Odysseus encounters many adventures on his long, enduring journey to his homeland, including ones with the Ciconians, Lotus-Eaters, Aiolos, Circe, Sirens, Scylla, Helios, and Cyclops. The most cunning adventure of them all was the adventure with the Cyclops. The Cyclops, Polyphemus, imprisoned Odysseus and his crew because they trespassed inside his cave and took food. Polyphemus tried to offer some hospitality to Odysseus and his men, but was soon enraged by their disrespect towards him, so he rashly devoured two men. He holds Odysseus and the rest of his men prisoners in his cave for any of his future meals.
             Odysseus shows his best character trait when he out thinks the Cyclops. Odysseus' best character trait in this adventure is the way in which he is cunning enough to free his men and himself from sure death by the Cyclops. Odysseus devises a plan to get out of the cave that is blocked by a boulder so enormous that only the Cyclops is strong enough to move. His plan is to sharpen a rod in a fire so that it melts to a point, then he and his men will get the Cyclops drunk. When drunk, he will tell the Cyclops his name is "Nobody," so that when the Cyclops yells for help from his other companions they won't know who to go after because the Cyclops only knows Odysseus as "Nobody." His plan worked and he and his men escaped the wrath of the Cyclops, Polyphemus.
             Odysseus shows that he has to stay strong in front of his men and be able to overcome any problem they may encounter on their way home from Troy. Odysseus can be marked as a problem solver because whenever he is faced with a dilemma, he is able to think out a great solution. His pride even takes over when he is put in a situation no one else could overcome. He is optimistic that he will return home because it is he who has something worthwhile to get back to; therefore, there is no room for pessimism.
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