when he states that he “tied them down under their rowing benches” (line 102). In the book “The Cyclops,” Odysseus and his men find themselves in a life-and-death situation when they get trapped in a cave by the Cyclops (a one-eyed giant) Polyphemus. Odysseus’ creative thinking allows him to outsmart Polyphemus, saving him and his men. Odysseus tells Polyphemus

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