Skip to main content

What problems did Odysseus face in book 9?

In Book IX, Odysseus briefly describes the time he spent with Calypso, who kept him prisoner, and Circe, "full of craft" who kept him in her palace.  However, he describes, at much greater length, the problems he faced in Ismarus, the land of the Lotus-eaters, and the land of the Cyclops.  Ismarus was the first place his crew stopped after their victory at Troy, and after they'd pillaged the town, Odysseus advised them all to...

In Book IX, Odysseus briefly describes the time he spent with Calypso, who kept him prisoner, and Circe, "full of craft" who kept him in her palace.  However, he describes, at much greater length, the problems he faced in Ismarus, the land of the Lotus-eaters, and the land of the Cyclops.  Ismarus was the first place his crew stopped after their victory at Troy, and after they'd pillaged the town, Odysseus advised them all to return to the ship and go, but they decided to get drunk and fall asleep.  They are then attacked at night by those who survived the earlier violence, and six men from each ship are killed. 


In the land of the Lotus-eaters, he sends only three men ashore, but after they taste the lotus fruit, they have no more desire to return home.  Odysseus must physically drag or carry each of them back to the ship.


At the island on which Polyphemus, the Cyclops, lives, Odysseus's men try to convince him to take food and return to the ship, but he refuses.  They wait for the Cyclops to return to his cave, and, when he does, he ends up eating two of Odysseus's men for each meal for the next day.  They finally have to blind him in his sleep to get away.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more