The Odyssey Group

Question:

clau94
clau94
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "The Odyssey", how does Cyclops attempt to stop Odysseus and his men from getting away?

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Posted by clau94 on Friday November 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM and tagged with characters, cyclops, odysseus, the odyssey.

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  1. cybil Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The first obstacle the Cyclops tries is the huge stone that blocks the door of the cave where he lives. Only he is strong enough to move this stone so Odysseus and men cannot kill the Cyclops and hope to escape; therefore, Odysseus blinds him, and they hide under the sheep when the Cyclops lets them out to graze the next day. 

    Odysseus and his men would have been safe had his pride not gotten the better of him, for he calls out to the Cyclops and tells him his real name, letting him know who had blinded him. Then the Cyclops, hearing his voice, knows where he is, and he heaves great boulders in the direction of the ship and nearly sinks it. Finally the Cyclops pleads with Poseidon, his father, to disrupt Odysseus' journey--if not end it entirely--and cause him to lose all of his men. The Cyclops asks Poseidon to delay Odysseus' return home as long as possible.

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    Posted by cybil on Saturday November 29, 2008 at 9:49 AM