Character Analysis Map

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Odysseus is described as being a "tall, handsome stranger" (52), when he is with the Phaeacians.

Traits:

1) He is a hard worker. his son said that he "had a heart of iron" (20).

2) Odysseus is inconsiderate of how others will take the things he says and how what he says and does will affect others. He continually messes with Cyclops until he gets so mad that he "breaking off the peak of a huge crag he threw it toward our ship" (75).

3) He is cocky, when dealing with the Cyclops he thinks he knows everything. He thinks, "Nice try, but I knew all the tricks" (69).

Heroism:

Odysseus is the protagonist because he has many who try to derail him. One would include Poseidon, he "Poseidon Earthshaker raised up a great wave" (40). He was getting revenge on Odysseus.

Change:

Odysseus would be a dynamic character. Throughout the story, he grows up; he grows from someone wanting revenge on everyone who wrongs him to someone who learns to a noble man.

1) He started off already being punished by the gods. Poseidon was asked "that Odysseus, son of Laertes, may never reach his home on Ithaca"(77), and he did that.

2) He ends up earning back the trust of his family, his son "took his place by his father’s side" (198). It started to come back together when he shot the arrow and shocked all of the suitors.

Conflict:

Odysseus and the suitors had an external conflict at Penelope's contest. Odysseus "took dead aim at Antinous’ throat and shot" (199).

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"He possessed the flesh of the gods, but woe was in his belly, Yes, and his face like a man who has gone on a far journey" (92). He was 2/3 god, and 1/3 human.

Traits:

1) He is strong and rules over the people of Uruk by himself, "the shock of his weapons has no peer" (78).

2) He is cocky when Enkidu came to the city he immediately tries to show that he is in charge of the city. "Gilgamesh shows his rage, and he rushed to attack him" (83).

3) He is inconsiderate of others feelings, when Ishtar comes to Gilgamesh he instantly insults her. He says to her, "What, then, will be my advantage, supposing I take you in marriage?
You are but a ruin that gives no shelter to man from the weather" (87). He goes on and on about how she can't give him things.

4) He is weak, after Enkidu dies he goes on a quest to have immortality. He is scared of dying, he says, "Fear of death has befallen me, and I lie here stretched out upon the ground" (90).

Heroism:

Gilgamesh is the protagonist, because throughout the story he is antagonized by many people. He is challenged by the people of Uruk(who wanted him to have a rival), Enkidu(not for long), and Ishtar.

Change:

Gilgamesh is a static character, because he doesn't really change throughout the story. He is overly confident throughout the story even though there are things that should alter his way of life.

1) Gilgamesh arrogantly goes to kill Humbaba, even though the elders don't exactly approve. They say that "it is because you are young that your valor makes you too confident" (84).

2) He was told exactly what to do to not attract the ghosts, and that he "must mourn their [the ghosts’] loss of the world (100). He believed that he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it, however the "net of death has stricken" him(100). He was still overly confident that he could do what he wanted.

Conflict:

He has external conflicts. One of these times would be when the people of Uruk came to the gods for help, they said: "Your people now come to you for help" (78). This caused the gods to create Enkidu, to challenge him.