Book IX · Episode 5 of 5
Poseidon’s curse
Crew flees beneath rams, Polyphemus curses
Scenes
- Noman fools the neighbors — Noman trick sends neighbors away
- Neighbors ask what has hurt Polyphemus
- They assume a sickness sent by Zeus
- Advise him to pray to Poseidon instead
- Odysseus laughs at his own deception
- Giant guards the entrance, arms spread wide
- Escape beneath the rams — Crew slips past Polyphemus under rams
- Binds the rams three abreast for cover
- Clings beneath the finest ram’s belly
- Polyphemus feels backs, misses men underneath
- Mourns lost eye to his favorite ram
- Frees men, drives flock to the ship
- Odysseus reveals his name — Odysseus boasts, Polyphemus recalls prophecy
- Boulder nearly strikes the helm
- Odysseus poles free, drives oarsmen on
- Shouts his name over crew’s protests
- Declares himself destroyer of walled towns
- Cyclops begs him to return for gifts
- The fleet regained — Polyphemus’s curse, ship dodges boulder
- Refuses, wishing the giant to Hades instead
- Prays for a home lost or delayed
- Poseidon hears the desperate prayer
- Second boulder pushes ship toward the fleet
- Crew shares sheep, sacrifices ram to Zeus