The Odyssey Group

Question:

luke83
luke83
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How Does Odysseus trick the Cyclops to get past him in the cave?

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Posted by luke83 on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 12:13 PM and tagged with cyclops, odysseus, the odyssey.

Answers:

  1. mbomengen
    mrsmonica Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    Odysseus and his men cut down a tree and sharpened it into an enormous spike, which they hid in the cave. When the Cyclops returned to the cave, Odysseus gave him wine and got him drunk. Before he fell asleep, the Cyclops asked Odysseus his name. The sly Odysseus told the Cyclops, "My name is Nobody."

    Once the Cyclops was sound asleep, the men heated the point of the giant spike in the fire then plunged it into the Cyclops's eye. Polyphemus (the Cyclops) ripped the spike from his eye and screamed for help from his brothers. When they asked him who was bothering him, he yelled "Nobody is!" The other Cyclopes ignored him, thinking he was just making fun.

    Meanwhile, Odysseus and his men tied themselves to the bellies of Polyphemus's sheep. When the Cyclops pushed the boulder away to try to catch the men as they ran outside, he felt only the woolly sheep, allowing the men to escape. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-9-summary-analysis

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    Posted by mrsmonica on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 3:16 PM