The Odyssey Book IX

By this time Odysseus has gotten to the King of the island and is now telling the king, Alcinous, his story from when he left the Trojan War. He tells of his journey from Troy to Ismarus. When they went got to Ismarus they took the treasures, the wives, and massacred the men. Odysseus told his men to get back to the ship but they were foolish and drank wine and killed their animals. By the time they got back to their ship the island's men that had escaped came and attacked Odysseus' men. By the time they were able to escape six men from each ship had been killed. As they sailed away Zeus got mad and decided to bring a big storm upon Odysseus and his men. They are in the storm for many days but in the end they end up on the island of the Lotus-Eaters. Odysseus sends some of his men to get food and drink for the others. The men are offered lotus fruit and when they eat it all they can think of is eating more. They have to be dragged back to to the ship and locked up so they don't eat anymore fruit. Next they traveled to the land of the Cyclops. Odysseus and his men hunted the island and 12 ships kill 9 goats each. The next day Odysseus and 12 of his men set out to see if they can get some goods from the Cyclops Polyphemus. While he is gone the men make themselves at home and decide to wait until the Cyclops gets home. When the Cyclops gets back he seems nice at first. But soon after they tell them who they are he snatches up two of Odysseus's men and eats them. The next morning he at two more men and locked the remaining men up for the day. Odysseus formed a plot against the Cyclops. Odysseus sharpened a log and got ready for the Cyclops to return. After the Cyclops had eaten two more men Odysseus offers him wine. When he is drunk Odysseus says his name is "No-One." After the Cyclops is passed out Odysseus and his men thrust the burning stake into the eye of the Cyclops blinding him. When other Cyclops hear the commotion and ask what is going on Polyphemus says that No-One is killing him. The next morning when Polyphemus takes his goats out Odysseus and his men tie themselves to the bottom of the sheep. When Polyphemus feels the top of the sheep there is nothing there. The men are able to escape with sheep from the Cyclops. As they sail away from the Cyclops Odysseus gets cocky and shouts back to Polyphemus. He tells him his name is Odysseus. Polyphemus starts throwing stones at the ships. Polyphemus says that Poseidon his father will make his journey horrible. He prays to Poseidon to make the sure Odysseus doesn't get home and hopes he will finish him off before he gets home.