Companions! Let me tell you about my stay on Cyclops island. My men and I were content on the coast of the island, far from the Cyclops, but would I be Odysseus if I didn't explore these creatures land? I took some wine and some men and embarked on a journey which led us straight into a Cyclops's cave. He was off in his pasture when we arrived, so we looked around and all of his belongings, the food, the instruments he used to tend to his sheep, everything. When he came back, he was not very hospitable. I asked him very graciously, yet still firmly, for a nice gift. " the sort that hosts give strangers. That't the custom. Respect the gods, my friend. We're suppliants - at your mercy!(220)." How does he respond? By picking up two of my men, bashing their brains out, and eating them! He then proceeded to fall asleep. There was no way we could overpower such a giant beast so we lay in wait for the morning. What did he do when he woke up? Ate two more of my men! Can you believe the gluttony of the situation? He then took his sheep out of the cave and firmly closed off the entrance. While he was gone I did not just sit and cower, no, I forged a plan. I saw his club and knew at once what had to be done. My men and I cut off a part of the club and burnt one end to a stabbing tip. We then hid it and waited for nightfall. He came back when the sun went down and I offered him some of the wine I had thought to bring earlier. "Here Cyclops- try this wine- to top off the banquet of human flesh you've bolted down(222)." Before the Cyclops had passed out from all the wine swirling through his brain, I had another brilliant idea. "So, you ask me the name I'm known by Cyclops? I will tell you. But you must give me a guest-gift as you've promised. Nobody - that's my name. Nobody- so my mother and father call me, all my friends(223)." I know, I'm clever. With that the Cyclops passed out, vomiting up human flesh as he fell, and my men and I picked up the giant pointed club and guess what courageous act I did with it? I stabbed the Cyclops right in the eye! I dug it deep. Very deep. "As a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens-that's the iron's strength- so the eye of the Cyclops sizzled round the stake!(223)." They Cyclops let out such a hideous howl and started thrashing everywhere, pulling the stake out of his eye. Nearby other Cyclops's were drawn to the cave, wondering what could possibly be creating this much ruckus. "Nobody, friends...Nobody's killing me now by fraud and not by force(224)." I told you that was clever of me. His friends, hearing him imply he was alone and assuming that the gods were punishing him, went back to their own lives. The dumb Cyclops then proceeded to throw open the what was blocking the mouth of the cave, arms outstretched, hoping to catch one of my men and his sheep. I was smarter then to just try to run. I quickly devised a plan involving strapping my men to the bottom of the sheep. "I took them three by three; each ram in the middle bore a man while the two rams either side would shield him as well(225)." As for me, there was one prize ram left. I took the biggest chance, by strapping myself to the belly of him. We held out until morning and then when Cyclops was letting the rams out into the pasture took our chance. Of course he stopped to talk to the ram I was strapped on to. "Dear old ram, why last of the flock to quit the cave? in the good old days you'd never lag behind the rest- you with your long marching strides(225)." He spoke of threats to unleash on me to the ram, but I was not scared. I am Odysseus, master of twists and turns after all. We all had successfully escaped and were on the ship in no time. I couldn't just let this go unnoticed. I called out to the Cyclops, threatening him, speaking of our escape. My men were growing worries. "So headstrong-why? Why rile the beast again?(227)." However, I couldn't stop. I had emerged from yet another impossible situation victorious. I then told him of my name and who I was. I couldn't just let him go on, thinking someone else had destroyed him. The Cyclops spoke of a prophecy which stated that I, mighty Odysseus, would be triumphant over the beast. How special does that make me, being involved in someone else's prophecy?! My pride swelled up. "But I always looked for a handsome giant man to cross my path, some fighter clad in power like armor-plate, but now, look what a dwarf, a spineless good-for-nothing stuns me with wine, then gouges out my eye!(227)." He thought he could get to me. What he did next though, out of spite, was childish. He called upon Poseidon to curse us on the waters, giving us a hard journey home. But I, Odysseus, can conquer everything, even that.
From my adventure on the island of the Cyclops, I learnt that not everyone is a good host. The Cyclops was very inhospitable, I had truly never met a barbarian like him before. I need to learn to not let beings like that get to me. Because being off put by such a mannerless monster put me in a state of shock which he used to his advantage. At least we now know that I am the perfect guy in a bind. I'm calm, cool and collected. As well as still ever so cunning. I could have broken down upon seeing my men be eaten by such a being, but I was always 2 steps ahead. I knew not to rush anything, which is what makes me such a good leader. I have the right amount of impulse control, enough to let me take chances with my inventive and courageous ideas, but also enough to know when to hold back. And sure, some of my men may say that I'm hot headed, but I'll slit their throats for a comment like that. I earn the right to say what I can say. And if any of them had been as brave as me they would have made sure the entire world had known it, from the underworld all the way up to the gods. I merely wanted to let the Cyclops know who had defeated him, because a man deserves to know his opponents in the end. I was just treating him like I do any other regular man that I encounter (and beat). I was smart enough not to tell him who I was at the beginning, keeping my men safe, so really I just look out for others. My charming skills are also something to be talked about. I'm positive that the Cyclops would have been super suspicious if anyone else had offered him wine, but the way I did it, wow. Even i'm impressed, which is no small feat. I always knew I was a charmer, but that was really something else. I'm sure my men are just struck with awe by me already, but now I can't even imagine the level of awe they look at me with. Wow, I am such a good leader. Do thinks like that ever just hit you? I truly just have so much respect for myself, and it feels great.
Around the world with Odysseus!
1. Ismarus
2. Island of Lotus Eaters
3. Cyclops Island
4. Aeolus
5. Laestrygonian Island
6. Aeaea Island
7. Lynx river - Land of dead
8. Back to Aeaea
9. Island of Sirens
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