The Odyssey is unique in that unlike most other narratives, which present only one possibility for a sequence of events, it provides alternative endings for a sequence of events, or another way to interpret a scene or major plot point. Such capaciousness in the narrative allows Homer to expand upon the basic themes presented in the book and provide a multidimensional point of view that does not merely consider events from the perspective of the protagonist. For example, throughout the book, the death of Agamemnon at the hands of his unfaithful wife, Clytemnestra, and Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s lover, is constantly juxtaposed with Odysseus’s ongoing pursuit of nostos, serving as a shadow of the current story. However, one other notable example …show more content…
As Odysseus tells his story, Polyphemus is described as a grim loner, dead set in his own lawless ways./ Here was a piece of work, by god, a monster/ built like no mortal who ever supped on bread” (IX: 217). Polyphemus is depicted as a monster who has a “rumbling voice and monstrous hulk” (IX: 219), and later on, a “ruthless brute” (IX: 220). Immediately, the reader is confronted with an image of a giant, hulking monster devoid of any sense of culture. In addition, through the reference of humans eating bread, Odysseus appeals to the motif that has been established throughout the book, in which civilized men are expected to consume bread. Odysseus appeals to yet another motif when he attempts to negotiate with the Cyclops and avoid the deaths of his men by invoking the idea of xenia, saying, “we’re at your knees in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest-gift, the sort that hosts give strangers. That’s the custom” (IX: 220). By focusing on the lack of the hospitality, a custom dear to most of the civilized characters within the poem, the barbarian nature of Polyphemus is further emphasized. Finally, Odysseus emphasized that Polyphemus says that “Cyclops never blink at Zeus and Zeus’ shield of storm and thunder, or any blessed god” (IX: …show more content…
As he planned the death of the suitors with Telemachus, the cowherd, and the swineherd, he orders his cowherd to “shoot the bolt of the courtyard’s outer gate, / lock it, lash it fast” (XXVI: 432). This is remarkably similar to when the Cyclops leaves his cave during the day, “lifting the huge doorslab up and away. . . slipped it back in place/ as a hunter flips the lid of his quiver shut” (IX: 221), trapping Odysseus and his men inside. Ironically, while Odysseus may have derided Polyphemus earlier on in the poem, He eventually commits the same act himself. Another interesting aspect of the narrative is that as he kills the suitors, all of the events are narrated in vivid detail, just like how Antinous’ “life-blood came spurting from his nostrils – thick red jets. . . the bread and meats soaked in a swirl of bloody filth” (XXII: 440). The vivid imagery strongly reminiscent of when Polyphemus killed two of Odysseus’ men, “knocked them dead like pups –/ their brains gushed all over, soaked the floor” (IX: 220). The use of vivid imagery in depicting the scene in Odysseus’ hall further underscores the savagery that and atrocity that Odysseus has committed. At the end of the scene, Odysseus is described as being “splattered with bloody filth like a lion. . . covered in blood/ chest streaked, both jaws glistening, dripping red” (XXII:
Odysseus has been held in Polyphemus’s cave for some time now, so he devises a plan of escape. Odysseus speaks out to his crew for help saying “Who’d brave it out with me to hoist our stake and grind it into his eye.” (221) This foreshadows Odysseus and his crew grinding the stake into the cyclops eye, ultimately leading to the crew's escape. As his journey home escalates and challenges become harder, Odysseus is faced with the ultimatum for the The Cattle of The Sun. Prior to his decision he is warned “Leave the beast unharmed, your mind set on home, and you all may still reach Ithaca-but harm them in any way, and I can see it now: your ship destroyed, your men destroyed as well, and even if you escape, you'll come home late, all shipmates lost, and come a broken man.” (275) Homer includes the foreshadowing of the blind prophet's statement, informing spectators of the two possible outcomes based off Odysseus and his crew's choice. Before the slaughter of the suitors has even occurred, Homer foreshadows the event vaguely. As the suitors continue to disrespect Odysseus it is brought to their attention that, “Once under his own roof, he and your friends, believe you me, won’t part till blood has flowed” (380) The foreshadowment is obvious when stated “won't part till blood has flowed”, implying that in time to come Odysseus will not part from the suitors unless blood has been
Polyphemus is startled to see Odysseus and his men. Polyphemus snatches two men and makes his meal. Odysseus wants to take his sword to Polyphemus but knows if he kills him now he won’t be able to escape because of the giant boulder. The next day while Polyphemus is pasturing his sheep, Odysseus finds and hardens a wooden staff. When Polyphemus returns, Odysseus offered Polyphemus some wine. “‘Here, Cyclops, drink some wine after of human flesh, and see what sort of liquor our ship held. I brought it as an offering thinking that you might pity me and send me home. But you are mad past bearing. Reckless! How should a stranger come to you again from any people, when you have done this wicked deed?’ So I spoke; he took the cup and drank it off, and mighty pleased he was with the taste of the sweet liquor, and thus he asked me for it yet again:
Odysseus is tempted again when he encounters the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Unlike his encounter with the lotus-eaters, he displays a more reckless side when he couldn’t resist screaming out his name in pride after escaping the Cyclops:
In lines 377 through 450 of book 9, Odysseus devises and enacts his plan to escape Polyphemus’ clutches and deliver his men to safety. He inebriates Polyphemos until he passes out, and follows up by stabbing him in the eye, permanently blinding him. To ensure no others come to help the blinded cyclops, Odysseus tells him he goes by “Nohbody”, and therefore Polyphemus calls out, “Nohbody’s tricked me, Nohbody’s ruined me!”. This brilliant case of Odysseus’ craftiness leads Polyphemus’ fellow kyklopes to ridicule him, instead of running to his aid. Furthermore when the sirens threaten his soldiers with their velvety songs, Odysseus plugs his men’s ears with beeswax (lines 199-258, book 12).
Odysseus might’ve been a very strong mortal, but throughout the story he learns that cunning overpowers physical strength. In some parts of the story Odysseus knew that with his strength, he wouldn’t be able to defeat the obstacles by with his physical strength so he used his cunning powers and outsmarted his opponent. Just like in the passage The Cyclops, Odysseus states, “Cyclops, try some wine, there is some liquor to wash down your scraps of men,” (Line 296-297.) That explains that Odysseus knew that he couldn't out strengthen the cyclops with his physical strength, so what he did was that he gave the cyclops some wine to get Polyphemus drunk and stabbed his eye so then Polyphemus wouldn’t be able to see and they could escape with the sheep with no problem. Also in the story, The Challenge, the narrator says, “Penelope says she will marry the man who can string Odysseus’ bow… the suitors try and fail.
On the land of the Cyclopes they are captured by Polyphemus. Odysseus comes up a plan to get them out without Polyphemus knowing. He sets up a plan to get him drunk to where he passes out and to stab his eye to make him blind. Then to tie his men to the rams so when they are let out him and his men are also let out without Polyphemus knowing. Polyphemus does not know that it is Odysseus he is dealing with.
Telemachus, preparing to be the first to string Odysseus’ bow, “leapt to his feet and dropped his bright red cloak, slipping the sword and sword-belt off his shoulders” (353). The abruptness of Telemachus' actions create anticipation and reveal horror soon to befall the suitors. The quick way in which Telemachus allows his red coat to fall foreshadows how swiftly the red blood of the suitors will be spilled onto the floor. After Odysseus takes aim and shoots the bow through all twelve axes, “he snatche[s] a winged arrow lying bare on the board - the rest still bristled deep inside the quiver, soon to be tasted by all the feasters there” (363). Homer establishes Odysseus’ impatience to take action against the suitors as he plucks an arrow up from the ground. Tension rises as Odysseus’ thirst for revenge is emphasized by the remaining arrows he longs to shoot the suitors with. The details in Odysseus and Telemachus’ actions reveal how the deaths of the suitors will be in no way quiet, but rather painful and
Odysseus’s escape from the Cyclops is one of great intelligence. A Cyclops is a giant one eyed monster. Homer said, “The booming voice and the very sight of the monster filled us with panic” (IX, 256). From the first moment Odysseus and his men set eyes on the Cyclops they know they are in trouble and will not be able to get out easily. The Cyclops, Polyphemus, eats two of Odysseus’ men from the start. As soon as this happens, Odysseus
Annabeth had figured Polyphemus would still have a grudge about that name, and she was right” (212). Annabeth confronts the cyclops on her own to distract him and uses her wits to think of a way to throw the cyclops off balance. Annabeth rightly believes that using the name Nobody will bring out Polyphemus’s hatred and cloud his mind, thus putting him mentally off balance. The bravery and ingenuity displayed by Odysseus and Annabeth are highlighted as positive traits to have in both Ancient Greece and modern times. The authors want their readers to develop these characteristics as part of their personality, thus they show the positive consequences these traits had for both Odysseus and Annabeth.
This morning was like any other day. I got up to see the sun rise, and then I went into the forest to find something to eat for breakfast. Most days were quiet in the land of the Cyclopes. All you could hear were your own thoughts, and the occasional chirp from a nearby bird. Most of the inhabitants kept to themselves, and no one entered others’ property without previous consent of the owner.
When the Cyclops returns, he kills some of the men. Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is Nobody and plans his escape from the barricaded cave with his crew. They trick the Cyclops into drinking lots of wine, he falls asleep, and the crew stabs Polyphemus in the eye. As they escape onto the ship and begin to sail away, Odysseus yells to Polyphemus: “Cyclops, if any mortal human being asks about the injury that blinded you, tell them Odysseus destroyed your eye, a sacker of cities, Laertes’ son, a man from Ithaca.”(9.662) The Cyclops in response prays to his father, “Poseidon, Enfolder of the Earth, dark-haired god, if I truly am your son and if you claim to be my father, grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, a man from Ithaca, Laertes’ son, never gets back home.”(9.696) Odysseus tells Polyphemus his true name just to get credit for overpowering the Cyclops. In result, Polyphemus prays to his father Poseidon and this makes his father avenge his son and make Odysseus’ trip home as difficult and as painful as he can. After visiting Aeolus in Aeolia, Odysseus returns to the ship with a bag of winds and refuses to tell his crew what is
Odysseus has a sense of hubris that leads to adversity and causes him harm, he also has humility; however, the lack of balance between these emotions takes Odysseus through many tough obstacles. When Odysseus tricks Polyphemos, he does it logically, and he uses his mind and reason; however, his hubris comes out when he feels the need to expose his true identity thus leading to his difficulty to return to Ithaka and future problems. Odysseus’s men beg him to stop harassing the beast, but Odysseus has one other plan in mind when he says, “Kyklops / … Odysseus raider of cities, took your eye: / Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaka!” (Homer 160). This provoking of Polyphemos that Odysseus displays is a cause for the pain Ithaka is going though, as well as personal and direct grieving directed at Odysseus and his immediate
Odysseus thinks that his reasoning are final and his activities are constantly just and right, although he frequently allows his ego control his rational thinking, resulting harm to his group and messing with the gods’s plans. His men could have went back home Securely for it is the desire of Athena and the other heavenly gods who surround to her in Mount Olympus, however Odysseus takes it to himself to outrage and blind Polyphemus, the monstrous son of Poseidon, adored by his dad yet abhorred by the people, In this way distrusting their whole arrangement . Subsequent to being blinded by the heroine, Polyphemus tosses huge pieces of rocks at Odysseus's ship, nearly obliterating them at the same time. But instead of retreating for safety, Odysseus keeps on provoking Polyphemus and “[calls] out to the cyclopes again, with [his] men hanging all over [him] begging him not to”(Book 9, 491-492). His feeling of pride and presumption influences to disregard the requests of his people even in these critical circumstances . He will fulfill his own feeling of interest and pleasure without thinking of the result it would have on his crew. Despite the fact that he is bound to get away from all passings and assaults, his group isn’t so blessed. Their lives are in mortal peril since Odysseus considers them as child sheeps who should forfeit their lives for him when the circumstances comes, much the same as how mortals make conciliatory offerings of sheeps for the heavenly gods. He is willing to fulfill his own feeling of interest without thinking of his groups lives or their suppositions and is regularly infuriated when they negate his request. If they hurt his sense of pride and self-importance and pomposity , Odysseus will be overcome with outrage and
Chapter 20- The suitors meet again to discuss how to kill Telemachus, but Amphinomus convinces them not to kill him. During dinner, Ctesippus flings a cow hoof at Odysseus, and Odysseus threatens to jab a sword through him. This threat makes the suitors laugh until they notice the blood all around them.
Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call “home wreckers”, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the elements presented can bring in any reader from any century, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of Penelope, and the disguises of Odysseus, are all legendary literary hooks . There are many things to learn—about writing, about the world around us, the world ahead of us, and the past behind us—from The Odyssey. (26) It is undeniably evident that this ancient text has