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Age and build

Strong hands and feet, resembling his son

“His hands and feet are just like Ulysses; so is his hair, with the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Body broken and swollen by the sea

“His body was all swollen, and his mouth and nostrils ran down like a river with sea-water, so that he could neither breathe nor speak, and lay swooning from sheer exhaustion” (Odyssey Butler, part 5)

Made to appear taller and stronger by divine intervention

“Minerva then made him look taller and stronger than before, she also made the hair grow thick on the top of his head, and flow down in curls like hyacinth blossoms” (Odyssey Butler, part 5)

Aged and worn from twenty years of wandering

“after twenty years of wandering I am at last come to my own home again” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Face and hair

Hair thick and curled like hyacinth blossoms when restored

“she also made the hair grow thick on the top of his head, and flow down in curls like hyacinth blossoms” (Odyssey Butler, part 5)

Expression of eyes resembles his son's

“so is his hair, with the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Eyes hard as horn or iron, restraining tears

“he kept his eyes as hard as horn or iron without letting them so much as quiver, so cunningly did he restrain his tears” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Beard present when disguised as beggar

“Ulysses caught Euryclea by the throat with his right hand and with his left drew her close to him” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Dress

Purple wool mantle, double-lined, fastened with gold brooch

“Ulysses wore a mantle of purple wool, double lined, and it was fastened by a gold brooch with two catches for the pin” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Soft shirt fitting like onion skin

“the shirt that he wore next his skin, it was so soft that it fitted him like the skin of an onion, and glistened in the sunlight” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Disguised in rags as a beggar

“Immediately afterwards Ulysses came inside, looking like a poor miserable old beggar, leaning on his staff and with his clothes all in rags” (Odyssey Butler, part 13)

Wretchedly thin clothes when arriving at Ithaca

“My clothes are wretchedly thin, and this frosty morning I shall be perished with cold” (Odyssey Butler, part 13)

Voice and speech

Words come driving from deep chest like winter snow

“when he raised his voice, and the words came driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind, then there was none to touch him” (Iliad Butler, part 3)

Initially silent and keeps eyes fixed on ground when speaking

“when he rose to speak, was at first silent and kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was no play nor graceful movement of his sceptre” (Iliad Butler, part 3)

Speech runs trippingly and clearly when needed

“he did not say much, for he was a man of few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point” (Iliad Butler, part 3)

Signature words

Addresses others as 'noble son of Laertes'

“Ulysses, noble son of Laertes” (Odyssey Butler, part 8)

Refers to himself as 'noble son of Laertes'

“Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, go back at once to the sea” (Odyssey Butler, part 8)

Uses 'Madam' when addressing women of rank

“Madam, wife of Ulysses, do not disfigure yourself further by grieving thus bitterly” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Addresses men as 'my friend' or 'father stranger'

“My friend, I do you no manner of harm” (Odyssey Butler, part 14)

Swears oaths invoking gods and hearth

“I will confirm my words with an oath, and call Jove who is the first and mightiest of all gods to witness, as also that hearth of Ulysses” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Gait and mannerisms

Leans on staff when disguised as beggar

“looking like a poor miserable old beggar, leaning on his staff and with his clothes all in rags” (Odyssey Butler, part 13)

Sits looking at ground, waiting to observe wife's reaction

“Ulysses sat near one of the bearing-posts, looking upon the ground, and waiting to see what his brave wife would say to him” (Odyssey Butler, part 17)

Draws mantle over head when weeping

“Ulysses drew his purple mantle over his head and covered his face, for he was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see that he was weeping” (Odyssey Butler, part 6)

Beats his breast to control his anger

“his heart growl with anger at the evil deeds that were being done: but he beat his breast and said, “Heart, be still” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Strengths

Cunning and strategic mind, able to devise the Trojan Horse

“What endurance too, and what courage he displayed within the wooden horse, wherein all the bravest of the Argives were lying in wait” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Excellent archer, surpassing all but the legendary dead

“I am an excellent archer. In battle I am always the first to bring a man down with my arrow, no matter how many more are taking aim at him alongside of me” (Odyssey Butler, part 6)

Superior in all athletic sports

“I am a good hand at every kind of athletic sport known among mankind” (Odyssey Butler, part 6)

Can throw a dart farther than any archer can shoot

“I can throw a dart farther than any one else can shoot an arrow” (Odyssey Butler, part 6)

Endurance and ability to restrain companions in danger

“Ulysses held us all in check, so we sat quite still, all except Anticlus, who was beginning to answer you, when Ulysses clapped his two brawny hands over his mouth” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Skilled in disguise and deception

“He covered himself with wounds and bruises, dressed himself all in rags, and entered the enemy’s city looking like a menial or a beggar, and quite different from what he did when he was among his own people” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Flaws

Struggles with anger and desire for vengeance

“This made Ulysses very angry, and he doubted whether to get up and kill every single one of them then and there” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Prone to weeping when reminded of suffering

“tears fell from his eyes, and he hid his face in his mantle” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Hesitates and doubts in moments of crisis

“While he was thus in two minds, the ranks of the Trojans advanced and hemmed him in” (Iliad Butler, part 9)

Can be deceived despite his cunning

“he was too cunning for me. When, however, I had washed and anointed him and had given him clothes, and after I had sworn a solemn oath not to betray him” (Odyssey Butler, part 3)

Traits

Resourceful and able to devise clever stratagems

“there is no man living who is so wily as he is; there is no one can compare with him” (Odyssey Butler, part 15)

Loyal to his companions and grieves their deaths

“Ulysses was furious when he saw Leucus slain, and strode in full armour through the front ranks” (Iliad Butler, part 4)

Respectful of bards and the gods

“bards are honoured and respected throughout the world, for the muse teaches them their songs and loves them” (Odyssey Butler, part 7)

Capable of great endurance and suffering

“he was a man born to trouble” (Odyssey Butler, part 2)

Merciful when warranted, sparing the bard

“Ulysses, I beseech you have mercy on me and spare me” (Odyssey Butler, part 17)

Determined and resolute in his goals

“no matter what happens I will stick to the raft as long as her timbers hold together” (Odyssey Butler, part 5)

Lines in their own words

Declaring his identity after long concealment

“It is I, Ulysses, who am here. I have suffered much, but at last, in the twentieth year, I am come back to my own country” (Odyssey Butler, part 16)

Refusing to spare the suitors despite their pleas

“Though you should give me all that you have in the world both now and all that you ever shall have, I will not stay my hand till I have paid all of you in full” (Odyssey Butler, part 16)

Addressing his son about the consequences of their actions

“When one man has killed another—even though he was not one who would leave many friends to take up his quarrel—the man who has killed him must still say good bye to his friends and fly the country” (Odyssey Butler, part 17)

Confronting his wife about their bed

“Wife, I am much displeased at what you have just been saying. Who has been taking my bed from the place in which I left it” (Odyssey Butler, part 18)

Boasting of his athletic prowess to the Phaeacians

“I am exceedingly angry; I will box, wrestle, or run, I do not care what it is, with any man of you all except Laodamas” (Odyssey Butler, part 6)