The Odyssey Book 9 - Quick Questions

To whom does Odysseus tell the tale of his wanderings?

Alcinous

Which islands does Odysseus name as surrounding Ithaca?

Dulichium, Same and wooded Zacynthus

Which two divine characters does Odysseus first mention as keeping him from his homeland?

Circe and Calypso

Where did "The same wind that wafted [him] from Ilium" first take Odysseus?

Ismarus, town of the Cicones

After killing the men of Ismarus, what does Odysseus take and divide amongst his men equally?

"Women and vast plunder"

How did the surrounding Cicones react to Ismarus being plundered and destroyed?

They attacked, both on foot / chariot

Which god does Odysseus blame for being directly responsible for helping the Cicones gain the upper hand over his men?

Zeus

How many of Odysseus men died fighting the Cicones?

Six from each ship

What did Odysseus' men do wrong after they attacked the Cicones?

They had a feast and ignored Odysseus' orders

What pre-requisite had to be met before Odysseus allowed any of ships to set sail from Ismarus?

Each man who died had to be saluted three times with a ritual call

What obstacle did Zeus then send to try and slow down the Acheans further?

A storm

After the storm, how long did Odysseus and his companions rest on land for?

Two days and two nights

What does Odysseus say stopped him from reaching Ithaca shortly afterwards?

"The swell, the current and the North Wind combined"

Where was Odysseus when these combined forces sent him off course, and where did they send him 'drifting past'?

Malea and Cythera (respectively)

For how long was Odysseus at sea for whilst being 'chased' by the winds?

Nine days

On the tenth day, where did Odysseus and his men land?

In the country of the Lotus-eaters

How many men did Odysseus send to investigate the Lotus-eaters?

Three (the third to act as a herald)

What happened to Odysseus' men who were sent to investigate the Lotus-eaters?

They ate the fruits and lost their memories (and nostos!)

How did Odysseus manage to rescue his men from the Lotus-eaters?

He forced them back onto the boat and tied them up

Where did Odysseus and his men next travel to after departing from the country of the Lotus-eaters?

The land of the Cyclopes

How do the cyclopes neglect sophrosune?

They have no interest in agriculture, and drink unmixed wine with grapes made by the gods (also shown by Odysseus later tricking Polyphemus into a drunken state)

How do the cyclopes show adikia (lawlessness)?

They have no established system of government, and each man rules his oikos with his own laws

What island does Homer describe as lying near the home of the cyclopes?

A wooded island inhabited by goats (untouched by man, and which Homer claims that "craftsmen would have turned [...] into a fine colony for the Cyclopes", again showing the cyclopes lack of techne)

What supernatural characteristic is displayed by the island at all points of the year?

It yields crop every season (made all the more impressive by the cyclopes' lack of interest in agriculture)

Why does Odysseus suspect that a god was responsible for leading them to the island?

It was impossible to see ahead of them

What did Odysseus and his companions first do the morning after arriving on the island of the cyclopes?

They separated into three parties and hunted goats

How did Odysseus' men share out the game from that morning's hunt?

Nine to each of the twelve ships, and ten to Odysseus

What did Odysseus and his men do for the rest of the first day on the island of the cyclopes?

They had a feast (with some of the wine raided from the Cicones)

What did Odysseus order his men do on the second day they were on the island of the cyclopes?

To wait on the shore, whilst he took his ship to investigate the island further

What did Odysseus do when he reached the cave of Polyphemus?

Picked twelve of his best men to accompany him, and told the others to wait on the ship

Who did Odysseus spare when raiding Ismarus out of respect for his office?

Maron son of Euanthes

What gifts did the priest of Apollo give Odysseus?

Seven talents of gold, a silver mixing bowl, and twelve jars of unmixed wine

How had Odysseus been told to mix the wine he had been given?

One cup of wine into twenty of water

Where was Polyphemus when Odysseus and his men first arrived at his cave?

Outside tending to his flocks

What action do Odysseus' men suggest before the cyclops returned to his cave?

Steal his cheese and flocks, and depart from the island

Why did Odysseus order his men to stay and wait in the cave?

He was hoping to receive xenia from Polyphemus

What did Polyphemus use to shut the entrance of the cave (and thus entrap Odysseus' men?)

An immovable "mighty slab"

What does Polyphemus do in response to Odysseus' request for xenia?

He disowns Zeus and violently kills and eats a couple of his men

What simile does Homer use to describe Polyphemus in eating Odysseus' men?

"Like a mountain lion"

Why doesn't Odysseus murder Polyphemus the first night he is trapped in the cave?

He would be unable to move the boulder at the mouth of the cave

What does Odysseus fashion a weapon out of?

Polyphemus' olive-wood staff

How many of Odysseus' men did Polyphemus eat the evening after they first arrived in the cave?

Two

What does Odysseus offer Polyphemus so as to knock him unconscious?

A bowl of unmixed wine

What does Odysseus give his name as?

Nobody

What 'gift' did the cyclops offer Odysseus?

He would be eaten last

How does Odysseus blind Polyphemus?

He stabs his eye with a red-hot stick (along with the help of some of his men)

Why do the other cyclopes offer no help to Polyphemus after hearing his screams?

Polyphemus says that "Nobody" is killing him

How did Odysseus plan to escape from the cave (now that Polyphemus had unblocked the entrance and was standing guard as to catch them)?

He tied each of his men underneath three rams (so as to disguise them from the cyclops)

What did Odysseus and his men do with Polyphemus' flocks after escaping from the cave?

They lead them onto their ships

What does Odysseus first vocally chastise Polyphemus for when in the safety of his ship?

Abusing xenia

What did Polyphemus do in response to Odysseus' calls?

He 'ripped the top of a rock' off, and threw it at their fleeing ships

Why were Odysseus' men so anxious about him vocally chastising Polyphemus?

They were still in danger of being sunk by one of Polyphemus' boulders

What is arguably Odysseus' biggest mistake at the end of book 9?

He reveals his true identity to Polyphemus

Who does Polyphemus pray to after learning of Odysseus' true identity?

Poseidon

Who does Odysseus (fruitlessly) sacrifice the biggest of Polyphemus' rams to?

Zeus