Kate Turrell, Laura McKenna, Cameron Satin -Period 7-

The Odyssey:The Cyclops

Odysseus and his men have been sailing at sea trying to get home after the victorious Trojan War, and have been thrown off course by the Great South Sea, taking uncommon routes to return home, following Zeus' will. During this section, they have stopped at an island home to the Cyclopes, a man fathered by Poseidon, god of the oceans. Cyclopes have brutal and wild characteristics, and are uncivilized, one-eyed, cannibals. Cyclopes have tremendous strength and follow a routine lifestyle, barely interacting with the other Cyclopes of the island and treating strangers disrespectfully. The Cyclops encountered in this section is called Polyphemus, and to solve future conflict with Polyphemus, Odysseus uses gifts received from Euanthes' son, Maron, from Apollo's grove in Ismarus, which consist of talents(coins), wine bowls, and most importantly, fine liquor. Ismarus was the island that Odysseus and his men had previously visited, as in their journey they visit numerous islands and take on a variety of tasks, ultimately challenged by their fatal flaws. As for Odysseus, his fatal flaw is his arrogance, and need to recognize and boast about his successes.

Necessary Background

Summary• Odysseus and his men arrive at the land of the Cyclopes, one-eyed, solitary, and

uncivilized giants• They journey around the island to find a cave full of food and resources, desiring to

steal it, however Odysseus denies, wanting to see first what gifts the Cyclops has to offer

• Cyclops returns and closes a heavy stone door, immobile by manpower• Cyclops attempts hospitality, but ending up devouring some of Odysseus' men.

Odysseus then hides at this point, devising a plan to escape• While Cyclops is out the next day, Odysseus and his men sharpen a wooden staff, as

part of their plan• Odysseus gets Cyclops drunk off of Apollo's liquor, increasing his vulnerability• Odysseus requests to be called 'Nohbdy' or Nobody, which tricks Polyphemus (the

Cyclops) because of his drunken state• They use the staff to stab Polyphemus in the eye, blinding him, and when he calls

for help, he exclaims that 'Nobody' has hurt him, causing the other Cyclopes to believe it to have been fate, making them useless

• The next day, they ride out of his cave clinging to the underbellies of rams as they exit the cave, invisible to Polyphemus because of his recent blinding

• Once off the island, Odysseus gloats and calls to the land his true identity, and Polyphemus, who is now too far out of reach to attack them, calls to his father poseidon a curse on Odysseus, seeking his vengeance

• This curse states that Odysseus return home under strange sail, that his companions be lost out at sea, and that his return will not be bitter

Odysseus is giving the cyclops the special wine from Maron.

http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/odysseus/images/odysseus-2.jpg

Odysseus Escaping with the sheep

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Images/OdysseusEscape.jpg

Polyphemus is hailing a rock at Odysseus' vessel in anger

http://www.maicar.com/GML/000Iconography/Odysseus/slides/liebod01.html

Character DescriptionOdysseus: intellectual, resourceful, boastful, arrogant,

short-tempered. He is sailing home from Troy after fighting for ten years in the Trojan war.

Polyphemus: The Cyclops (cyclops are lonesome, gruesome, vicious, cannibals with tremendous strength and only a single eye; created by the sea god Poseidon) who lives on the island that Odysseus and his men stop.

Poseidon: God of the sea, creator of horses, cyclops; to whom Polyphemus prays to set a curse on Odysseus

Apollo: the god of music, had special and secretive wine; gave the wine to Odysseus as a gift

Zeus: god of the sky and thunder; rules the Olympians (Olympic gods) on Mount Olympus

Athena: goddess of wisdom, war, and strategical planning

Maron: son of Euanthes

Character MotivationsOdysseus: Odysseus originally wanted to see what gifts the Cyclops

had to offer them for their journey home, and motivated by this want to explore the island. Odysseus's motivations constantly change throughout the story, however they were based mainly on his will to survive and return home safely. He was also motivated by his confidence and arrogance, propelling his drive to escape the cave and call Polyphemus out on his weakness.

Polyphemus: the Cyclops had no community or government to shape his uncivilized ways to be "acceptable" to human society and the humans, although much smaller in size, looked down on his cannibalistic ways with disgust. He was driven by his nature and the way he was brought up. Polyphemus was also driven by Odysseus' victory over him, bringing out his anger and aggression, encouraging him to curse Odysseus under Poseidon.

Main Conflicts

• Odysseus and his men become trapped in the Cyclops' cave.

• Odysseus' boastfulness and curiosity lead him and his men into dangerous situations ex: waiting in the cave for the Cyclops and taunting the Cyclops once they were in the boat.

• Odysseus vs. his crew members-they tried to stop him from gloating about his success and his accomplishments over the cyclops and in the end his vainness led to him being cursed.

What The Characters Learn...

-Stay Humble• Odysseus' arrogance causes the Cyclops hurdle rocks at his boat

and Polyphemus curses him.-Sometimes question authority• Odysseus' men never question him, leading them to their

demise. -Brains over brawn• The cyclops taunts Odysseus calling him "puny", later Odysseus

outwits and escapes the Cyclops rath. -Be kind to the people below you• The Cyclops is extremely cruel to the small humans; however

they eventually fight the Cyclops and avenge themselves. -Be patient• Odysseus patiently waits for the opportune moment to stab and

escape the cyclops.

Themes/ Lessons• A person sometimes abuses the power he or she

gains from success: Odysseus uses his wits and defeats the cyclops, yet he becomes boastful and arrogant. He calls out snide remarks to Polyphemus and Polyphemus prays to Poseidon to curse Odysseus by not letting him return home, and if he does, it will be under a foreigner's sail and there will be difficulties between him and his wife.

• People sometimes become blind in sight of their accomplishments: This applies to the situation mentioned above and is especially prevalent with Odysseus because of his arrogance and his arrogance is his main fault.

• Patience is important in victory: Odysseus waits and plans a course of action and method to defeating Polyphemus, rather than jumping at the first chance of escape, which may have lost him his life.

Important Passages...

Once Odysseus is safely in his boat he taunts the Cyclops. The cyclops prays to his father Poseidon asking him to curse Odysseus. Poseidon obeys and prophecies Odysseus to

1. Never see his home again, however if destiny intends that he does let "Far be that day, and dark the years between"

2. "Let him lose all companions"3. "Return home under strange sail"4. And lastly, "(return) to bitter days at home".

Odysseus taunts the cyclops saying"If ever mortal man inquirehow you were put to shame and blinded, tell himOdysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca!"This passage illustrates Odysseus' major flaw- arrogance.

Discussion Questions...

• In the prophecy Poseidon lays on Odysseus, what examples of foreshadowing are present for the remaining parts of the book?

• How does Odysseus's arrogance affect himself and those around him?

• How does Odysseus cleverly plan to escape conflict with Polyphemus, and how does he put these plans to use?

THE END