The Odyssey Summary:Book 9
Book IX of Homer’s Odyssey begins with Odysseus’ reply to Alkinoos, who has asked his visitor to reveal his name and explain his apparent grief. Odysseus tells Alkinoos his name and goes on to tell of his adventures during the war—specifically, his adventures with Kyklops. Odysseus begins with the story of a battle upon the coast of the Kikones, where many of his shipmates and friends were killed because of their greed. They set sail only to run into a violent storm that lasted for two days and nights. Once the storm had passed, Odysseus’ ships were caught in the current and were taken out to sea, where he drifted in high winds for nine days. They landed on the coast of Lotos Land. There, Odysseus sent three of his men to find out about the inhabitants, who offered them the sweet lotos, which caused the three men to long “to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.” Odysseus dragged the men back to the ship and quickly set out to sea before anyone else could be tempted to eat the lotos.
They sailed until they reached an island just off the coast of the Kyklopes, where they made harbor. On their second day, Odysseus and some of his men rowed to Kyklopes land to check out the island and its inhabitants. When they arrived on land, Odysseus took twelve of his best fighters and explored a cave. The men become locked in when Polyphemos, a Kyklopes, returns with his sheep and closes the opening of the cave with a large boulder. Odysseus explains how they arrived upon the island and requests the usual hospitality—which is the mark of civilized people. Polyphemos tells them that he has no fears of Zeus and will not let them. The giant also asks Odysseus where he is from and what part of the island is their ship located. Odysseus cunningly tells him that they were the only survivors of a terrible shipwreck. Polyphemos responds by brutally beating and then eating two of Odysseus’ men. The rest of the Greeks are terrified but Odysseus realizes that they cannot kill Polyphemos or they will be trapped in the cave forever.
The next morning, Polyphemos eats some more of the men and sets out with his flock of sheep. While Polyphemos was gone, Odysseus came up with a plan to fashion a stake with which they could stab Polyphemos in the eye. Polyphemos came back and ate two more men for dinner. Odysseus offered him some wine that he had brought with him and Polyphemos accepted, drinking it all. Polyphemos passed out and the men drove the spike into his eye. Polyphemos called for help from the other Kyklopes. When they asked him who had harmed him, Polyphemos told them “Nohbdy,” which is what Odysseus had called himself. The neighboring Kyklopes disregarded his pleas because “nobody” hurt him and Polyphemos is left to suffer. He moved the stone from the cave opening, blocking the doorway in hopes of catching any man who tried to escape. Odysseus demonstrates his wit once again and comes up with another plan.
He and his men tied groups of three sheep together and each man would hide under a group. In the morning, when Polyphemos let the sheep out to pasture, the men escaped unnoticed. They led the sheep back to the ships and once they were aboard, Odysseus turned and shouted his victory at Polyphemos. Odysseus tells him his real name. Polyphemos reveals that he had been forewarned that he would lose his eye at Odysseus’ hands. Polyphemos is surprised that Odysseus is such a little man and begged him to come back. He promises to treat him well and to make Poseidon favor his voyage. Odysseus tells Polyphemos that he would like to kill him. This angers Polyphemos and he prays that Poseidon will take vengeance and never allow Odysseus to see his home again. As the men sail away, they try to make offerings to Zeus, but to no avail.