The Cyclops Cave

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“The Cyclops” from the Odyssey by Homer

In ancient Greece, heroes in epic poems like the Odyssey represented the highest values of Greek civilization. In Homer’s day, heroes were thought of as a special class of men, somewhere between the gods and ordinary human beings. As you read “The Cyclops,” see how Odysseus uses his special qualities to save himself and his men from becoming a monster’s meal.

LITERARY FOCUS: HEROES AT LARGE Epics are long narrative poems that tell of the great deeds of a hero. In an epic, the main character is the hero. (In many epics the hero’s enemy is also a major character.) Heroes usually represent qualities that their society admires. Some people today, for example, see sports stars, popular singers, great scientists, or firefighters as their heroes. In epics told long ago, the heroes are often superhuman warriors, who set off on journeys to win something of great value for themselves and for their people.

The conflicts, or struggles between opposing forces, in an epic are usually external, as the heroes battle armies, monsters, or the forces of nature. Epic heroes can also face internal conflicts—caused by fear, doubt, weakness, and so on. • First, read “The Cyclops” for enjoyment. Then, consider what the adventure reveals about the values of the ancient Greeks.

READING SKILLS: MONITOR YOUR COMPREHENSION Good readers pause occasionally to make sure they understand what they have read. When you read a long, action-filled poem such as this one, it is Literary Skills important to stay on top of events—to understand what is happening. Understand characteristics of Pause during your reading to ask yourself the following questions: epic poetry, including heroes • What has happened so far? and their external • What has caused those events? conflicts. • What are the most important events in this episode? Reading • When do the events take place? Skills Monitor your • What might happen next?

282 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth PREVIEW SELECTION VOCABULARY The following words appear in “The Cyclops.” Become familiar with them before you begin reading.

ravage (rav√ij) v.: destroy violently; ruin. adversary (ad√v¥r·ser≈≤) n.: enemy; opponent. The Cyclops planned to ravage Odysseus and his Odysseus had to find a way to defeat his men by eating them. adversary, the Cyclops.

profusion (pr£·fyº√¤¥n) n.: large supply; abundance. With such a large flock of sheep, the Cyclops had a profusion of milk, cheese, and wool.

WORDS FROM GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS Many words we use in English today come from Greek and Roman myths. For example, a journey or quest is often called an odyssey, named for the Odyssey, the epic poem from which “The Cyclops” is taken. Other words from “The Cyclops” that have been handed down are ambrosia, meaning “food of the gods,” and nectar, meaning “drink of the gods.” Look at the chart below to learn of other words handed down from Greek and Roman myths.

Names from Greek and Roman Myths English Words

Ceres, Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility cereal Mount Olympus, legendary home of gods and goddesses Olympics Tantalus, character from Greek myth whose food and drink were kept just out of his reach, as punishment tantalize Titans, race of giant Greek gods and goddesses who came before the Olympians titanic Vulcan, Roman god of fire and metalworkers volcano Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reserved.

The Cyclops 283 Notes

Homer translated by Robert Fitzgerald Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Otterlo, the Netherlands. Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Bridgeman Art Library. The Cyclops (detail) (late 19th or early 20th century) by Odilon Redon.

The Odyssey is the story of the attempt of a Greek soldier, Odysseus, to return to his home following the Trojan War. An epic, the Odyssey is composed of many different stories, or episodes, in which the hero, Odysseus, faces all sorts of challenges. In this adventure, Odysseus describes his encounter with the Cyclops, Polyphemus (päl≈i·f≤√m¥s), Poseidon’s one-eyed monster son. Polyphemus may represent the brute forces that any hero must overcome before he can reach home. To survive, Odysseus must rely on the special intelligence associated with his name. Odysseus is the cleverest of the Greek heroes because he is guided by the goddess of wisdom, Athena.

It is Odysseus’s famed curiosity that leads him to the Cyclops’s Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reserved. cave and that makes him insist on waiting for the barbaric giant. Odysseus is speaking to the court of King Alcinous (al·sin√£·¥s). From The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Copyright © 1961, 1963 by Robert Fitzgerald; copyright renewed © 1989 by Benedict R. C. Fitzgerald. Reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, LLC.

284 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth “We lit a fire, burnt an offering, and took some cheese to eat; then sat in silence

around the embers, waiting. When he came Pause at line 3. Odysseus and he had a load of dry boughs on his shoulder his men are in the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. To 5 to stoke his fire at suppertime. He dumped it whom do the men burn an offering? with a great crash into that hollow cave, and we all scattered fast to the far wall. Then over the broad cavern floor he ushered the ewes he meant to milk. He left his rams 10 and he-goats in the yard outside, and swung high overhead a slab of solid rock to close the cave. Two dozen four-wheeled wagons, with heaving wagon teams, could not have stirred the tonnage of that rock from where he wedged it 15 over the doorsill. Next he took his seat and milked his bleating ewes. A practiced job Who is the “he” in line 3? he made of it, giving each ewe her suckling; thickened his milk, then, into curds and whey, sieved out the curds to drip in withy baskets,1 20 and poured the whey to stand in bowls cooling until he drank it for his supper.

ved. When all these chores were done, he poked the fire, heaping on brushwood. In the glare he saw us.

Re-read lines 5-23, and pay ‘Strangers,’ he said, ‘who are you? And where from? attention to the Cyclops’s actions. What qualities does 25 — What brings you here by seaways a fair traffic? he have? Or are you wandering rogues, who cast your lives like dice, and ravage other folk by sea?’

We felt a pressure on our hearts, in dread of that deep rumble and that mighty man. 30 But all the same I spoke up in reply: Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser ‘We are from Troy, Achaeans, blown off course by shifting gales on the Great South Sea; ravage (rav√ij) v.: destroy violently; ruin.

1. withy baskets: baskets made from willow twigs.

The Cyclops 285 homeward bound, but taking routes and ways uncommon; so the will of Zeus would have it. 2 Hospitality to strangers was 35 We served under Agamemnon, son of Atreus — extremely important to the the whole world knows what city ancient Greeks. Re-read lines 38-43, and underline the he laid waste, what armies he destroyed. words that tell what will happen if the Cyclops does It was our luck to come here; here we stand, not treat the Greeks well. beholden for your help, or any gifts 40 you give—as custom is to honor strangers. We would entreat you, great Sir, have a care for the gods’ courtesy; Zeus will avenge Pause at line 50. Does the the unoffending guest.’ Cyclops respect Zeus, as Odysseus does? Explain. He answered this from his brute chest, unmoved: ‘You are a ninny, 45 or else you come from the other end of nowhere, telling me, mind the gods! We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far. I would not let you go for fear of Zeus— 50 you or your friends—unless I had a whim to. Tell me, where was it, now, you left your ship— Pause at line 58. Why do you think Odysseus lies about his around the point, or down the shore, I wonder?’ ved. ship? He thought he’d find out, but I saw through this, and answered with a ready lie:

‘My ship? 55 Poseidon Lord, who sets the earth atremble, broke it up on the rocks at your land’s end. A wind from seaward served him, drove us there. We are survivors, these good men and I.’

Underline the two gruesome Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser Homeric similes—extended Neither reply nor pity came from him, comparisons using like or 60 but in one stride he clutched at my companions as—in lines 59-65.

2. Agamemnon (ag≈¥·mem√nän≈); Atreus (†√tr≤·¥s).

286 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.

Then he dismembered them and made his meal, How does Odysseus show gaping and crunching like a mountain lion— both his bravery and his intelligence in lines 71-78? 65 everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones. We cried aloud, lifting our hands to Zeus, powerless, looking on at this, appalled; but Cyclops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey, 70 then lay down like a mast among his sheep. My heart beat high now at the chance of action, and drawing the sharp sword from my hip I went along his flank to stab him where the midriff holds the liver. I had touched the spot 75 when sudden fear stayed me: if I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never Line 79 contains a famous move his ponderous doorway slab aside. epithet—a group of words So we were left to groan and wait for morning. used repeatedly to describe a character. How is Dawn described in this epithet? When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose 80 lit up the world, the Cyclops built a fire

ved. and milked his handsome ewes, all in due order, putting the sucklings to the mothers. Then, his chores being all dispatched, he caught another brace3 of men to make his breakfast, 85 and whisked away his great door slab to let his sheep go through—but he, behind, Pause at line 87. What pre- vents Odysseus and his men reset the stone as one would cap a quiver.4 from escaping when the Cyclops leaves? There was a din of whistling as the Cyclops rounded his flock to higher ground, then stillness. 90 And now I pondered how to hurt him worst, if but Athena granted what I prayed for. Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser Here are the means I thought would serve my turn:

3. brace (br†s) n.: pair. 4. quiver (kwiv√¥r) n.: case for arrows.

The Cyclops 287 a club, or staff, lay there along the fold—

Pause at line 105. What do an olive tree, felled green and left to season Odysseus and his men do 95 for Cyclops’ hand. And it was like a mast with the olive tree they find in the Cyclops’s cave? a lugger5 of twenty oars, broad in the beam— a deep-seagoing craft—might carry: so long, so big around, it seemed. Now I chopped out a six-foot section of this pole 100 and set it down before my men, who scraped it; and when they had it smooth, I hewed again to make a stake with pointed end. I held this in the fire’s heart and turned it, toughening it, then hid it, well back in the cavern, under 105 one of the dung piles in profusion there. profusion (pr£·fyº√¤¥n) n.: large supply; abundance. Now came the time to toss for it: who ventured along with me? Whose hand could bear to thrust and grind that spike in Cyclops’ eye, when mild sleep had mastered him? As luck would have it, Pause at line 111. Apparently, it was the custom among the 110 the men I would have chosen won the toss— ancient Greeks for men to four strong men, and I made five as captain. toss coins, dice, or something else for the honor of partici- pating in a dangerous task. Why is Odysseus happy with At evening came the shepherd with his flock, ved. the outcome? his woolly flock. The rams as well, this time, entered the cave: by some sheepherding whim— 115 or a god’s bidding—none were left outside. He hefted his great boulder into place and sat him down to milk the bleating ewes in proper order, put the lambs to suck, and swiftly ran through all his evening chores. 120 Then he caught two more men and feasted on them. My moment was at hand, and I went forward holding an ivy bowl of my dark drink, Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser looking up, saying:

5. lugger (lug√¥r) n.: type of sailboat.

288 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth Odysseus handing the drink to Polyphemus. Notes Relief on a Grecian marble sarcophagus (1st century A.D.). Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Italy. Art Resource, NY.

‘Cyclops, try some wine. Pause at line 126. Why do you think Odysseus offers the Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men. Cyclops wine? 125 Taste it, and see the kind of drink we carried under our planks. I meant it for an offering if you would help us home. But you are mad, unbearable, a bloody monster! After this, will any other traveler come to see you?’ ved.

130 He seized and drained the bowl, and it went down so fiery and smooth he called for more:

‘Give me another, thank you kindly. Tell me, how are you called? I’ll make a gift will please you. Even Cyclopes know the wine grapes grow 135 out of grassland and loam in heaven’s rain, but here’s a bit of nectar and ambrosia!’

Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser Three bowls I brought him, and he poured them down. Underline the alliteration— I saw the fuddle and flush come over him, repetition of consonant sounds in words close then I sang out in cordial tones: together—in line 138. Here fuddle means “drunkenness.”

The Cyclops 289 ‘Cyclops, 140 you ask my honorable name? Remember

Pause at line 143. Odysseus the gift you promised me, and I shall tell you. doesn’t tell the Cyclops his My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, real name. Underline the name he uses. What word everyone calls me Nohbdy.’ does the name sound like?

And he said: ‘Nohbdy’s my meat, then, after I eat his friends. 145 Others come first. There’s a noble gift, now.’

Even as he spoke, he reeled and tumbled backward,

What happens in lines his great head lolling to one side; and sleep - 146 167? took him like any creature. Drunk, hiccuping, he dribbled streams of liquor and bits of men.

150 Now, by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men along with battle talk to keep their courage up: no quitting now. The pike of olive, green though it had been, 155 reddened and glowed as if about to catch.

I drew it from the coals and my four fellows ved. gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops as more than natural force nerved them; straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it 160 deep in his crater eye, and I leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill in planking, having men below to swing the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove. Underline the extended So with our brand we bored that great eye socket similes in lines 160-163 and 166-171, which use grue- 165 while blood ran out around the red-hot bar. some comparisons to help Eyelid and lash were seared; the pierced ball you see how the eye is Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser gouged out. hissed broiling, and the roots popped.

290 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth In a smithy6 one sees a white-hot axhead or an adze7

plunged and wrung in a cold tub, screeching steam— Read the boxed passage aloud twice. On your first 170 the way they make soft iron hale and hard— reading, pause at the end of just so that eyeball hissed around the spike. a line if it ends in punctua- tion. Read on when the line The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him, does not end with a comma, and we fell back in fear. Clawing his face dash, semicolon, colon, or period. On your second read- he tugged the bloody spike out of his eye, ing, focus on reading with 175 threw it away, and his wild hands went groping; expression. then he set up a howl for Cyclopes who lived in caves on windy peaks nearby. Some heard him; and they came by divers8 ways Re-read lines 178-191. What to clump around outside and call: happens when Polyphemus’s ‘What ails you, fellow Cyclopes come to his aid? 180 Polyphemus? Why do you cry so sore in the starry night? You will not let us sleep. Sure no man’s driving off your flock? No man has tricked you, ruined you?’ Out of the cave the mammoth Polyphemus roared in answer:

185 ‘Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me. Nohbdy’s ruined me!’ ved. To this rough shout they made a sage9 reply:

‘Ah well, if nobody has played you foul there in your lonely bed, we are no use in pain given by great Zeus. Let it be your father, 190 Poseidon Lord, to whom you pray.’

6. smithy (smi‚√≤) n.: blacksmith’s shop, where iron tools are made. 7. adze (adz) n.: axlike tool with a long, curved blade. 8. divers (d¢√v¥rz) adj.: diverse; various. 9. sage (s†j) adj.: wise.

The Cyclops 291 Odysseus escaping the cave of Polyphemus under the belly of the ram. Detail from a krater, a vessel for holding wine (c. 510 B.C.). Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Now Cyclops, wheezing as the pain came on him, fumbled to wrench away the great doorstone Pause at line 202. What 195 and squatted in the breach with arms thrown wide character trait helps Odysseus defeat the Cyclops? for any silly beast or man who bolted— hoping somehow I might be such a fool.

But I kept thinking how to win the game: ved. death sat there huge; how could we slip away? 200 I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came—and it pleased me well. The Cyclops’ rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet. Three abreast 205 I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the ogre’s bed; then slung a man under each middle one Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser to ride there safely, shielded left and right. So three sheep could convey each man. I took 210 the woolliest ram, the choicest of the flock,

292 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth and hung myself under his kinky belly, pulled up tight, with fingers twisted deep in sheepskin ringlets for an iron grip. So, breathing hard, we waited until morning. Pause at line 214. What is Odysseus’s plan to save himself and his men? 215 When Dawn spread out her fingertips of rose the rams began to stir, moving for pasture, and peals of bleating echoed round the pens where dams with udders full called for a milking. Blinded, and sick with pain from his head wound, 220 the master stroked each ram, then let it pass, but my men riding on the pectoral fleece10 the giant’s blind hands blundering never found. Last of them all my ram, the leader, came, weighted by wool and me with my meditations. 225 The Cyclops patted him, and then he said:

‘Sweet cousin ram, why lag behind the rest in the night cave? You never linger so, but graze before them all, and go afar Re-read lines 226-232. How to crop sweet grass, and take your stately way is the Cyclops’s treatment of his ram different from his ved. 230 leading along the streams, until at evening treatment of the Greeks? you run to be the first one in the fold. Why, now, so far behind? Can you be grieving over your Master’s eye? That carrion rogue11 and his accurst companions burnt it out 235 when he had conquered all my wits with wine. Nohbdy will not get out alive, I swear. Oh, had you brain and voice to tell where he may be now, dodging all my fury! Bashed by this hand and bashed on this rock wall 240 his brains would strew the floor, and I should have Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser rest from the outrage Nohbdy worked upon me.’

10. pectoral fleece: wool on an animal’s chest. 11. carrion rogue: rotten scoundrel. Carrion is decaying flesh.

The Cyclops 293 He sent us into the open, then. Close by, I dropped and rolled clear of the ram’s belly, going this way and that to untie the men. What is happening in lines 245 With many glances back, we rounded up 242-255? his fat, stiff-legged sheep to take aboard, and drove them down to where the good ship lay. We saw, as we came near, our fellows’ faces shining; then we saw them turn to grief 250 tallying those who had not fled from death. I hushed them, jerking head and eyebrows up, and in a low voice told them: ‘Load this herd; move fast, and put the ship’s head toward the breakers.’ They all pitched in at loading, then embarked 255 and struck their oars into the sea. Far out, as far offshore as shouted words would carry, I sent a few back to the adversary: adversary (ad√v¥r·ser≈≤) n.: enemy; opponent. ‘O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I, in a Caveman’s hands? 260 How do you like the beating that we gave you, Pause at line 271. What hap- you damned cannibal? Eater of guests pens when Odysseus taunts under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!’ ved. the Cyclops?

The blind thing in his doubled fury broke a hilltop in his hands and heaved it after us. 265 Ahead of our black prow it struck and sank whelmed in a spuming geyser, a giant wave that washed the ship stern foremost back to shore. I got the longest boathook out and stood fending us off, with furious nods to all 270 to put their backs into a racing stroke— row, row or perish. So the long oars bent Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser kicking the foam sternward, making head until we drew away, and twice as far. Now when I cupped my hands I heard the crew 275 in low voices protesting:

294 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth ‘Godsake, Captain!

Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!’ Odysseus’s men speak for the first time in lines 275-281. ‘That tidal wave he made on the first throw What is their reaction to their captain’s behavior? all but beached us.’

‘All but stove us in!’ ‘Give him our bearing with your trumpeting, 280 he’ll get the range and lob12 a boulder.’

‘Aye He’ll smash our timbers and our heads together!’ Odysseus ignores his men’s advice and continues to I would not heed them in my glorying spirit, taunt the Cyclops in lines 282-287. What does but let my anger flare and yelled: Odysseus’s behavior reveal about him? ‘Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire 285 how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca!’ ved. At this he gave a mighty sob and rumbled:

‘Now comes the weird13 upon me, spoken of old. Pause at line 298. Polyphemus had been 14 290 A wizard, grand and wondrous, lived here—Telemus, warned by a wizard that a son of Eurymus;15 great length of days Odysseus would blind him. In what ways is Odysseus differ- he had in wizardry among the Cyclopes, ent from the attacker the and these things he foretold for time to come: Cyclops had imagined? my great eye lost, and at Odysseus’ hands. 295 Always I had in mind some giant, armed in giant force, would come against me here. But this, but you—small, pitiful, and twiggy— Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser you put me down with wine, you blinded me.

12. lob (läb) v.: toss. 13. weird (wird) n.: fate. 14. Telemus (tel√¥·m¥s). 15. Eurymus (yº√r≤·m¥s).

The Cyclops 295 Come back, Odysseus, and I’ll treat you well, 300 praying the god of earthquake to befriend you— his son I am, for he by his avowal Pause at line 308. The fathered me, and, if he will, he may Cyclops has asked Odysseus to come back and says he’ll heal me of this black wound—he and no other treat him well. Underline of all the happy gods or mortal men.’ Odysseus’s reply. Then, read on and underline the Cyclops’s curse on Odysseus and his men. 305 Few words I shouted in reply to him:

‘If I could take your life I would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell!

Review the Cyclops’s curse. The god of earthquake could not heal you there!’ What might happen next?

At this he stretched his hands out in his darkness 310 toward the sky of stars, and prayed Poseidon:

‘O hear me, lord, blue girdler of the islands, if I am thine indeed, and thou art father: grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home: Laertes’ son, I mean, 315 who kept his hall on Ithaca. Should destiny

intend that he shall see his roof again ved. among his family in his fatherland, far be that day, and dark the years between. Let him lose all companions, and return 320 under strange sail to bitter days at home.’ . . .” Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser

296 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth The Cyclops

Hero Chart What makes a hero? Listed in the left-hand column of the chart below are some heroic traits. Give examples from “The Cyclops” to show whether or not Odysseus displays these traits. At the bottom of the chart is a row for weaknesses. If you find weaknesses in Odysseus, cite details from the story to support your opinion.

Key Traits of a Hero Details from “The Cyclops”

Intelligence and resourcefulness

Strength ved.

Bravery and loyalty

The Cyclops 297 Skills Review

The Cyclops

Complete the sample test item below. The box at the right explains why three of the choices are not correct.

Sample Test Item Explanation of the Correct Answer

The best description of an epic poem The correct answer is D; it offers the is a — most information about what an epic A poem that tells a story poem is. B lyric poem that reveals emotions A is incorrect; many poems, even very C wildly exaggerated, humorous poem short ones, tell stories. Epics are not lyric poems, as B claims. Epics are seri- D long narrative poem about the ous, not humorous, as C states. deeds of a heroic character

DIRECTIONS: Circle the letter of each correct answer.

1. When he first speaks to the Cyclops, 3. How does the Cyclops treat the Odysseus warns him that — Greeks? A the Greeks will kill him A He devours some of them. ved. B the Greeks want his land B He opens his home to them. C Zeus will avenge the Greeks if C He helps them on their way. Cyclops is not courteous D He kills all of them. D Zeus will kill the Cyclops if he doesn’t give them money 4. How does Odysseus win the battle with the Cyclops? 2. The interaction between Odysseus F He tricks the Cyclops. and the Cyclops is — G He kills the giant. F an external conflict H He calls on Zeus to help him. G not important to the story J He betrays his men. H a universal theme Literary Skills Analyze J part of the setting Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser characteristics of epic poetry, including heroes and their external conflicts.

298 Part 1 Collection 10: Epic and Myth Skills Review

The Cyclops

Words from Myths Myths often attempt to explain the mysteries of nature, the origins of rituals, and the relationships between gods and humans. Many words from Greek and Roman myths live on in the English language. For example, some common English words are derived from the names of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. DIRECTIONS: Match each Greek or Roman god’s or goddess’s name or home with the English word that is derived from it.

1. Vulcan a. Olympics Vocabulary Skills Identify words 2. Ceres b. tantalize from Greek and Roman myths. Use words in 3. Mount Olympus c. titanic context.

4. Titans d. cereal

5. Tantalus e. volcano ved. Vocabulary in Context DIRECTIONS: Complete the paragraph below by writing a word from the word box to fit each numbered blank. Use each word only once.

WordWord BoxBox As the epic poem the Odyssey reveals, Odysseus had more than one (1) . In fact, he had a (2) ravage of enemies, both monsters and men—and even gods. Some of his enemies profusion hated Odysseus so much they actually wanted to adversary (3) him and his men, while others were content to prevent him from reaching home. Copyright © by Holt, © by Copyright Winston. Rinehart and All rights reser

The Cyclops 299 Collection 10 Student pages 282–283 283 The Cyclops enemy; opponent. , n.: ) Odyssey the Cyclops. ad√v¥r·ser≈≤ ( us had to find a way to defeat his us had to find a way se ys Od adversary, adversary , named for the meaning “food of the odyssey ambrosia, us and his se ys Od large supply; n.: ravage ) meaning “drink of the gods.” Look at chart below to legendary home of gods and destroy violently; ruin. milk, cheese, and wool. of v.: ) nectar, pr£·fyº√¤¥n character from Greek myth whose ( Roman god of fire and metalworkers volcano race of giant Greek gods and goddesses rav√ij Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility cereal ( Names from Greek and Roman Myths Greek Names from English Words ith such a large flock of sheep, had the Cyclops profusion ulcan, men by eating them. The Cyclops planned to The Cyclops abundance. W a antalus, Ceres, Mount Olympus, goddessesT food and drink were kept just out of his reach, as punishmentTitans, who came before the OlympiansV titanic Olympics tantalize

the epic poem from which “The Cyclops” is taken. Other words Cyclops” that have been handed down are gods,” and learn of other words handed down from Greek and Roman myths. PREVIEW SELECTION VOCABULARY The following words appear in “The Cyclops.” Become familiar with them before you begin reading. ravage profusion WORDS FROM GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS Many words we use in English today come from Greek and Roman myths. For example, a journey or quest is often called an

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Odyssey represented the Odyssey caused by fear, doubt, weakness, caused by fear, — to understand what is happening. — usually represent qualities that their society is the hero. (In many epics the hero’s enemy is also is the hero. (In many epics hero’s internal conflicts Heroes or struggles between opposing forces, in an epic are usually as the heroes battle armies, monsters, or forces of nature. Epic main character are long narrative poems that tell of the great deeds a hero. In an mer hat has happened so far? hat has caused those events? hat are the most important events in this episode? hen do the events take place? hat might happen next? conflicts, First, read “The Cyclops” for enjoyment. Then, consider what the adventure reveals about the values of ancient Greeks. external, heroes can also face and so on. • Epics epic, the for example, see sports stars, popular singers, admires. Some people today, great scientists, or firefighters as their heroes. In epics told long ago, the on journeys to win heroes are often superhuman warriors, who set off something of great value for themselves and their people. The Good readers pause occasionally to make sure they understand what have read. When you read a long, action-filled poem such as this one, it is important to stay on top of events a major character.) a major character.) Pause during your reading to ask yourself the following questions: •W •W •W •W •W “The Cyclops” from the from “The Cyclops” by Ho In ancient Greece, heroes in epic poems like the LARGE FOCUS: HEROES AT LITERARY READING SKILLS: MONITOR YOUR COMPREHENSION highest values of Greek civilization. In Homer’s day, heroes were thought of day, highest values of Greek civilization. In Homer’s as a special class of men, somewhere between the gods and ordinary human beings. As you read “The Cyclops,” see how Odysseus uses his special meal. qualities to save himself and his men from becoming a monster’s Collection 10: Epic and Myth Part 1 Skills Skills external conflicts. and their Reading epic poetry, ocabulary Understand Learn words V Monitor your Roman myths. comprehension. from Greek and including heroes characteristics of Literary Skills 282

Student Pages with Answers 143 Collection 10 Student pages 284–285 285 destroy 23, and pay - v.: ) The Cyclops rav√ij ( Pause at line 3. Odysseus and his men are in the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. To whom do the men burn an offering? to the gods Who is the “he” in line 3? the Cyclops Re-read lines 5 attention to the Cyclops’s actions. What qualities does he have? He is enormously and skilled. strong ravage violently; ruin. 1 a fair traffic? — other folk by sea?’ other folk by baskets made from willow twigs. ravage felt a pressure on our hearts,felt a pressure in dread angers,’ he said, from? where And you? ‘who are e lit a fire, burnt an offering,

shifting gales on the Great South Sea; shifting gales on the Great t all the same I spoke up in reply: t all the same I spoke e are from Troy, Achaeans, from e are blown off course close the cave. wagons, four-wheeled dozen Two stoke his fire at suppertime. his fire stoke dumped it He

er the doorsill. his seat he took Next oling until he drank it for his supper. hen all these chores were done, were hen all these chores the fire, he poked hat brings you here by seaways by hat brings here you

tr ith a great crash into that hollow cave, that hollow crashith a great into wagon teams,ith heaving stirred not have could Or are you wandering rogues, you Or are lives who cast your dice,like and We of that deep rumble and that mighty man. Bu ‘W by w the far wall. fast to all scattered and we floor he ushered cavern the broad Then over milk. he meant to the ewes left his rams He outside,and he-goats in the yard and swung a slab ofhigh overhead solid rock to w ofthe tonnage it he wedged where from that rock ov his bleating ewes.and milked job A practiced he made of it, giving her suckling; ewe each his milk,thickened then, and whey, curds into drip baskets, to in withy out the curds sieved W “W eat; to some cheese and took then sat in silence the embers,around waiting. he came When he had a load of dry boughs on his shoulder to stand in bowls the whey to and poured co W heaping on brushwood. us. the glare he saw In ‘S 1. withy baskets:

10 15 20 25 30

Bridgeman Art Library. Art Bridgeman Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Otterlo, the Netherlands. Netherlands. the Otterlo, Kroller-Muller, Rijksmuseum . (al·sin√£·¥s) idon’s one-eyed monster idon’s se Po Robert Fitzgerald ·f≤√m¥s), i Homer (päl≈ is the story of the attempt of soldier, a Greek Odysseus, translated by us is speaking to the court of Alcinous King se is composed of stories, different many or episodes, in ys this adventure, Odysseus describes his encounter with the is Odysseus’s famed curiosity that leads him to the Cyclops’s is Odysseus’s

ps, Polyphemus In It Od Odyssey dom, Athena. hich the hero, Odysseus, faces all sorts of challenges. on. must hero represent that any the brute may forces Polyphemus The War. epic,to return to his home followingTrojan An the the Odyssey w s home. he can reach before overcome survive, To Odysseus must rely on the special intelligence associated with his name. Odysseus is the cleverest of because heroes he is guided by the goddess of the Greek wis him insist on waiting and that makes for the barbariccave giant. Cyclo The Cyclops (detail) (late 19th or early 20th century) by Odilon Redon. Collection 10: Epic and Myth by Homer, translated by by Homer, Part 1 Farrar, Straus & Giroux, LLC. Straus & Giroux, Farrar, The Odyssey Notes Notes From Robert Fitzgerald. Copyright © 1961, 1963 by Robert Fitzgerald; copyright renewed © 1989 by Benedict R. C. Fitzgerald. Reprinted permission of 284

144 The Holt Reader: Teacher’s Manual Collection 10 Student pages 286–287 287 78? - The Cyclops a group of words — osy fingertips. used repeatedly to describe a How is Dawn character. How does Odysseus show both his bravery and intelligence in lines 71 He shows bravery by his willingness to stab the Cyclops, and intelligence in thinking about the conse- quences of his action and deciding to wait. Line 79 contains a famous epithet described in this epithet? Dawn is described as a young woman with r Pause at line 87. What pre- vents Odysseus and his men from escaping when the Cyclops leaves? The Cyclops replaces stone slab the great they can before escape. — 4 but he, behind, — case for arrows. n.: pair. ) of his breakfast, make men to n.: 3 ) kwiv√¥r ( br†s ( are the means I thought would serve my turn: the means I thought serve my are would

heart beat high now at the chance ofheart at the chance beat high now action, cried aloud, Zeus, lifting our hands to en the young Dawn with Dawn fingertipsen the young of rose perished there as well,perished there never could for we

let his sheep go through beat their brains out, spattering the floor. erything: innards, flesh, bones. and marrow

ith manflesh and great gulps ofith manflesh and great whey, nd now I pondered how to hurt to him worst, how I pondered nd now eset the stone as one would cap a quiver. as one would eset the stone ounded his flock to higherounded his flock to ground, then stillness. and drawing the sharp sword from my hip I went my from and drawing the sharp sword the midriff stab him where along his flank to holds the liver. the spot I had touched me:when sudden fear stayed if I killed him we slab aside. doorway his ponderous move and wait for morning. groan left to were So we Wh lit up the world, built a fire the Cyclops his handsome ewes,and milked all in due order, the mothers.putting the sucklings to Then, being all dispatched,his chores he caught another brace ev We powerless, looking on at this, appalled; on filling up his belly went but Cyclops w a mast among his sheep. down like then lay My door slab his great away and whisked to r and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies and caught in his hands like two to them and made his meal, Then he dismembered a mountain lion gaping and crunching like was a din ofThere whistling as the Cyclops r A if for. granted what I prayed Athena but He 3. brace 4. quiver

65 70 75 80 85 90

Atreus ); He unless I had a whim to. — ag≈¥·mem√nän≈ ( as custom is to honor strangers. is to as custom — ould entreat you,ould entreat Sir, great a care have w served under Agamemnon,served under son of Atreus are survivors,are these good men and I.’ thought he’d find out,thought he’d this, through but I saw

ither reply nor pityhim, ither reply came from ll me, was it, where now, ship left your you was our luck to come here; come was our luck to stand, we here lling me, Cyclopes We mind the gods!

oseidon Lord, who sets the earth atremble, ou give ou or your friends ou or your homeward bound,homeward and ways but taking routes uncommon; so the will of it. have would Zeus We 2. Agamemnon the whole world knows what city knows the whole world he laid waste, what armies he destroyed. It help,beholden for your gifts any or y We for the gods’ courtesy; will Zeus avenge the unoffending guest.’ from his brute chest, his brute from unmoved: or else you come from the other end of from come or else you nowhere, te thundering Zeus not a whistle for your care or all the gods in bliss; far. by force more have we go for fear of not let you I would Zeus y Te the point,around or down the shore, I wonder?’ He lie: with a ready and answered P end. land’s at your it up on the rocks broke served him,A wind seaward from us there. drove We Ne companions but in one stride at my he clutched 35 40 45 50 55 60 or Collection 10: Epic and Myth like extended 65. — - Part 1 in lines 59 43, and underline the - — espect for the gods; Hospitality to strangers was extremely important to the ancient Greeks. Re-read lines 38 Pause at line 50. Does the Cyclops respect Zeus, as Odysseus does? Explain. No; the Cyclops has no r he says and his than stronger kind are the gods. Pause at line 58. Why do you think Odysseus lies about his ship? want the He doesn’t the Cyclops to destroy ship; he wants the Cyclops to pity them them well. and treat Underline the two gruesome Homeric similes comparisons using as 286 words that tell what will happen if the Cyclops does not treat the Greeks well.

Student Pages with Answers 145 Collection 10 Student pages 288–289 289 — alliteration in line 138. Here The Cyclops — means “drunkenness.” Notes Notes Pause at line 126. Why do the you think Odysseus offers Cyclops wine? Odysseus wants to get the Cyclops drunk so he’ll be easier to attack. Underline the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together fuddle lops, try some wine. yc ‘C .). D . A liquor to wash down your scraps of wash down your liquor to men.

’s e me another, kindly. thank you me, Tell seized and drainedseized the bowl, down and it went

re en Cyclopes know the wine know grapes grow en Cyclopes ll any other traveler come to see you?’ to come other traveler ll any iv aste it,aste and see the kind of drink carried we how are you called? I’ll make a gift will called? I’ll make please you. you are how Ev out of rain, grassland and loam in heaven’s a bit ofbut here’s nectar and ambrosia!’ him, I brought bowls Three them down. and he poured him, over the fuddle and flush come I saw tones: then I sang out in cordial He T under our planks. I meant it for an offering if help us home. would you mad, are you But unbearable, this, After monster! a bloody wi He so fiery and smooth he called for more: ‘G Odysseus handing the drink to Polyphemus. Relief on a Grecian marble sarcophagus (1st century Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Italy. Art Resource, NY.

125 130 135

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright — — — — there. profusion might carry: — none were left outside. none were type of sailboat. — n.: ) lug√¥r ( of twenty oars, in the beam broad 5 ening came the shepherd withening came the shepherd his flock, moment was at hand, forward and I went hefted his great boulder into place boulder into his great hefted

w came the time to toss for it: toss w came the time to who ventured ev

make a stake with end. pointed a stake make I held this opped out a six-foot section of this pole

his woolly flock.his woolly The rams as well, this time, the cave:entered whim some sheepherding by He milk the bleating ewes and sat him down to order,in proper suck, put the lambs to and swiftly chores. ran all his evening through on them. men and feasted Then he caught more two My of bowl holding an ivy dark drink, my looking up, saying: or a god’s bidding or a god’s a club, or staff, along the fold there lay 5. lugger an olive tree,an olive season and left to felled green for Cyclops’ hand. a mast it was like And a lugger a deep-seagoing craft so long, so big around, it seemed. I Now ch men, my and set it down before who scraped it; and when they had it smooth, again I hewed to heart and turned it,in the fire’s toughening it, then hid it, back in the cavern, well under one of the dung piles in No thrust bear to hand could Whose along with me? and grind in Cyclops’ that spike eye, when mild it, have luck would As him? sleep had mastered the toss won chosen have the men I would men,four strong as captain. and I made five At 95 100 105 110 115 120 n.: ) Collection 10: Epic and Myth fyº√¤¥n · pr£ ( Part 1 large supply; abundance. Pause at line 105. What do Odysseus and his men do with the olive tree they find cave? in the Cyclops’s They carve it and it into a sharp harden stake. profusion Pause at line 111. Apparently, it was the custom among ancient Greeks for men to toss coins, dice, or something else for the honor of partici- pating in a dangerous task. Why is Odysseus happy with the outcome? The men he would have chosen won the toss. 288

146 The Holt Reader: Teacher’s Manual Collection 10 Student pages 290–291 291 191. What - The Cyclops Read the boxed passage aloud twice. On your first reading, pause at the end of a line if it ends in punctua- tion. Read on when the line does not end with a comma, dash, semicolon, colon, or period. On your second reading, focus on reading with expression. Re-read lines 178 happens when Polyphemus’s fellow Cyclopes come to his aid? They think Polyphemus tells them that nobody has hurt him, so they go away. — 6 ways smithy — 8 hat ails you, 7 reply: In a ‘W 9 So saying Out of the cave diverse; various. blacksmith’s shop, where iron tools are made. blacksmith’s n.: adj.: wise. ) axlike tool with a long, curved blade. ) n.: adj.: ) ) smi‚√≤ d¢√v¥rz ( ( adz s†j ( ( no man’s driving offno man’s man flock? No your

n by great Zeus. great n by father, it be your Let this rough shout theythis rough made a sage see how like a charm the name deceived them. a charm the name deceived like see how clump around outside and call: clump around lyphemus? Why do you cry do you so sore Why lyphemus?

h well, if foul you has played nobody ve oseidon Lord, pray.’ whom you to 9. sage 8. divers 7. adze ‘A lonely bed, in your there no use in pain are we gi P they trailed away. I was filled with And laughter to one sees a white-hot axhead or an adze one sees a white-hot plunged and wrung tub, in a cold steam screeching hale and hard soft iron they make the way the spike. hissed around just so that eyeball him, round roared and the rock bellowed The Cyclops fell back in fear.and we his face Clawing out of spike he tugged the bloody his eye, it away,threw and his wild groping; hands went for Cyclopes then he set up a howl on windy peaks nearby. in caves who lived him;Some heard divers and they came by 6. smithy to has tricked you,has tricked ruined you?’ in answer: roared the mammoth Polyphemus ‘Nohbdy, me. tricked Nohbdy’s ruined me!’ Nohbdy’s To Po will not let us sleep. in the starryYou night? Su

170 175 180 185 190

by ep their courage up:ep their courage no quitting now. name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends,

w, ke elid and lash were seared;elid and lash were ball the pierced en as he spoke, and tumbled backward, he reeled eryone calls me Nohbdy.’ ok him like any creature. any ok him like Drunk, hiccuping,

ddened and glowed as ifddened and glowed catch. about to ou ask my honorable name? Remember ou ask my deep in the embers, charring it again, men along with battle talk my and cheered to ofThe pike olive, green though it had been, re y me, promised the gift you you. and I shall tell My meat, my ‘Nohbdy’s then, I eat his friends. after first.Others come a noble gift, There’s now.’ Ev one side; head lolling to his great and sleep to he dribbled of streams liquor and bits of men. No four fellows and my the coals it from I drew me a hand,gave lugging it near the Cyclops nerved them; than natural force as more straight forward they sprinted, it, lifted and rammed it eye,deep in his crater and I leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill in planking, swing to men below having strapthe two-handled that spins it in the groove. So with socket eye that great our brand bored we bar. the red-hot while blood ran out around Ey hissed broiling, popped. and the roots ev 140 145 150 155 160 165 Collection 10: Epic and Myth 163 and - extended Part 1 in lines 160 167? 171, which use grue- - - Pause at line 143. Odysseus tell the Cyclops his doesn’t real name. Underline the name he uses. What word does the name sound like? It sounds like “nobody.” What happens in lines 146 The Cyclops passes out drunk. Odysseus chars the stake in fire, cheers on his men, and with four helpers, grinds out the eye. Cyclops’s Underline the similes 290 166 some comparisons to help you see how the eye is gouged out.

Student Pages with Answers 147 Collection 10 Student pages 292–293 293 232. How - The Cyclops He and his men will hide themselves under the rams and escape when the Cyclops lets his flock out in the morning. Pause at line 214. What is plan to save him- Odysseus’s self and his men? Re-read lines 226 treatment of is the Cyclops’s from his his ram different treatment of the Greeks? He speaks kindly to the ram and pets him; he eats the Greeks. 11 10 is decaying flesh. Carrion wool on an animal’s chest. wool on an animal’s rotten scoundrel. now, be grieving so far behind? Can you et cousin ram,et cousin lag behind the rest why en Dawn spread out her fingertips spread en Dawn of rose y, ighted by wool and me with my meditations. and me with wool my ighted by crop sweet grass, sweet crop way stately your and take er your Master’s eye? That carrion eye? rogue Master’s er your

ohbdy willohbdy not get out alive, I swear. we ou run to be the first one in fold. ou run to est from the outrage Nohbdy worked upon me.’ worked the outrageest from Nohbdy and hung myselfand hung under his kinky belly, pulled up tight, with fingers twisted deep in sheepskin ringlets grip. for an iron So, hard, breathing until morning. waited we Wh stir,the rams began to moving for pasture, and peals of the pens round bleating echoed dams withwhere udders full called for a milking. Blinded, and sick with his head wound, pain from ram, each stroked the master then let it pass, men riding fleece on the pectoral but my blind hands blundering found. never the giant’s Last of ram, them all my the leader, came, we him, patted The Cyclops and then he said: ‘S linger so, never You in the night cave? but graze them all, before and go afar to burnt it out companions and his accurst wits with all my wine. when he had conquered N Oh, tell to brain and voice had you be now, he may where fury! dodging all my wall this hand and bashed on rock Bashed by the floor, strew his brains would and I should have r 10. pectoral fleece: 11. carrion rogue: leading along the streams, until at evening y Wh ov

215 220 225 230 235 240

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright — Three abreast Three and it pleased me well. — ide there safely,ide there shielded left and right. ds of bed; the ogre’s willow from w Cyclops, wheezing as the pain came on him, t I kept thinking how to win to the game: thinking how t I kept r r

easoning as a man will for dear life, So three sheep could convey each man. each convey sheep could So three I took ram,the woolliest of the choicest the flock, then slung a man under each middle one then slung a man under each to No the great doorstone away wrench fumbled to with wide arms in the breach thrown and squatted silly beast or man who bolted for any hoping somehow I might a fool. be such hoping somehow Bu huge;death sat there slip away? we could how wits, on all my I drew and ran tactics, through r until a trick came The Cyclops’ handsome, rams were fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet. I tied them silently together, twining co 195 200 205 210 .). C . B Collection 10: Epic and Myth helps Part 1 Odysseus escaping the cave of Polyphemus under the belly of a vessel ram. Detail from a krater, for holding wine (c. 510 Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, Germany. Pause at line 202. What character trait Odysseus defeat the Cyclops? His intelligence helps him. Odysseus is known for his clever- ness. 292

148 The Holt Reader: Teacher’s Manual Collection 10 Student pages 294–295 295 281. - The Cyclops 287. What does - egards Odysseus as egards Odysseus’s men speak for the Odysseus’s first time in lines 275 What is their reaction to behavior? their captain’s angry with They are him for showing off and endangering their lives. Odysseus ignores his men’s advice and continues to taunt the Cyclops in lines 282 about him? Odysseus craves glory; of he can be careless lives; he his men’s wants vengeance. Pause at line 298. Polyphemus had been warned by a wizard that Odysseus would blind him. In what ways is Odysseus different from the attacker Cyclops had imagined? The Cyclops had imagined a mighty giant as his attacker; instead he r “small, pitiful, and twiggy.” Odysseus’s behavior reveal Odysseus’s 14 us, m Tele — lops, — ‘Aye yc ‘C ll but stove us in!’ ll but stove ‘A odsake, Captain! a boulder.’ ‘G 12 upon me, of spoken old. eat length of days 13 ). gr ). small, pitiful, and twiggy 15 fate. — n.: toss. ) yº√r≤·m¥s tel√¥·m¥s ( v.: ( ) wird ( läb ( eat eye lost,eat eye and at Odysseus’ hands. e him our bearing trumpeting, with your gr y bait the beast again? Let him alone!’ y bait the beast again? Let

this he gave a mighty sob and rumbled: this he gave ’ll smash our timbers and heads together!’ t this, but you

iv hat tidal wave he made on the first throw hat tidal wave ou put me down with wine, blinded me. you Always I had in mind some giant,Always armed in giant force, against me here. come would Bu y 14. Telemus 15. Eurymus he had in wizardry among the Cyclopes, come: for time to and these things he foretold my a son of Eurymus; 12. lob Wh ‘T us.’ all but beached 13. weird he’ll get the range and lob he’ll A wizard, grand and wondrous, here lived He glorying not heed them in my I would spirit, and yelled: anger flare but let my if mortal ever man inquire shame and blinded, put to were you how him tell Odysseus, raider of cities, eye: your took Laertes’ son, on Ithaca!’ whose home’s At the weird comes ‘Now ‘G

280 285 290 295

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright — : adversary w or perish. So the long oars bent am I, hands? in a Caveman’s clops! Would you feast on my companions? feast on my you Would clops! , ro saw, came near, as we our fellows’ faces sent us into the open,sent us into then. Close by,

w do you like the beating that we gave you, gave the beating that we like w do you Cy w when I cupped my hands I heard the crew hands I heard w when I cupped my

ny put their backs into a racingput their backs into stroke

ith many glances back,ith many up rounded we w,

ou damned cannibal? Eater ofou damned cannibal? Eater guests ‘O Pu Ho y paid you!’ and the gods have Zeus roof! under your The blind thing in his doubled fury broke us. it after in his hands and heaved a hilltop Ahead of it struck and sank our black prow whelmed in a spuming geyser, a giant wave shore. back to foremost that washed the ship stern I got the longest boathook out and stood fending us off, with furious all nods to to He clear of and rolled I dropped belly, the ram’s untie the men. and that to going this way W his fat, aboard, take stiff-legged sheep to the good ship lay. where them down to and drove We shining; grief them turn to saw then we death. tallying those who had not fled from them,I hushed up, jerking head and eyebrows them: told voice and in a low ‘Load this herd; fast,move the breakers.’ head toward and put the ship’s in at loading,They all pitched then embarked and struck the sea. their oars into out, Far carry, would words as shouted as far offshore the I sent a few back to ro kicking the foam sternward, making head away, drew until we and twice as far. No protesting: voices in low 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 n.: ) Collection 10: Epic and Myth ad√v¥r·ser≈≤ ( Part 1 255? - enemy; opponent. What is happening in lines 242 Odysseus and his men the have escaped from Cyclops. They steal his sheep and set sail from his island. adversary Pause at line 271. What happens when Odysseus taunts the Cyclops? a Cyclops throws of hilltop in front boat, caus- Odysseus’s ing a wave that sends them back to shore. Odysseus pushes them with a boathook, off the and the men row boat back out to sea. 294

Student Pages with Answers 149 Collection 10 Student pages 296–297 297 The Cyclops Details from “The Cyclops” Details from He withholds information about his ship. He tells the Cyclops that his He thinks up a plan name is Nohbdy. an of escape. He forges a stake from He gets the Cyclops olive tree. drunk. He uses the rams to carry his men out of the cave. He stabs the Cyclops with huge stake. He pushes the ship out of danger with a boathook. He stabs the Cyclops in eye. speaks up to the Cyclops and threat- and fights for ens him. He promotes of his gods. He tries the reputation as many of his men he to rescue can. and vengeful. He gives He is proud in to bullying and taunting the giant, causing the Cyclops to put a terrible curse on him and his men. The Cyclops hat makes a hero? Listed in the left-hand column of in the left-hand column Listed a hero? hat makes the chart W Key Traits of a Hero Key Traits w for weaknesses. If in Odysseus, find weaknesses you the details from cite below are some heroic traits. some heroic are below “The Cyclops” from examples Give show to these traits. displays whether or not Odysseus of the bottom At the chart is a ro story support opinion. to your Hero Chart eaknesses

Intelligence and resourcefulness Strength Bravery and loyalty W

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright — he and no other — hear me, lord, blue girdler of the islands, this he stretched his hands out in darkness this he stretched me back, Odysseus, well, you and I’ll treat

t him lose all companions, and return

w words I shouted in reply to him: to in reply I shouted w words ant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never ward the sky ofward stars, Poseidon: and prayed our time away, hell! down to you and hurl Co praying the god of befriend earthquake to you his son I am, his avowal for he by me,fathered and, if he will, he may heal me of this black wound of gods or mortal all the happy men.’ Fe ‘If and take life I would your take I could y The god of there!’ not heal you could earthquake At to ‘O if I am thine indeed, and thou art father: gr see his home: Laertes’ son, I mean, his hall on Ithaca.who kept Should destiny that he shall see his roofintend again among his family in fatherland, far be that day, between. and dark the years Le at home.’ days under strange bitter sail to . . .” 300 305 310 315 320 Collection 10: Epic and Myth Part 1 Pause at line 308. The Cyclops has asked Odysseus to come back and says he’ll treat him well. Underline Then, read reply. Odysseus’s on and underline the curse on Odysseus Cyclops’s and his men. curse. Review the Cyclops’s What might happen next? The curse may indeed come true. Odysseus may still have a long journeyand hard home to Ithaca; he may find troubles when he gets home. 296

150 The Holt Reader: Teacher’s Manual Collection 10 Student pages 298–299 299 ocabulary V Skills Identify words from Greek and Roman myths. Use words in context. The Cyclops profusion and even gods. Some of his enemies — reveals, Odysseus had more than one Odyssey ravage adversary cereal volcano Olympics tantalize titanic d. e. a. b. c. As the epic poem hated Odysseus so much they actually wanted to (3) prevent him from reaching home. him and his men, while others were content to (1) of enemies, both monsters and men . In fact, he had a (2) The Cyclops Match each Greek or Roman god’s or goddess’s name or home or goddess’s Match each Greek or Roman god’s Complete the paragraph below by writing a word from ravage ulcan itans antalus profusion adversary T V Ceres Mount Olympus T Word Box Word Box c e a b d ds from Myths ds from r ocabulary in Context ocabulary

Skills Review 5. Skills Review Wo Myths often attempt to explain the mysteries of nature, origins rituals, and the relationships between gods humans. Many words from Greek and Roman myths live on in the English language. For example, some common English words are derived from the names of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. DIRECTIONS: with the English word that is derived from it. 1. 2. 3. 4. V DIRECTIONS: word box to fit each numbered blank. Use only once.

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. rights All Winston. and Rinehart Holt, by © Copyright states. ; it offers the ; it offers C D claims. Epics are seri- B He devours some of them. He opens his home to them. He helps them on their way. He kills all of them. He tricks the Cyclops. He kills the giant. He calls on Zeus to help him. He betrays his men. How does the Cyclops treat Greeks? A B C D How does Odysseus win the battle with the Cyclops? F G H J is incorrect; many poems, even very 3. 4. ous, not humorous, as The correct answer is most information about what an epic poem is. A short ones, tell stories. Epics are not lyric poems, as Explanation of the Correct Answer Explanation of the Correct epic poem — The Cyclops — Circle the letter of each correct answer. Sample Test Item Sample Test description of an best — the Greeks will kill him the Greeks want his land Zeus will avenge the Greeks if Cyclops is not courteous Zeus will kill the Cyclops if he give them money doesn’t an external conflict not important to the story a universal theme part of the setting poem that tells a story lyric poem that reveals emotions wildly exaggerated, humorous poem long narrative poem about the deeds of a heroic character When he first speaks to the Cyclops, Odysseus warns him that A B C D The interaction between Odysseus and the Cyclops is F G H J is a A B C D The Complete the sample test item below. The box at the right explains why three of Complete the sample test item below. choices are not correct. 1. Collection 10: Epic and Myth DIRECTIONS: 2. Part 1 Analyze external conflicts. and their epic poetry, including heroes Skills Review characteristics of Literary Skills Skills Review 298

Student Pages with Answers 151 Name Date

Selection Title

Epic Hero Map

An epic is a narrative told in elevated language, which relates the great deeds of a hero who embodies the values of a society. In the map below, write the name of the epic hero. Then, write examples of the hero’s deeds. Finally, explain what values the deeds reveal.

Hero:

Deeds:

Graphic Organizers 221