Summary9

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The chapter commences as Odysseus is telling Alkinoos of his journey. He tells of the sorceress Kirke, and how she kept him with her against his will. Then he was washed up on the shores of Ogygia, isle of Kalypso, where he was detained for nine long years. When he at last escaped his men and ships were blown to a land called Ismaros. There they met the inhabitants of that land, Kikones. Odysseus’s men did not heed his orders and killed many sheep. The Kikones were trained warriors and killed many of Odysseus’s men in turn. From Ismaros, they sailed the open seas until at last reaching the Land of the Lotos Eaters. These people were passive and harmless but they tempted Odysseus and his crew with the honeysweet Lotos flower. Three fell under the spell and wished to remain there forever, in an ignorant bliss. Odysseus barely managed to get them away.=====

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Next they arrived to the Land of the Kyklopes. The Kyklopes are huge, frightening one-eyed creatures who enjoy eating men. Odysseus and 12 of his crew go onshore to scout out the land and find out if the natives are hospitable and kind. They find the empty cave of Polyphemus and eat lots of his cheese. At nightfall, when he returns from herding his sheep, he finds the men in his cave. He proclaims he shall eat two each day, and then proceeds to eat two. Then, by rolling an immense stone over the mouth of his cave, he traps Odysseus and his men inside. Odysseus hatches a plan. The following evening, he gives Polyphemus a lot of wine until he is drunk. When the Kyklops falls asleep Odyssus stabs his eye out with a long spear he had prepared. Odysseus tells the Kyklops his name is Nobody. The next day when Polyphemus removes the stone, Odysseus and his men tie themselves to the underside of some sheep. They are led out by Polyphemus, who cannot see them. They load their ships with Polyphemus’s sheep and are soon on their journey. The great Kyklopes curses them as they sail away. He prays to his father, Poseidon, and asks him to make Odysseus’s journey long and hard.=====