The Odyssey Book 9 Flashcards
How does this book start?
[2]:
- With Odysseus beginning to tell his adventures since leaving Troy
- He is telling his stories to Alcinous, King of Phaecia
How does Odysseus introduce himself to Alcinous?
“I am Odysseus, Laertes’ son, known to all for my stratagems, and my fame has reached the heavens”
What happened to Odysseus and his crew right after the trojan war? [3]:
- Calypso kept Odysseus in her cave as she desired for him to be her husband
- Calypso failed to make Odysseus affectionate towards her
- Once leaving Calypso’s island the wind moved his ship to the island of Cicones
What is the first story Odysseus tells the Phaeacians?
His attack on the island of the Cicones
The attack on the island of the Cicones [3]:
- Odysseus and his men were victorious in their first attack on the island of the Cicones
- They sacked and pillaged the island
- The women and riches were divided equally between Odysseus and his men
The Cicone counter-attack [5]:
- Odysseus mentions that he advised his men to leave the island
- His greedy men convinced him to stay for one day longer
- The next morning the Cicones rounded up all their forces and ambushed Odysseus and his crew
- In the end, the Cicones succeeded and Odysseus lost 72 of his men
- Odysseus and his remaining men left the island
After Odysseus and his crew left the Cicones…[5]:
- Zeus moved the north wind against Odysseus’ ship and there was a storm
- The sails of the ship were torn to shreds
- Out of fear, Odysseus brought his ship near land
- They stayed for 2 days and on the 3rd-day set sail
- They sailed for 9 more days
What happened on the 10th day of Odysseus and his crew sailing?
Odysseus and his men arrived on the island of the lotus-eaters
What happened to Odysseus and his crew, once on the island of the lotus-eaters? [3]:
- 3 crew members eat the lotus fruit
- When the men had tasted the sweet, lotus they lost the desire to leave the island and lost all memory of there home in Ithaca
- Odysseus uses all his strength and bravery to drag the crew away
The land of the Cyclops [3]:
- From the island of the lotus-eaters, Odysseus and his men sailed to the island of the Cyclops
- On the island, Odysseus found wheat, barley and vines with rich grapes
- The land of the Cyclops is rich with well-watered meadows
The cyclops [3]:
- They were a barbaric species
- People with no law
- They live in caves where each man lays down the law of his own cave
At dawn on the island of the Cyclops [5]:
- The men began exploring the land
- The nymphs disturbed the mountain goats driving them towards Odysseus
- The crew hunted the goats
- 9 goats were given per ship and there were 10 left for Odysseus
- Odysseus and his men feasted for the rest of the day
Polyphemus’ cave [4]:
- Odysseus saw smoke on the island and decided to investigate
- He found a cave, clearly resided by a giant, he returned to his ship with his men to strategise
- Odysseus selected 12 of his most skilled men to infiltrate the cave alongside him
- Odysseus took with him a goatskin filled with dark, sweet wine
Upon entering the giant’s cave…[5]:
- Odysseus and his men realised the cyclops was grazing his herd outside
- They were marvelled by the quantity of cheese and lambs inside the cave
- Odysseus’ men begged him to steal some cheese for themselves but Odysseus felt it better to meat the giant
- The men lit a fire and made an offering, then helped themselves to some cheese
- The cyclops entered the cave and Odysseus and his men hid n a dark corner of the cave
What happened when the cyclops realised Odysseus and his men were in his cave? [5]:
- The cyclops questioned who they were and where they were from
- Odysseus introduced himself and his men without revealing his name
- The cyclops then asked where they had t
left their ship - Odysseus lied and answered that Poseidon had destroyed his ship
- after the cyclops was satisfied he threw two of Odysseus’ men on the floor, crushing their heads and then ate them
