The OdysseyPages 898 – 907The Conflict with the Cyclopes

Page 898Date? “The Odyssey”

CharactersThe Cyclopes

Heroism of Odysseus

ConflictOdysseus v internal

The anti- GreeksThey have no community, no history, no law and order, no farming“A Shaggy mountain reared in solitude”

Odysseus puts his own life before his men’s lives.

Odysseus doesn’t know whether the Cyclopes are wild / lawless men or hospitable and God fearing.

Page 899Euanthe’s Wine

◦ Brought as an offering or trade to the possibly hospitable people of the island.

◦Much stronger than the wine we have today.

◦Brings a wine skin or a bottle of it to the Cyclopes.

Page 900Date? The Odyssey

SettingThe Cave of the Cyclopes

ConflictOdysseus v. His Men

Heroism of Odysseus

Faults of Osysseus

- Lots of cheeses- Lots of goats- Goat milk or “whey”- However everything is oversized

- Odysseus’ men want to take the goats, cheese, and whey and leave.

- Odysseus wants to meet the Cyclopes and more importantly he does not want to steal.

- Odysseus does not steal, this shows us that stealing was

un-heroic. - Constantly on a quest for knowledge.

- Odysseus is always a little too curious. He did not have to meet the Cyclopes.

ConflictOdysseus vs. The Boulder in The Door

As the Cyclopes comes home he does not see the men in his cave at first.

He goes about his normal behavior. This begins by putting a boulder in

the doorway that “ Two dozen four-wheeled wagons, with heaving wagon teams, could not have stirred the tonnage of that rock from where he wedged it over the doorsill.”

Scary Cyclopes

Page 902Date? The Odyssey

Faults of Odysseus

Reaction of the Cyclopes

Heroism of Odysseus

- Arrogance: - Odysseus acts like he is better than the

Cyclopes. - He does not realize that the Cyclopes is

related to the Gods. - Threatens Zeus’ wrath if the Cyclopes

doesn’t trade with them.

- Calls Odysseus a “ninny” or an idiot- Wants to know where the rest of Odysseus’

men are.

- Intelligence / guile:- Odysseus sees through the Cyclopse’s

question and does not give away the location of the other men.

- Tells him that he is shipwrecked and the other men are dead.

Odysseus thinks he’s so cool!

Page 903Date? The Odyssey

ConflictOdysseus v. The Cyclopes’ cannabalism

Heroism of Odysseus

- The Cyclopes eats two of Odysseus’ men … eating them like a mountain lion (simile).

- Odysseus rushes to kill the Cyclopes, but thinks first.

- If he kills him they will be locked inside the cave forever.

- Intelligence and self control- Wants to kill the Cyclopes but realizes

that he has to figure a way out of the cave first.

Odysseus Plans His Escape…

Page 904Date? The Odyssey

Heroism of Odysseus

ConflictOdysseus v the sleeping Cyclopes

Craftiness / creativity- Looks around the cave and comes up with a

plan to use a sharpened oar to stab the Cyclopes in the eye after he falls asleep.

- Odysseus chooses his 5 best men left for the attack

- Gets the Cyclopes drunk on Euanthe’s wine. - After the Cyclopes passes out they heat the

spear in the fire. - They blind him and hide in the cave.

Cyclops the light weight…

Page 906Date? The Odyssey

Heroism of Odysseus

Intelligence / forethought / guile- The Cyclopes asks for Odysseus’ name- Odysseus tells him that his name is

“Nohbody”.- He does not give the Cyclopes his name

because with his name, the Cyclopes would be able to curse him.

No fear, leadership, encouraging- While he attacks the Cyclopes, he does not

hesitate . - He is obviously the General ordering his men

on in the fight. - He maintains a positive attitude in the face of

danger.

The dangers of alcohol!

Page 907Date? The Odyssey

CharacterPolyphemus

ConflictPolyphemus Internal

Heroism of Odysseus

- The name of the Cyclopes with whom the men have been fighting.

- Polyphemus thinks that Odysseus’ name is “Nohbody”

- When he calls out to the other Cyclopes, they do not come to help because they think he has hurt himself or is sick

- No community: They don’t care, tell him to pray to Zeus for a cure.

- Intelligence / forethought- Polyphemus tries to tempt Odysseus into

running out of the cave, but squats over the entrance.

- Odysseus sees the temptation… He is not fooled.

Page 908Date ? The Odyssey

Heroism of Odysseus

Conflict Polyphemus v. Internal

-Creativity / Intelligence- Odysseus uses the sheep and goats as a

way to escape Polyphemus’ cave.-Putting others before yourself.

- Odysseus is the last of his men to leave the cave.

-Polyphemus doesn’t understand why the lead ram is not in front of all the other sheep. -He believes the Ram must feel sorry for him and losing his eye.

-

Page 910Date ? The Odyssey

Heroic Traits of Odysseus

Flaw / Faults

-Boastful-Odysseus has to let Polyphemus know who put him down. He has to get the fame that comes with blinding the Cyclopes.

- Arrogance-Because of his boasting, Odysseus gives away his name and location. -Polyphemus can now curse him and attempt to sink his ships.

Page 911Date? The Odyssey

Conflict:

Polyphemus v. Internal

-Polyphemus was told that Odysseus was coming and that he would blind him. -He did not think that Odysseus was the man that was foretold because he was so small and puny. -He did not expect to be tricked.-He wants Odysseus to come back and be “friends” with him.

Page 912Date ? The Odyssey

ConflictOdysseus v. Supernatural Force

Odysseus v. Zeus

-Polyphemus curses Odysseus because he refuses to come back and be friends with him. -The curse states:

- That Odysseus never see his home. - That if it is his destiny to reach home, let

it take him a long time to get there. - Let him lose his men before he gets there.

-Odysseus knows that things are going to go badly for him because Zeus rejects O’s sacrificial offering.

-He knows that destruction of his ship and crew are a destiny they can not avoid.