BOOK 9

How does Odysseus introduce himself to the Phaeacians?

What happens at Ismarus?

Odysseus and his men raid the city of the Cicones, who were allies of the Trojans. The Cicones fight back, killing 72 of his men and forcing the survivors to flee to their ships.

What happens to people who eat the Lotus?

They forget their desire to return home and want to remain with the Lotus Eaters. The Lotus distracts them from their goal of getting back to Ithaca.

How does Odysseus rescue his men from the Lotus Eaters?

He forces them back to the ships and ties them down so they cannot stay. This shows his determination to get his crew home.

What are the Cyclopes like?

The Cyclopes are portrayed as lawless, clumsy, and stupid; they are very large monsters with one eye.

What is an epithet?

An epithet is a descriptive phrase associated with a person or thing. An example is Dawn having “fingertips of rose,” which describes the sunrise.

Why does Odysseus stay in Polyphemus’s cave?

He is curious about who lives there and wants to meet the cave’s owner. His curiosity puts himself and his crew in danger.

What is xenia?

the ancient Greek tradition of hospitality toward guests and strangers. It includes welcoming guests and treating them respectfully.

How does Polyphemus violate xenia?

He eats some of Odysseus’s men instead of welcoming them as guests. He also says he does not care about Zeus or the other gods.

What name does Odysseus give Polyphemus?

He calls himself “Nobody.” When Polyphemus cries that Nobody is hurting him, the other Cyclopes misunderstand and do not come to help.

How does Odysseus blind Polyphemus?

He gives Polyphemus strong wine from Maron. Once the Cyclops is drunk and asleep, Odysseus and his men use a sharpened olive-wood stake to blind his single eye.

Who is Polyphemus’s father?

How do Odysseus and his men escape the cave?

They hide beneath the bellies of sheep and rams. Polyphemus feels the animals’ backs as they leave but does not discover the men underneath them. Odysseus escapes beneath the largest ram.

What is hubris?

excessive pride or arrogance, especially when someone acts as if they are above the gods or ignores important limits.

How does Odysseus show hubris after escaping?

He boasts about defeating Polyphemus and reveals his real name and home. He wants glory and recognition, but this gives Polyphemus the information needed to ask Poseidon for revenge.

What is kleos?

How does Polyphemus curse Odysseus?

He prays to Poseidon to make Odysseus’s journey home difficult and delayed. He asks that Odysseus lose his companions and suffer before returning home.

What is nemesis?

an unavoidable downfall or punishment, often resulting from hubris or wrongdoing.

What is an epic hero?