Tuesday, October 20, 2015

What does Odysseus tell the cyclops Polyphemus about his boat, and why does he do that?

Odysseus arrives at an expansive island which is home to the Cyclops. He takes twelve of his men to explore the vast lands, ending up at the cave of Polyphemus, one of 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. Polyphemus arrives back home to his cave and brings his sheep in and rolls a huge boulder to cover the entrance to the cave. Odysseus engages Polyphemus in a conversation hoping to secure hospitality but this idea is rejected. Polyphemus asks where they landed their ship, but because Odysseus knows that Polyphemus would just destroy the ship he lies and says they were shipwrecked by Poseidon. Finally Odysseus manages to escape but without some of his men who were eaten by Polyphemus.

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