Why didn't Odysseus kill Polyphemus in his sleep? He decides not to kill Polyphemus because there was no way they could get out. They escape by running with the sheep and behind them so that Odysseus can't see them. They do this in the morning when Odysseus opens the door to let the sheep out.

What keeps Odysseus from killing the Cyclops when he sleeps?

What prevents Odysseus from killing the sleeping Cyclops? ... He feels sorry for the Cyclops who lives all by himself.

What did Odysseus do to Polyphemus while he was asleep?

Odysseus at length succeeded in making Polyphemus drunk, blinded him by plunging a burning stake into his eye while he lay asleep, and, with six of his friends (the others having been devoured by Polyphemus), made his escape by clinging to the bellies of the sheep let out to pasture.

Why does Odysseus blind Cyclops rather than kill him in his sleep?

Odysseus blinds the Cyclops instead of killing him because they couldn't move the rock door but, the Cyclops would still be able to move the door with a blind eye. ... Odysseus loses all of his men because they ate cattle that they were not supposed to eat.

Why doesn't Odysseus respect the Cyclops?

Why doesn't Odysseus respect the Cyclopes? They are lawless creatures with no sense of community and no drive to cultivate the land. In lines 91-92, what does Odysseus' metaphor imply about the Cyclops? He is huge and alone, like a mountain.

Why does Odysseus not kill Polyphemus right away?

31 related questions found

Why did Odysseus blinded Poseidon's son?

In order to seek shelter, Odysseus and his crew were shipwrecked on a mysterious island. ... When he fell asleep, Odysseus blinded him before he and his remaining crew members snuck out. Poseidon was justifiably not happy to learn that his son had suffered in this way, which made him hate Odysseus even more.

Why did Odysseus tell Polyphemus his real name?

Odysseus tells Polyphemus his name is "Nobody" to prevent Polyphemus from being able to successfully call for help when Odysseus enacts his escape plan. When Odysseus and his men are trapped in Polyphemus's cave, he's horrified as the cyclops eats some of his men.

Why does Odysseus blind Polyphemus?

The Greeks gave Polyphemus undiluted wine to drink, causing the giant to become drowsy. When asked for his name, Odysseus told the giant that he was called Nobody. Eventually, the cyclops fell asleep. The Greeks then proceeded to sharpen a large stake, which they drove into the cyclops' single eye, blinding him.

What two mistakes does Odysseus make as he is escaping from Polyphemus?

What two mistakes does Odysseus make as he is escaping from Polyphemus? Odysseus makes the mistake of telling Polyphemus his real name and he makes the mistake of taunting the cyclops. The result of the taunting conducted by Odysseus was rocks being hurled his way by Polyphemus.

How does Odysseus keep the Cyclops from coming to help Polyphemus?

While the cyclops is out with his sheep, Odysseus sharpens a piece of wood into a stake and hardens it in the fire. Next, he gives the cyclops wine to get him drunk, and he tells the cyclops his name is “Nobody.” When the cyclops falls asleep, Odysseus blinds him with the hardened stake.

How does Odysseus put the Cyclops to sleep?

Odysseus told him his name was “No man”. The Cyclops then fell fast asleep in a drunken sleep. Odysseus and his men then took the timber and heated the sharpened end in the fire until it glowed red. Then, with all their strength, they pushed the red-hot point into the eye of Polyphemus.

What is the unnecessary and foolish thing Odysseus says to the Cyclops?

In The Odyssey, as he leaves the Cyclops' island, Odysseus's foolish blunder is telling Polyphemus his name, which means that Poseidon, Polyphemus's father, can take revenge on Odysseus and his men.

What was Odysseus biggest mistake?

Odysseus has made some mistakes. No one's saying otherwise. He blinded a Cyclops, he invoked the wrath of Poseidon, and remember that time he got distracted by a sexy sea-witch for an entire year? (Full disclosure, he also stole some cheese.) But by far his biggest mistake was hiring his crew.

What final mistake do the remainder of Odysseus men that dooms them to death?

He eventually chose to take Circe's advice and steer closer to Scylla, and so he lost six more men there when she came out of her cave and took them. Finally, after his ship's crew ate the sacred cattle of the sun god, Helios, the remainder of Odysseus's men were slain by Zeus. Only he survived to go on.

How does Odysseus wound Polyphemus?

Instead, Polyphemus devours two of Odysseus' men. How is Odysseus able to wound Polyphemus? Odysseus and his men use a log sharpened on one end and drive it into his eye while he sleeps. ... he brings along the potent wine and he tells Polyphemus that his name is Nobody.

How does Odysseus disguise his men to escape the cave *?

How does Odysseus get his men out of the Cyclops' cave? He puts each man under 3 sheep and slings himself under the choicest of the flock.

In what book does Odysseus blind Polyphemus?

Summary and Analysis Book 9 - In the One-Eyed Giant's Cave. After identifying himself to the Phaeacians at the feast, Odysseus tells the story of his wanderings.

What is demonstrated by Odysseus failure to wake up?

What is demonstrated by Odysseus' failure to wake up and prevent his men from slaughtering the sun god's cattle? ... Penelope summons the "beggar" Odysseus and questions him.

What is Odysseus wife doing while Odysseus is away?

Penelope was very melancholy while Odysseus was away. She kind of moped around, weaving on her loom, trying to raise Telemachus. She desired for her son to know the magnificent man she took as her husband. She leaned on Odysseus' mother, but often times the woman's depressed spirit brought her down even more.

What does Polyphemus say to Odysseus?

Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon that Odysseus never get home. If he did make it home, let it be many years away. He also prayed for Odysseus to lose all of his men/companions.

What did Odysseus lie about?

He also lies about who he is to Athena, the swineherd Eumaeus, Telemachus, and Penelope, claiming to be a shipwrecked man from Crete who fought in the Trojan War and spent years in Egypt. These deceitful stories allow Odysseus to work his way back into his household and test the suitors and servants' hospitality.

Why is Odysseus cursed?

After the destruction of Troy, he and his men left for home without paying proper respect to Poseidon. For this, Poseidon punished Odysseus with what turned out to be a ten year journey home to Ithaca. ... For this, Poseidon vowed Odysseus would never see his home.

Did Artemis hate Hades?

So a foundational fact about Artemis—which we learn from the mouth of Poseidon, but which is repeatedly confirmed throughout LO—is she hates Hades. I hypothesize Artemis does not hate Hades, but is actually attracted to him, but is not emotionally mature enough to recognize it.

Who is stronger than Poseidon?

Poseidon: Power. Both gods were extremely powerful, but Zeus was the supreme god and was the stronger and more powerful of the duo. Zeus was the most powerful of all the Greek gods, the one that both mortals and deities would call upon for help.

What does Odysseus say values most of all?

Re-read lines 24-26. What 2 things does Odysseus value most highly? He values his family and home above all else.