Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.

Question

"I am Laertes' son, Odysseus.
Men hold me
formidable for guile in peace and war:
this fame has gone abroad to the sky's rim.

Which paraphrase of this excerpt contains the central idea of the speech?

Odysseus is the son of Laertes and is widely respected for his skills.
Odysseus is admired for his actions during war and peace.
Men stand in awe of Odysseus because of his strength shown in war.
Men are impressed with Odysseus simply because he is the son of Laertes.

Answer 1

The best paraphrase containing the central idea of the speech is:

Odysseus is the son of Laertes and is widely respected for his skills.

This paraphrase captures both his identity as Laertes' son and the recognition he receives for his abilities in both peace and war.