However, like any sailor Odysseus weaves yarns throughout the epic. Interestingly, Athena probably lies about her identity more so than Odysseus, suggesting that white lies are not necessarily morally wrong if they are done to accomplish a good goal. Therefore, many of the stories Odysseus tells are a means to an end. Others are ways to impress people: he builds himself up in their eyes so that he seems like a more formidable character. Moreover, Odysseus also likes listening to stories, as he does at Alcinous's palace. 5. Odysseus also makes up clever names as integral parts of his disguises. His propensity points to the hero's astute mind, his cleverness, and his ability to manipulate situations with a touch of humor and mischief too.

6. Odysseus needs to outsmart Polyphemus. Thus, he needs to understand the cyclops' weaknesses and take advantage of them. Odysseus also knows he needs to harness Polyphemus' own power to execute the escape. Getting the beast drunk was the first step, but Odysseus cleverly planned to gouge out the eye and he and the crew escape unharmed. Revealing the boisterousness and mischievousness in the hero's spirit, he also taunts the cyclops when leaving to rub in the glory of his success.

7. Odysseus' dalliances with Kirke and Kalypso are understandable, given the man was at sea for so long. Yet he does not dally too long with either...

His heart is at home, with his faithful wife Penelope. Odysseus' behavior illustrates a nuanced, mature meaning of fidelity. While Odysseus was not sexually chaste during his journeys, his heart remained pure. It is his heart that is the essence of Homer's Odyssey. The journeys help build Odysseus' character by exposing him to new and challenging situations. His determination to sail home in spite of all the obstacles he went through proves a far deeper faithfulness than sexual fidelity. He could easily have grown too tired to return home and shacked up with Kirke or Kalypso; the fact that he didn't is why Odysseus is the hero.
8. Odysseus has a penchant for the dramatic: illustrated by his frequent acting stints and his playing with names. With the Phaiakians, he acts the same way and even embellishes his stories by requesting a bard's introduction. At this point, Odysseus elevates himself to the level of myth. He is conscious of his own legendary nature, confident that he will be remembered in epic form.

9. Fate plays a dominant force in Homer's Odyssey. Human beings and the gods are both victims of fate but there are measures the gods can take to manipulate events. Still, fate is presented as being mainly immutable. Seers often offer advice to individuals to help them avoid a possible disaster and therefore what a prophet sees does not necessarily come to pass.