Odysseus was on his way home after the Trojan War, when his ship landed on an island. He and his crew discovered a large cave filled with good cheese and lambs. They ate some of the cheese and waited for the owner of the cave to return. The owner, as it turns out, was the Cyclops, Polyphemus, son of Poseidon. The Cyclops came home with the rest of his sheep and was furious to find the humans in his cave, eating his cheese. He rolled a huge boulder in front of the cave entrance to trap them within.
Polyphemus demanded to know who Odysseus was. So Odysseus, who was very clever, told the Cyclops his name was No Man. After this Polyphemus proceeded to eat two of the crewmen. The next day he took out his sheep and when he came back that night he ate two more of the men.
Well, Odysseus wasn't about to become dinner for any Cyclops, so he devised a plan. He and his men sharpened a timber and waited.
That night the Polyphemus returned once more with his sheep and Odysseus offered him some wine, which the Cyclops drank far too much of and passed out. Odysseus and his crewmen heated the tip of the timber in the fire, then used it to gouge out the Cyclops' eye.
Polyphemus awoke with a roar, yelling for his brothers to help him. His brothers came running up to the stone that blocked the entrance, demanding to know who was hurting him. To which Polyphemus replied, "No Man is hurting me! No Man is hurting me!"
His brothers, thinking this some sort of nasty joke, went back to their homes.
So, Polyphemus rolled the rock away to let his sheep out, thinking he would feel for the men and catch them as they attempted to escape. But Odysseus was far too clever for that. He and his men tied themselves to the bellies of the rams and slipped out unseen.
Things would have ended there but Odysseus, who was as prideful as his was clever, stood on the deck of his ship and called back to the island, taunting the blided Cyclops and telling him his true name.
Polyphemus threw a giant boulder at the ship, coming very close to striking it. At which the crew beat a hasty retreat.
Polyphemus demanded to know who Odysseus was. So Odysseus, who was very clever, told the Cyclops his name was No Man. After this Polyphemus proceeded to eat two of the crewmen. The next day he took out his sheep and when he came back that night he ate two more of the men.
Well, Odysseus wasn't about to become dinner for any Cyclops, so he devised a plan. He and his men sharpened a timber and waited.
That night the Polyphemus returned once more with his sheep and Odysseus offered him some wine, which the Cyclops drank far too much of and passed out. Odysseus and his crewmen heated the tip of the timber in the fire, then used it to gouge out the Cyclops' eye.
Polyphemus awoke with a roar, yelling for his brothers to help him. His brothers came running up to the stone that blocked the entrance, demanding to know who was hurting him. To which Polyphemus replied, "No Man is hurting me! No Man is hurting me!"
His brothers, thinking this some sort of nasty joke, went back to their homes.
So, Polyphemus rolled the rock away to let his sheep out, thinking he would feel for the men and catch them as they attempted to escape. But Odysseus was far too clever for that. He and his men tied themselves to the bellies of the rams and slipped out unseen.
Things would have ended there but Odysseus, who was as prideful as his was clever, stood on the deck of his ship and called back to the island, taunting the blided Cyclops and telling him his true name.
Polyphemus threw a giant boulder at the ship, coming very close to striking it. At which the crew beat a hasty retreat.
