Aim: How do Odysseus' actions in "The Cyclops" support or refute his epic character?
The class started off with attendance, and a brief discussion of assignments. The postcard project was assigned and explained, as well as the online “Odysseus vs Polyphemus” debate.
Do Now: As previously discussed, the term, “xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest hosts. Therefore, based on your understanding of the term, how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?
The class opened up the discussion by saying xenia is extremely important when it comes to interacting with others, as it shows how you are as a person. For instance, your xenia plays an important role in situations like business meetings and exchanges, or holiday gatherings; it demonstrates your ability to treat people with respect and generally be a kind person. Xenia are the responsibility of the host, to treat guests with respect and kindness, and to make them feel safe. Andrea further developed the conversation by saying that likewise, guests should also treat hosts in the same way, by making the host feel comfortable, hence the phrase “do unto others as you would have done unto you.”
After this brief discussion, another question was brought up: Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV. Identify any weaknesses the hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability. The class had varying responses, which include mentions of hero character development, overconfidence, lack of confidence, or excessive kindness and mercy. Some examples were brought up; for instance, AJ mentioned the famous Sherlock Holmes, who even though was incredibly intelligent and observant, had a negative attitude towards love, and viewed it as a “chemical defect.” This showed how even though heroes have the reputation of being perfect, they all have flaws and shortcomings that may prove to be a challenge to overcome.
The following slides talked about the figurative and literary devices used in The Odyssey. The first one discussed was a homeric simile, which are epic similes used to give the story its “narrative depth and force.” It is often used to compare something unfamiliar in the story with something that is familiar to the reader, often in unexpected ways. Based on the given definition, a homeric simile is different from a normal simile in that it is much more prestigious and detailed; a homeric simile offers much more insight into the event/character than a normal simile would.
The next device discussed was foreshadowing, a technique used to suggest upcoming events, sometimes even the outcome, as in the Odyssey. This technique can be used to add suspense or tension in the story, or allude to future events or plot development.
Supplementary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P07O8cacBsk&ab_channel=VoxLetters
Finally, the term “hubris,” meaning excessive pride and confidence, was discussed. This weakness is seen in many ancient Greek tales, and is looked down upon, being a tool of destruction. Some examples of hubris were mentioned, such as in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Supplementary video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLGpwvCxpk&ab_channel=LiteratureUnbounded
After these discussions, the class spirit read through the Cyclops excerpt, keeping in mind instances of xenia and hubris, and how foreshadowing is used to further develop the plot. To summarize, Odysseus and his crew arrive at the land of the brutal Cyclops. He took 12 of his best men to a large cave in the mountain full of sheep. To his discontent, the crew began to plunder the goods, only to be confronted by the Cyclops Polyphemus. Since the entrance to the cave was a large boulder no man could move, the crew was trapped inside. Odysseus attempts to bargain for his crew’s safety, but was unsuccessful, and only met with the slaughtering of his men. Faced in an obvious life or death situation, Odysseus plans out an escape. He offers Polyphemus some of his wine, which drunkens the Cyclopes and dims his senses. At that moment, Odysseus shouts out to Polyphemus that his name is Nohbdy, and his remaining men drive a big spike into Polyphemus’ eyes, blinding him. Polyphemus is unable to get help, as he calls that Nohbdy has tricked him, leaving him in his rage. In the final step of Odysseus’ strategy, he tied himself and his men to the underbellies of the sheeps, fleeing as Polyphemus allowed his goats outside to the pastures. Odysseus and his leave on his ship, not before taunting Polyphemus once again, angering Poseidon and cursing himself.
Excerpt: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9xgktq1tg9eZkRKVWw4ODk2SnM/view?usp=sharing
When the class finished reading the excerpt, they were broken into their groups for a discussion. The questions, as well as class answers, were as follows:
Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156. How is foreshadowing used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?
Foreshadowing is used here to suggest that a “towering brute would be upon... [them] soon.” This foreshadows their meeting with Polyphemus, who obviously is a brute devoid of humanity and civility. The wineskin of brandy he bought along also foreshadows how he defeats Polyphemus- by drunkening him, and taking advantage of his confused state.
What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far? What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?
So far, Odysseus has displayed his qualities of cunningness, leadership, and bravery. Through his encounter with Polyphemus and his reluctance to attack him, he shows his ingenuity, in that he realizes they would be stuck in the cave forever if the Cyclops was dead. His incredible plan also shows his resourcefulness, in that he is useful and can think his way out despite tough situations. Finally, his unwavering goal to get as many men out alive, and his ability to take the lead and command his men shows his leadership. However, further class discussion showed that despite showing all these heroic traits, Odysseus is far from perfect. The class connected this question back to hubris, supporting the previous learned fact that hubris is a common characteristic of the hero in many ancient Greek tales.
Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)
Homer uses figurative language here to show the brutal slaughtering of his men, which gives us insight into the uncivilized and inhumane lifestyle of the Cyclops. The imagery portrayed by the detailed bloodshed, such as “he dismembered them and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion,” also sets the tone of the excerpt and emphasizes the danger and peril that Odysseus and his men are in.
How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops? (Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)
Based on Odysseus’ actions with the Cyclops, he demonstrates his intelligence, resourcefulness, and bravery. Through his cunning ways and ingenuity in his strategy, despite the perilous situation he is in, he shows how fitting of a leader he is. An interesting point was brought up; he realizes the dire circumstances and the massive gap in power between the Cyclops and his slowly diminishing number of men, and plots a creative way to get around that weakness, and play to the best of his strengths. Going back to the aim, these traits most definitely supports his standing as an epic hero, as he displays all the characteristics, even weaknesses, of one.
Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men). Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share? If Odysseus represents civilization, and Polyphemus represents nature, what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature? Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?
Evident through Odysseus’ dialogue with Polyphemus, the Cyclops doesn’t show an ounce of xenia. Polyphemus shows disrespect towards the gods, and does not care for the hospitality of Odysseus and his men. Both Odysseus and Polyphemus seem to demonstrate the qualities of honor, glory, and pride, portrayed by Polyphemus’ overconfidence, and Odysseus’ unnecessary taunting in the end. If Odysseus represents civilization and Polyphemus represents nature, Homer is implying that civilization triumphs over nature, and the rightful superiority of man over nature. This poses potential dangers, especially in the modern era, as it becomes increasingly evident the harm humanity is doing to the environment, which in turn impacts themselves.
As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future.
Through this flashback, we can infer that Polyphemus’ curse has negatively impacted the course of Odysseus’ future, and has hindered his goal in some way. Since flashbacks are used to suggest future events, the inclusion of this flashback can only mean that it has a significant effect on Odysseus’ journey.
Further supplementary materials and enrichments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHXak1aEexI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc1ePErv5ss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=k5OERqTniro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Bl9Vvn92E
Reflection
From this lesson, I learned about the tale of Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus, and some literary devices and phrases used in the epic The Odyssey. Two greek phrases used in the epic are xenia and hubris, which mean hospitality and overconfidence, respectively. These two words not only helps me further understand the references and events in The Odyssey, but also gives insight into Greek mythology and classical Greek works. We also learned and applied our knowledge on foreshadowing, analyzing how foreshadowing provides insight develops the plot, creating a more enriching and memorable story, expanding our literary library to understand more works in the future These literature terms and techniques can also help with future writing assignments/endeavors, as a broader understanding of tropes and devices used in classic literature can help sophisticate our writings. By further understanding The Odyssey, we also further understand classical Greek tales and writings, which expands on our knowledge and experience with ancient civilizations as a whole.
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