In The Odyssey, an epic by Homer, Odysseus must find a way to return home years after fighting in the Trojan War. In Book 9, Odysseus and his crew reached the land of the Cyclopes, where a monstrous son of Poseidon, Polyphemus, makes Odysseus’ journey home more difficult. Being a heroic leader, Odysseus and his men faced this obstacle along the way, which highlighted Odysseus’ leadership and charismatic character, and important lessons are learned.
Many things are lost and gained this episode, after Odysseus faces Polyphemus in the Land of the Cyclopes. The Cyclopes live on their land with no laws, councils, or hospitality. Out of curiosity, Odysseus chose a dozen of his best men to go explore this land, not knowing that they will end up …show more content…
When Cyclops returned at night, he eats two more of Odysseus’s men for supper. After losing four of his men, Odysseus followed with his plan by getting Polyphemus drunk. Polyphemus asked for Odysseus ' name, and Odysseus told him that his name was “Nobody.” When the giant passes out, the Greeks stab the Cyclops ' eye, which blinds him. Odysseus and his men sailed off while Polyphemus cried in pain, and Odysseus shows his brave and heroic traits by revealing his true name and taunting Polyphemus. (Odysseus:) 'So they spoke, but could not persuade the great heart in me, but once again in the anger of my heart I cried to him: "Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities. Laertes is his father, and he makes his home on Ithaca." (9.500-505) Polyphemus then calls upon his father, Poseidon, and curses Odysseus: “Hear me, Poseidon who circle the earth, dark-haired. If truly I am your son, and you acknowledge yourself as my father, grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, son of Laertes, who makes his …show more content…
Even though the act was foolish, Odysseus taunting Polyphemus showed heroism in him. This was Odysseus excessively celebrating blinding the cyclops and rescuing his remaining men. Odysseus revealed his identity by using an epithet, or a short, descriptive title: (“raider of cities…”), his immediate paternal ancestry (“Laertes’s son…”), and a reference to his homeland (“who makes his home in Ithaca…”) (9.561–562). Odysseus would not celebrate for long, Poseidon’s anger would soon wipe out all of Odysseus’s
Many things are lost and gained this episode, after Odysseus faces Polyphemus in the Land of the Cyclopes. The Cyclopes live on their land with no laws, councils, or hospitality. Out of curiosity, Odysseus chose a dozen of his best men to go explore this land, not knowing that they will end up …show more content…
When Cyclops returned at night, he eats two more of Odysseus’s men for supper. After losing four of his men, Odysseus followed with his plan by getting Polyphemus drunk. Polyphemus asked for Odysseus ' name, and Odysseus told him that his name was “Nobody.” When the giant passes out, the Greeks stab the Cyclops ' eye, which blinds him. Odysseus and his men sailed off while Polyphemus cried in pain, and Odysseus shows his brave and heroic traits by revealing his true name and taunting Polyphemus. (Odysseus:) 'So they spoke, but could not persuade the great heart in me, but once again in the anger of my heart I cried to him: "Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities. Laertes is his father, and he makes his home on Ithaca." (9.500-505) Polyphemus then calls upon his father, Poseidon, and curses Odysseus: “Hear me, Poseidon who circle the earth, dark-haired. If truly I am your son, and you acknowledge yourself as my father, grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, son of Laertes, who makes his …show more content…
Even though the act was foolish, Odysseus taunting Polyphemus showed heroism in him. This was Odysseus excessively celebrating blinding the cyclops and rescuing his remaining men. Odysseus revealed his identity by using an epithet, or a short, descriptive title: (“raider of cities…”), his immediate paternal ancestry (“Laertes’s son…”), and a reference to his homeland (“who makes his home in Ithaca…”) (9.561–562). Odysseus would not celebrate for long, Poseidon’s anger would soon wipe out all of Odysseus’s