Users' questions

What happened between Odysseus and Polyphemus?

What happened between Odysseus and Polyphemus?

Odysseus at length succeeded in making Polyphemus drunk, blinded him by plunging a burning stake into his eye while he lay asleep, and, with six of his friends (the others having been devoured by Polyphemus), made his escape by clinging to the bellies of the sheep let out to pasture.

Who is Odysseus and Polyphemus?

The cave’s inhabitant soon returns—it is the Cyclops Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon. Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. He devours two of Odysseus’s men on the spot and imprisons Odysseus and the rest in his cave for future meals.

How are Odysseus and Polyphemus alike?

Odysseus’ stature as a man cannot compare to the stature of Polyphemus, who is a giant. Polyphemus’ huge girth is the source of his physical strength, which is readily evinced when he rapidly kills Odysseus’ men and eats them. Polyphemus is huge and strong while in comparison, Odysseus is small and weak.

What happened between Odysseus and the cyclops?

The Cyclops then fell fast asleep in a drunken sleep. Odysseus and his men then took the timber and heated the sharpened end in the fire until it glowed red. Then, with all their strength, they pushed the red-hot point into the eye of Polyphemus. The Cyclops howled and woke up flailing, but he was now blind.

What specifically does Polyphemus pray for?

Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon that Odysseus never get home. If he did make it home, let it be many years away. He also prayed for Odysseus to lose all of his men/companions. Then once he arrived home, he was to face “bitter days.” All of these prayers were granted.

Who killed Polyphemus?

Odysseus
On the second day, Odysseus made the cyclops drunk, claiming his name was “Nobody”, before five men drove a small sharpened stake into Polyphemus’ only eye, blinding him.

What does the name Polyphemus mean?

Cyclopes. Polyphemus (/ˌpɒlɪˈfiːməs/; Greek: Πολύφημος, translit. Polyphēmos, Epic Greek: [polýpʰɛːmos]; Latin: Polyphēmus [pɔlʏˈpʰeːmʊs]) is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer’s Odyssey. His name means “abounding in songs and legends”.

What details of this speech show that Polyphemus is far less clever than Odysseus?

What details of this speech show that Polyphemus is far less clever than Odysseus? Polyphemus knows the ram is acting in an unusual manner. The change in the ram’s behavior, however, does not make the Cyclops suspicious. He does not seem to expect that the Greeks might try to escape.

What fake name did Odysseus give to Polyphemus?

There, Odysseus was trapped in a cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus who ate two of the men the king of Ithaca was traveling with and was about to eat Odysseus himself. It is then, that Odysseus got Polyphemus drunk, told him that his name is “Nobody” and after that blinded the one-eyed giant.

Are Polyphemus prays to Poseidon being answered?