A leader is someone who demonstrates courage, nobility, confidence, intelligence, has a keen intellect and motivates those who follow him surround. Odysseus, the protagonist, is depicted as an epic hero who uses his courage and wit to undertake a journey to reclaim his life. Odysseus demonstrates his cunning through his ingenious trickery to navigate situations that could negatively impact the journey he has embarked on. In The Odyssey, composed by Homer, the epic poem demonstrates how Odysseus is an effective leader due to the various tests of will he encounters, including the fight against Scylla, Polyphemus, and the appearance on the island of the Lotus Eaters . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Odysseus and his men faced many obstacles along their journey. For example, they had to fight Scylla, a large and legendary six-headed monster. As she sailed through the Straits of Scylla, she engulfed six of Odysseus' men and Odysseus exclaimed: "...always screaming, always reaching out to me in their agony./ It was the sight most heartbreaking I have seen/in all the time I have seen suffered at sea." Essentially, Odysseus' pain was much greater and more intense this time when he lost his men to Scylla. because his crew desperately needed help and he could only watch it happen This fight demonstrates how much Odysseus truly cares for his men and if he hadn't been a good leader he would have. accepted their tragic demise Odysseus constantly reassures his men that if they trust him, they will succeed on their journey when he exclaims: “It is not/worse than the time when the Cyclops captured us/and took us. forced to stay in his cave./We escaped that time, thanks to my skills, my intelligence and my strategy. Remember this./ Go then, all of you, and trust in my words.” In other words, overcoming Scylla requires extraordinary leadership on the part of Odysseus by exercising good judgment. Furthermore, Odysseus recognizes that whatever the outcome, he still runs the risk of losing six of his men. These skills and characteristics stand out and contribute to Odysseus' greatness as a leader. Interestingly, Odysseus also showed great leadership when he and his men were trapped in Polyphemus' cave. Polyphemus, the Cyclops, attempted to kill Odysseus and his men because they invaded his cave, but Odysseus was willing to take extreme measures to escape safely with his men. Odysseus can adapt quickly and intelligently to changing circumstances and make intelligent decisions to help his men: “he took two men out for dinner. I approached / and offered him a cup of ivy wood / filled with wine. I said, “Here, Cyclops! You/have eaten human meat; Now drink some wine. Essentially, Odysseus' intelligence led him to blind Polyphemus, which gave him the opportunity to escape. Odysseus showed great leadership and intelligence to escape Polyphemus' cave and ultimately avenge his men by blinding Polyphemus. Furthermore, when Odysseus met the Cyclops, he quickly thought of calling himself Noman, thus capitalizing on Polyphemus' stupidity: “My friends! No one kills me by trickery, not by force. In other words, Odysseus demonstrated strong leadership skills as he thought of several different ways to get him and his men out of this difficult, even life-threatening, situation. Some people might say.