Character Analysis Map

"You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron." Book Twelve, Lines 275-289Odysseus is the king of Ithica. He is married to his wife Penelope, and they have a son named Telemachus. He is viewed in the story as a strong and courageous warrior king who in the beginning defeats Troy. Many view Odysseus as the greatest man to ever walk the Earth including one of his soliders who stated the quote above.

"We beached there, and I told the crew to stand by and keep watch over the ship: as for myself I took my twelve best fighters and went ahead." Book Nine, lines 134-137This quote from the story shows Odysseus' great leadership abilities as he is able to make the tough calls while also leading his men into the unknown.

"So spoke the wooers, but Odysseus of many wiles, as soon as he had lifted the great bow and scanned it on every side—even as when a man well-skilled in the lyre and in song easily stretches the string about a new peg, making fast at either end the twisted sheep-gut—so without effort did Odysseus string the great bow." Book Twenty-One, Lines 405-410.This quote shows Odysseus' true strength in the story as he is the only one who has ever been stong enough to string and shoot his bow and he is able to do so without any effort.

"My name is Nohbdy: mother father and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy." Book Nine, lines 394 – 399This quote from the story shows how truly cunning Odysseus really is. He calls himself Nobdy so that when the cyclops screams about his eye no others will come to help, and they will be able to escape.

"Could I forget that kingly man Odysseus? There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of the open sky." Book One lines 84-86This quote made by Zeus shows why Odysseus is considered the protagonist of the story. His tales of heroism reach not only to the Earth, but to the gods as well.

"I am Odysseus son of Laertes, known before all men for the study of crafty designs, and my fame goes up to the heavens." "I am quite aware that my wife Penelope is nothing like so tall or so beautiful as yourself. She is only a woman, whereas you are an immortal. Nevertheless, I want to get home, and can think of nothing else." The second quote is a good example of why Odysseus is considered a dynamic character. While in the beginning he can be viewed as headstrong and having a big ego by the end of the story he turns down even immortality to be able to return home to his wife.

"Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea before dangerous high winds."This quote shows one of the many external conflicts that Odysseus faced during the story. The quote shown shows the conflict of man vs. god as Poseidon is angry with Odysseus and therefore makes his travels on the sea much more dangerous.

"He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk,like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised over others.There is no rival who can raise his weapon against him.His fellows stand at the alert, attentive to his orders." Tablet 1Gilgamesh is the King of Uruk and is viewed in many different ways. Some believe that he is a self centered, snobby, and arrogant king while others believe that he is a strong and just king who is extremely ambitious. In his physical appearance he is viewed as a large and strong demi-god whose strength makes him nearly invincible.

A slippery path is not feared by two people who help each other.''Twice three times …''A three-ply rope cannot be cut.''The mighty lion—two cubs can roll him over.'" Tablet 4This quote speaks to Gilgamesh's loyalty as he is telling these things to Enkidu. This is able to show his belief that together within their friendship they will be able to accomplish anything.

"At twenty leagues they broke for some food,at thirty leagues they stopped for the night,walking fifty leagues in a whole day,a walk of a month and a half.On the third day they drew near to the Lebanon." Tablet 4, Lines 1-5This quote shows the perseverance of Gilgamesh as they made the journey to Lebanon. He persevered and pushed through as he walked a month and a halfs worth of walking in one day alone.

"There is no rival who can raise his weapon against him." This quote is able to show the true strength of Gilgaesh. It was stated and believed that no man was strong enough to able to fight Gilgamesh and come out of it victorious.

 "I will go in front of you,and your mouth can cry out: 'Go on closer, do not be afraid!'Should I fall, I will have established my fame.(They will say:) 'It was Gilgamesh who locked in battle with Humbaba the Terrible!" Tablet 2.This shows one of the reasons why Gilgamesh can be considered the protagonist of the story. He is out looking to become a hero, and is trying to establish his own fame.

"I am Gilgamesh, I killed the Guardian!I destroyed Humbaba who lived in the Cedar Forest,I slew lions in the mountain passes!I grappled with the Bull that came down from heaven, and killed him.""I am going to die!—am I not like Enkidu?!Deep sadness penetrates my core,I fear death, and now roam the wilderness—I will set out to the region of Utanapishtim, son of Ubartutu, and will go with utmost dispatch!"These two quotes show big reasons why Gilgamesh is considered to be a dynamic character. While in the beginning he shows extreme boastfullness by the last quote he has completely changed and has become afraid of death.

"Six days and seven nights I mourned over himand would not allow him to be burieduntil a maggot fell out of his nose.I was terrified by his appearance(?),I began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness."This quote shows the inner struggles that Gilgamesh possessed between himself and fear. After Enkidu's death Gilgamesh mourns and finds himself to become afraid of death and what all it brought.