The cyclops Characteristics of the Cyclops: 1. one-eyed giants 2. louts = stupid beings 3. no respect for the gods 4. no laws to govern them 5. live in mountain caves

The cyclops curiosity gets the best of O – in hindsight he knows he should have immediately left O and his men see a partially hidden cave while rams and goats roam about the land Odysseus’ metaphor: “but he seemed rather a shaggy mountain reared in solitude” = Cyclops is as large as a mountain

The cyclops personification: “When the young Dawn with finger tips of rose” – dawn personified as young – why did Homer use this image? O takes his 12 best fighters with him (other crew members stay on the ship) Maron: priest of Apollo who gave O his best liquor (brandy) O takes wineskin (bag for carrying wine) and food (victuals) with him into Cyclops’ cave

The cyclops O pre-plans for potential conflict with the Cyclops – he leaves guards with his ship and brings wine as a possible weapon to use against the giants Cyclops tends to sheep O’s men want to take the Cyclops’ cheeses and sheep and leave O refuses his crew’s request because curiosity gets the best of him

The cyclops Cyclops keeps a slab of solid rock in front of the entrance to the cave Lines 163-175: -O is looking for the Cyclops’ hospitality (food and gifts) -Odysseus warns the Cyclops that he must cooperate, otherwise Zeus will punish anyone who mistreats a guest

The cyclops Cyclops’ attitude is disrespectful – he feels he is more powerful than Zeus O realizes that the Cyclops has no problems mistreating his guests or their property, so he lies to protect his ship = he is good at tricking people (guile) Cyclops responds by eating 2 of O’s men O knows only the Cyclops is strong enough to move the slab of rock which blocks the cave