Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Odysseus's plan is to use the fact that Polyphemus . Why does Odysseus lie and say his ship was destroyed? They see a cave and make their way up to it hoping to find the shepherd. The blinded Cyclops prays to the god Poseidon (his father) to bring many years of trouble and sorrow to Odysseus. Odysseus tells Polyphemus his name is "Nobody" to prevent Polyphemus from being able to successfully call for help when Odysseus enacts his escape plan. Although Odysseus's desire to learn about giants had been fulfilled, lives were lost in the process. How do Odysseus and his men escape from the Cyclops cave? When Odysseus and his men are trapped in Polyphemus's cave, he's horrified as the cyclops eats some of his men. Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon, and when he learned his assailants true identity he prayed to his father for revenge. Nobody I am called by mother, father, and by all my comrades. Next, he gives the cyclops wine to get him drunk, and he tells the cyclops his name is "Nobody." When the cyclops falls asleep, Odysseus blinds him with the hardened stake. Stab him. It seems the Trojan War will never enduntil Odysseus concocts an unlikely plan. Odysseus only takes 12 men to meet the Cyclops. (Full disclosure, he also stole some cheese.) He sees land and takes a group of 12 with him to find food and fresh water. A storm sent by Zeus sweeps them along for nine days before bringing them to the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the natives give some of Odysseus's men the intoxicating fruit of the lotus. These traits causes his men to die, him suffering, and trouble. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. How do Odysseus and his men finally escape the Cyclops' cave? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. . Please like and share this article if you found it useful. This arrogance led to the Ithacan kings many trials, and ultimately the deaths of his men. Latest answer posted June 12, 2016 at 4:51:53 PM. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Polyphemus was a son of Poseidon, the god of the seas. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The giant ate the two men as Odysseus and his companions looked on in horror. Where did Odysseus and his men go after the Trojan War? He's picking them off one by one whenever he fancies a snack. Why doesnt the goddess Athena get Odysseus home sooner? Odysseus attaches his men to the underbelly of the sheep to escape when Polyphemus lets the sheep out of the cave. They are amazed to find that everything seems much larger than they are familiar with - including the sheep. When the Cyclops touches around to find the men, the only thing he feels are sheep and so he does not become suspicious. (one code per order). It is a detailed comparison that forms a simile that has big lines and a long length. He was a cyclops, a one-eyed giant, who blocked the entrance with an enormous boulder once his flocks were inside and began to question the men. But if he calls for help in catching "Nobody," then no one will come to his aid. That is exactly how Odysseus's plan plays out. 1 Why does Odysseus keep taunt the Cyclops? While Polyphemus is out grazing his giant sheep Odysseus and his party enter the cave and eat some of the food that was there, which included some meat and cheese. Continue to start your free trial. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. What does the Cyclops' anger and prayer to Poseidon foreshadow at the end of this section? He knows that he has the protection of the gods and he believes himself to be more than human so he does not fear entering Polyphemus cave with twelve of his men in tow. That Odysseus is willing to stab Polyphemus, but remembers that doing so would prevent his and his crew's ability to escape the cave shows Why does Odysseus put out Polyphemus' one eye? They used the sheeps wool to make ropes and tie themselves beneath the largest rams, positioning their animals each between two others for added protection. -If he does get home, it will be with a different ship and things will be a mess on Ithaca Odysseus and his men do not land because of a gust of wind takes them back into the middle of the sea. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. He takes twelve of his men to explore the vast lands, ending up at the cave of Polyphemus, one of the Cyclops. Once the Cyclops is asleep the crew think of killing him; but Odysseus explains that the rock which blocks the doorway is far too large for them to roll away themselves and that if they kill the Cyclops they will simply die a slow death, trapped in the cave. Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. "What does Odysseus tell the cyclops Polyphemus about his boat, and why does he do that?" What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops after he escaped? Nobody Then he must sacrifice a ram, a bull, and a bore to Poseidon in hopes that he will forgive Odysseus for stabbing Polyphemus in the eye. - music activities and catchy songs to learn, - covers topics such gods and goddesses and the Olympics Games, as well as offering short animations of additional Greek myths and legends. 7 Why did Odysseus shout his name to Cyclops? What did the Cyclops do that appalled the men? To prove to Polyphemus that he was the one who defeated him. 'Throughout . When Odysseus blinded Polyphemus and stole many of his sheep, the Cyclops prayed to Poseidon (his father and god of the sea) to keep Odysseus from ever returning home or at least to make his journey long, perilous, and hard, and that he would return home by himself, . 1) his name, 2) his father's name 3) his hometown. They see a cave and make their way up to it hoping to find the shepherd. It was wrecked. Returning from the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men stop off at an island where Cyclopes, one-eyed giants, live. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Stabbed the cyclops in the eye then ran out; How does Aeolus feel about his cousin, Poseidon? 6 What does Odysseus yell to the Cyclops? Though his anger at Polyphemus for devouring his shipmates is certainly understandable, and though Polyphemuss blind rock-throwing fury eggs him on, Odysseuss taunts are unnecessary. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 398 words. In the meantime they lit a fire and took some of the cheese for themselves, being sure to offer some to the gods. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. The Odyssey begins toward the end with Odysseus telling the story of his adventures in a.. Flashback. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The island appeared to be uninhabited, but the crew found a herd of sheep and goats there. Polyphemus tells his cyclops friends that "no one" is killing him, which they take to mean Polyphemus is fine. When they began to sail away, however, Odysseus shouted one last insult back to the blinded giant. Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is Nobody as he knows that when he attacks, the Cyclops will cry out and be asked by other Cyclopes if it needs help. 7 How did Odysseus get away from the Cyclops? Because of this, they don't render assistance, and Odysseus and his remaining men are able to make good their escape. (True or False). In The Odyssey, Odysseus may have been a prideful . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What are the epithets in books 14 of TheOdyssey? An epic hero is a person whose qualities represent those valuable to his or her _____________________. What noise does the staff make when it penetrates the Cyclops' eyeball? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Odysseus and his men come within sight of Ithaca. Why does Odysseus fail to reveal his identity to Penelope when they are first reunited? While his journey had already been foretold before he left Ithaca, his first adventure after his departure from Troy would set in motion the events that kept him at sea. It does not store any personal data. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What does Odysseus bring to meet the Cyclops? Odysseus pride and anger cause him to taunt Polyphemus. -Trickster Providing some of the richest and most celebrated examples of Odyssean cunning, they speak as much to the resourcefulness of the poet, who uses Odysseuss voice to render a more complete picture of his heros wanderings, as to that of the hero himself. high mountains, caves, sheep and goats Why do most of Odysseus' men stay on the boat? Polyphemus drank the bowl of wine and asked for another. You gods of sea and sky I conquered Troy me odyseus a mortal man of flesh and blood and bone and vein . After the Cyclops throws one more boulder at the ship (this one pushes them out to sea), the episode is over; however, the consequences of this bit of temper will be felt by Odysseus and his men for years. As soon as Polyphemus collapses with intoxication, Odysseus and a select group of his men drive the red-hot staff into his eye. Since Odysseus dragged his men this shows that he cares about them. . The hero had been carrying a skin of exceptionally strong wine when he explored the island, and he offered this to the cyclops. What does Odysseus mean by his name in the Odyssey? -Clever and curious This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Purchasing Hence, anger and pride motivate Odysseus to reveal his name and men in more danger. What does Odysseus shout at his adversary? How does Odysseus plan to escape from the Cyclops cave? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The giant awoke screaming and flailed around. This expression is an example of an. Smashed 2 of his companions & ate them What was Odysseus tempted to do, and why did he not do it? It was not "Nobody" that had blinded him. He killed the men two at a time, eating their bodies in front of the horrified survivors. Odysseus and some of his men find the cave of Polyphemus; when they discover that the Cyclops is away, his men try to convince Odysseus to take some cattle and cheese and leave before the giant returns. Odysseus hides under one, big ram. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? No ones saying otherwise. Which encounter does Odysseus and his mean have before Polyphemus? Once the giant had passed out, Odysseus and his surviving men put their plan in motion. Odysseus is a bad leader for the traits he upheld in the book which causes him twenty years to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan war. Historical Context Essay: Hospitality in Ancient Greece, Literary Context Essay: The Odyssey and the Fantastic Journey, A+ Student Essay: Homer's Portrayal of the Magical and Fantastical. Pride plays a large part in most Greek stories. What was the result of Odysseus taunting the Cyclops? Odysseus slips his name in order to show the Cyclops that he was the one who defeated him. What is Odysseus' tragic flaw? They found a cave with a crude stone courtyard outside its entrance. Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is Nobody as he knows that when he attacks, the Cyclops will cry out and be asked by other Cyclopes if it needs help. When dealing with others, the epic hero is often ______________ and _____________. The cyclops yelled back that Nobody had attacked him and Nobody had blinded him. 2 What do Odysseus men hide under during their escape for the Cyclops cave? Why does Odysseus reveal his true identity . What does the Cyclops ask his father Poseidon to do for him? Want 100 or more? Odysseus needed to brag by announcing his name, but this works against him in his encounter with the Cyclops because he loses men. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% What does Odysseus tell the cyclops after he escaped? Why does Odysseus keep taunt the Cyclops? Then Polyphemus calls for help -- which Odysseus anticipated and which was the reason Odysseus gave Polyphemus a fake name. He feeds him the strong wine without diluting it in hopes he will fall asleep so they can escape. when an author gives a hint about something that will happen later in the story. What does Odysseus call out to the Cyclops as he and his men are leaving? However, after dinner, Odysseus gets him very drunk on the undiluted wine he has brought with. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What does Circe do to the crew? Once the Cyclops is asleep the crew think of killing him; but Odysseus explains that the rock which blocks the doorway is far too large for them to roll away themselves and that if they kill. In the beginning of the journey, he and his men sacked the city of the Cicones and carried away many spoils; Odysseus wanted to leave, but his men decided to stay and plunder and feast. What do Odysseus men hide under during their escape for the Cyclops cave? After Odysseus had put out the monster's eye, Polyphemus shouted . What does Odysseus say to the Cyclops that he must do for Odysseus and his men while they are in the cave? As they sailed further out, Odysseus cursed the cyclops once more. Odysseus lies and tells Polyphemus (the cyclops) that his boat was shipwrecked off the coast of his island.