Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey, Part A

The Land of the Cyclopes

Characters: Cyclops - lawless, aggressive, rely on the gods, wheat, barley, and vines grows on their land without farming. They worship Lord Poseidon, their father.

Written in first person point of view of Odysseus. He refers to dawn as Dawn, giving personification.

Polyphemus Returns

Plot: Odysseus and his twelve men enters the cave of Polyphemus. Trapped inside, he used his wits to outsmart Polyphemus. He ate two of Odysseus' men and lay to rest. With the stone blocking the entrance, Odysseus and his men are trapped.

Descriptive Writing: "Twenty-two four-wheeled wagons could not have carried it, yet such was the great rocky mass he used for a door." The stone is so huge but the cyclop carries it with ease, meaning that the cyclop's size is huge. "He tore them limb from limb for his supper, eating the flesh and entrails, bone and marrow, like a mountain lion, leaving nothing." showing savagery

Characters: Polyphemus - a cyclop, thinking he is greater than the gods.

Odysseus - when narrating in 1st person point of view, he said "I was too wise for that..." showing his personality.

 Offering the Cyclops Wine

Plot: Polyphemus ate two more of Odysseus' men. They sharpened the cyclops' huge club and turn it into a giant stake. Odysseus tricked Polyphemus into drinking a lot of wine. Odysseus told Polyphemus his name is Nobody. Odysseus and his men put the stake in the flames and then thrust it into Polyphemus' eye. The Cyclops came and Polyphemus told them "Nobody" is trying to kill him. 

Circe

Plot: Polyphemus cursed Odysseus and pray for Poseidon. The sea carries the ship to Circe's island. Circe lured the men and turned them into boar/pig. Moly, a special plant, helped Odysseus counteract the potion Circe used. Circe swore an oath to not harm Odysseus and let his men go by turning them back into humans. Comforted by luxury, they stay for a whole year.

Ulysses (Odysseus) stabbing the cyclop Polyphemus in the eye. Source.

Bibliography: "Homer's Odyssey." Written by Homer and translated to English by Tony Kline (2004). Web source.