Book 9

Question 1

Why does Odysseus finally tell the Phaeacians his name?

Answer 1

So that one day they can still be friends.

Question 2

Why did he tell them his name earlier?

Answer 2

He is famous with the gods.

Question 3

What does he claim a man hold dearest?

Answer 3

His homeland and his parents.

Question 4

What do Odysseus and his men do to the land of the Cicones?

Answer 4

Sack the land and destroy the menfolk. Also butchered sheep and shambled crooked-horned cattle by the shore. Also divided up the women and property.

Question 5

Was this acceptable?

Answer 5

To the Greeks this was morally acceptable.

Question 6

How did Odysseus’ men disobey him?

Answer 6

They carried on drinking wine and butchering livestock after Odysseus told them to stop.

Question 7

When the remaining Cicones head inland to get backup how long does the battle last and how many lives are lost.

Answer 7

One day and 72 men.

Question 8

What are Odysseus’ leadership strengths during the Cicones?

Answer 8

He had a plan about when he was going to escape, him and his men were quite good at fighting until the Cicones got backup. He was brave as he didn’t run away he fought with his men, he shared the spoils fairly.

Question 9

What were Odysseus’ leadership weaknesses against the Cicones?

Answer 9

He didn’t have control over his men, he lost 72 men because of his lack of control. He let his men kill innocent people. Allowed Cicones to get reinforcements.

Question 10

How did Odysseus and his crew escape from Zeus’ storm before arriving at the land of the Lotus Eaters?

Answer 10

By lowering their sails and rowing bare ship to land with all their might.

Question 11

What drove Odysseus off course and sent him drifting past Cythera?

Answer 11

The current and the north wind combined.

Question 12

How long did they drift for?

Answer 12

Nine days.

Question 13

How did the lotus eaters threaten Odysseus and his men?

Answer 13

The honeyed fruit which the crew ate made them lose any wish to return home and bring back news to Odysseus.

Question 14

What were Odysseus’ leadership strengths during the lotus eaters episode?

Answer 14

He though well and was intelligent enough to bring down the sails. He didn’t send all his crew off to find inhabitants otherwise they may have all been lost. He didn’t leave his men he brought them back onto the ship. He let his men rest on the island. He organised his men well.

Question 15

What was unusual about the Cyclopes?

Answer 15

They never planted or ploughed their land.

Question 16

What else do the Cyclopes not have?

Answer 16

They have no assemblies for making of laws, each Cyclopes made their own rules for their family. No proper housing or any form of punishment.

Question 17

Why are the Cyclopes unable to exploit goat island?

Answer 17

They don’t have any crafts men to build ships in order to get there.

Question 18

What did goat island have which was desirable?

Answer 18

Lush water meadows where grapes would never fail, a safe harbour, a stream of fresh water and the subsoil was exceedingly rich.

Question 19

What shows Odysseus’ curiosity?

Answer 19

He wanted to go back to the Cyclopes mainland to see if the people were civilised or savages.

Question 20

What did Odysseus notice about Polyphemus’ house?

Answer 20

It was far away from everyone else’s. He lived in a cave near the sea, isolated, alone.

Question 21

Who gave Odysseus some fine wine and why?

Answer 21

Maron because he protected his wife, his child and him.

Question 22

What is special about Polyphemus?

Answer 22

He looks after animals well. He separated the sheep, the summer ones, the spring ones and the new-born ones. He also had fat sheep which shows he feeds them well.

Question 23

At this point what do Odysseus’ men want to do?

Answer 23

Go back to the sheep taking some sheep. They also wanted to sail across the salt ocean.

Question 24

Why did Odysseus overrule them?

Answer 24

He wanted to meet the owner of the cave as he had hopes of some friendly gifts from the host.

Question 25

When we first meet Polyphemus what is he doing?

Answer 25

Separating the rams and the goats, making sure the children find their mothers. Show he cares for his animals.

Question 26

When Odysseus try to invoke xenia what happens?

Answer 26

Polyphemus rejects this request because he believes that the Cyclopes are stronger than the gods, therefore he does not fear them.

Question 27

Why does Polyphemus ask Odysseus where his ship is?

Answer 27

He wants to stop Odysseus getting away, this way he can eat the crew and Odysseus easily.

Question 28

How is Odysseus smart when Polyphemus asks the boat question?

Answer 28

He says his ship was wrecked by the earth shaker Poseidon on the borders of their island and that the wind carried them to shore.

Question 29

How was Polyphemus’ first attack on Odysseus’ men?

Answer 29

Gruesome.

Question 30

Why can Odysseus not kill Polyphemus as soon as he falls asleep?

Answer 30

Only Polyphemus can move the stone block which is blocking the entrance, the only escape.

Question 31

What does Odysseus decide to do instead?

Answer 31

Prepare an olive wood stake, which is very large.

Question 32

Where does Odysseus hide the stake?

Answer 32

In some dung.

Question 33

How does Odysseus make Polyphemus drunk?

Answer 33

His gives him wine at a ratio 1:3 which makes him drunk very quickly as normally the wine is 1:20. Moreover Polyphemus drank 3 bowls in quick succession.

Question 34

How does Polyphemus offer xenia in the form of a gift?

Answer 34

He says that he will eat him last.

Question 35

What does Odysseus stab Polyphemus with?

Answer 35

The stake he prepared earlier.

Question 36

When Polyphemus asks Odysseus’ name what does he reply and why?

Answer 36

He says nobody, so that when he screams ‘nobody has hurt me’ no Cyclopes will think anything of it.

Question 37

How do Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus’ cave?

Answer 37

Holding onto the underside of rams which carry them out.

Question 38

How many men did Odysseus lose?

Answer 38

6.

Question 39

What mistake does Odysseus make when leaving the cave?

Answer 39

He tells his name and where he comes from.

Question 40

What does Polyphemus do in response to Odysseus’ mistake?

Answer 40

Prays to his father Poseidon that Odysseus may never return to Ithaca and if he does he must have lost all his comrades, arrive in a foreign ship, have had a wretched plight and that on arriving he finds trouble at home.

Question 41

What are Odysseus’ leaderships strengths in the Cyclopes episode?

Answer 41

He thought to take the wine, he thought of the idea to stab the Cyclopes. Told the Cyclopes that his name was Nobody. Thought of an escape plan. Didn’t tell Polyphemus where he ship was. Knew what to do in terms of making the stake, managed not to kill Polyphemus.

Question 42

What are Odysseus’ leadership weaknesses in the Cyclopes episode?

Answer 42

Told Polyphemus his name and where he lived - pride, didn’t leave the island when he had a chance. Was curious and that’s what led him getting onto the island and losing 6 men.

Question 43

How do we see contradiction in Odysseus’ behaviour in this book?

Answer 43

He is a good leader who divides the plunder from the Cicones fairly among his men, and yet seems unable to get them to leave. In Polyphemus’ cave the situation is reversed: the men sensibly want to leave after taking the cheeses, but he rashly wants to stay.

Question 44

How is Odysseus intelligent and cunning when dealing with the Cyclopes?

Answer 44

He says that his ships have been destroyed, so the Cyclopes doesn’t look for them. Stops himself killing the giant so he is able to escape. Plans and executes the Cyclops, using the wine he bought, to send him to sleep. He says his name is Nobody so none of the other Cyclopes find him.

Question 45

How is cunning when organising his men’s escape?

Answer 45

Realising that the Cyclopes would check the backs of the sheep, he lashes his men underneath. He clings to the underside of the sheep so that can escape.