The Odyssey:
The Cyclops
Kate Turrell, Laura McKenna, Cameron Satin
-Period 7-
Necessary
Background
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.
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 Description
Odysseus: intellectual, resourceful, boastful, arrogant, shorttempered. 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 Motivations
Odysseus: 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 inquire
how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him
Odysseus, 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