When entering the cave of Polyphemus, Odysseus relies on the expectation of hospitality and helps himself to food and shelter. When Polyphemus returns, however, we see that he does not follow the rules of Greek hospitality. The reason he does not abide by these rules is because his father is the god Poseidon .
What Greek custom does Odysseus expect of Polyphemus?
When Odysseus and his men arrive, Polyphemus is supposed to follow the “hospitality” rule . He is supposed to offer them food and drink, and then ask questions later. The reason for this is that the stranger(s) could be a god or goddess. However, instead, he grabs several of Odysseus’ men and eats them.
What custom does Odysseus try to refer to in order to keep Polyphemus from getting violent?
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.
What rules does Polyphemus break?
in the eyes of the Greek soldiers (Odysseus included), he violates the (Greek) laws of hospitality .
What is Polyphemus perspective on Xenia?
Son of Poseidon. Polyphemus is a mild-mannered cyclops looking for love amidst an aggressive world. But this aspect of his character is not explored. Rather we are shown that Polyphemus is a foreign beast who doesn’t acknowledge even the most common aspects of Greek culture for he does not practice Xenia.
What is wrong with Ivan?
Ivan’s subsequent collapse into hallucination and madness represents the novel’s final rejection of his skeptical way of life. When the novel ends, Ivan is feverish and unconscious, having been taken home by Katerina to recuperate, and his future is uncertain.
Who is the father of Polyphemus?
Polyphemus, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the Cyclopes (one-eyed giants), son of Poseidon , god of the sea, and the nymph Thoösa.
What happens when Odysseus taunts the cyclops?
Thus, in this final taunting of the Cyclops, we see that Odysseus is unable to distance himself completely from the values dear to the Iliadic heroes ; he feels the need to identify himself to the Cyclops, so others will know of his skill and cunning.
Was Circe a goddess?
Circe (/ˈsɜːrsiː/; Ancient Greek: Κίρκη, pronounced [kírkɛː]) is an enchantress and a minor goddess in Greek mythology . She is either a daughter of the god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse or the goddess Hecate and Aeetes.
What five things does Polyphemus ask for in his prayer to Poseidon?
He prays to his father—the god of the sea, Poseidon—saying, “ Here me, thou girder of the land, dark-haired Poseidon! If I am truly thine, and thou art called my father, vouchsafe no coming home to this Odysseus, spoiler of cities, Laertes’ son, whose home is Ithaca .”
What code does the Cyclops violate?
What code does the Cyclops violate? Law of hospitality . Why does Odysseus decide not to stab the Cyclops with his sword?
What does the name Polyphemus mean?
Cyclopes. Polyphemus (/ˌpɒlɪˈfiːməs/; Greek: Πολύφημος, translit. Polyphēmos, Epic Greek: [polýphɛːmos]; Latin: Polyphēmus [pɔlʏˈpheːmʊs]) is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer’s Odyssey. His name means “abounding in songs and legends” .
What does the witch Circe do to Odysseus men?
Circe drugs a band of Odysseus’s men and turns them into pigs . When Odysseus goes to rescue them, Hermes approaches him in the form of a young man. He tells Odysseus to eat an herb called moly to protect himself from Circe’s drug and then lunge at her when she tries to strike him with her sword.
Why is Polyphemus a bad host?
When Odysseus entered the cave of Polyphemus, he was relying on the expectation of hospitality . ... Unlike a good host, Polyphemus does not think of his guests, but only of his own pleasures and gluttony. Eventually, Polyphemus ends up paying for his lack of hospitality as he is left blinded by Odysseus.
Who gives Telemachus good xenia?
This gift allows Telemachus to always remember the upmost Xenia demonstrated by Menelaus in future. To conclude, Xenia is a strong theme throughout books 1-4 of the Odyssey and will be a fluid theme through the entirety of the Epic.
What is the role of xenia in the Polyphemus episode?
What is the role of xenia as it applies to the episode with Polyphemus? Odysseus goes to the cave to expect a gift but the Cyclops goes against the rules of Xenia and kills Odysseus people . ... Odysseus and his men failed to reach Ithaca because they opened the sack with all of the winds and it then caused a storm.
