The Odyssey Group

Question:

tropicalcoconut
tropicalcoconut
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "The Odyssey," how do Odysseus and his companions expect to be treated by the Cyclops?

Can you please answer today?

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Posted by tropicalcoconut on Thursday January 29, 2009 at 4:20 PM and tagged with characters, cyclops, odysseus, the odyssey.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    In one word, Odysseus and his companions expected hospitality. The Greeks esteemed "xenia" very highly. This was a kind of ritualized hospitality, especially governing the relationship between guests and hosts. That's one of the reasons why Odysseus got so mad at the suitors, by the way: they abused that relationship in the extreme. Odysseus, though, expected to be given food and shelter, as he would do for a traveler far from home. Instead, he and his men got trapped, eaten, etc. This was a terrible infraction of the customs of Greek society, one that would anger Zeus himself.

    Sources:
    http://www.ecauldron.net/greekethics.php
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-9-summary-analysis

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    Posted by gbeatty on Monday February 2, 2009 at 4:15 PM

  2. xan15
    xan15 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    In "The Odyssey," how do Odysseus and his companions expect to be treated by the Cyclops?

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    Posted by xan15 on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 6:22 PM

  3. xan15
    xan15 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    encounter with maron reveal about ancient greek attitudes regarding hospitality?

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    Posted by xan15 on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 6:25 PM