Question

thursday: reread lines 104–110 of the epic poem.
from book xii of the odyssey by homer
104 but i went lurching along our battered hulk
105 till the sea - surge ripped the plankings from the keel
106 and the waves swirled it away, stripped bare, and snapped
107 the mast from the decks—but a backstay made of bull’s - hide
108 still held fast, and with this i lashed the mast and keel
109 together, made them one, riding my makeshift raft
110 as the wretched galewinds bore me on and on.
which statement best describes how odysseus embodies an epic hero in this excerpt?
○ he uses his excellence of character to rally his men.
○ he uses his skills as a warrior to fight back against zeus.
○ he uses his cultural values to determine how to appease zeus.
○ he uses his intelligence to save parts of the ship and build a raft.

Explanation:

To determine how Odysseus embodies an epic hero, we analyze the excerpt:

• The first option is incorrect as there's no mention of rallying men.
• The second option is incorrect as he isn't fighting Zeus.
• The third option is incorrect as he isn't trying to appease Zeus.
• The fourth option is correct: Lines 104 - 110 show Odysseus using his intelligence to lash the mast and keel together to build a raft after the ship is damaged, demonstrating resourcefulness typical of an epic hero.

Answer:

D. He uses his intelligence to save parts of the ship and build a raft.