In The One-Eyed Giant's Cave

In 9.21-22, it seems like little Odysseus is boasting up a storm, except I read in the introduction (thanks, Bernard) that he's just stating truths and not trying to be prideful. However, I also read that he was proud of his societal position, much like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is annoying. I can't tell if Odysseus is proud or not, or if he is, then if it's a good thing or a bad thing. -- okay I wrote that before we talked about kleos and arete and that nonsense. SO I GOT IT NOW. but those were my thoughts beforehand.

Also, does he plunder, like a pirate? In 44-47, it definitely sounded like that. I don't know much (any) of the history behind this, so perhaps they were enemies and this is REGULAR but it's just making Odysseus sound like a jerk. A proud jerk.

So one time, Mom had to read part of The Odyssey for her class. She read me a quote one time from the introduction that resounded with one of the things that I read in MY introduction (again, thanks, Bernard), which was that Homer was not strictly geographically faccurate. Which is kind of funny.

9.93-115: The Lotus Eaters. Haha. For real.

The men in lines 9:252-253 are after my own heart: "From the start my comrades pressed me, pleading hard, 'Let's make away with the cheeses, then come back..."

There is the custom of a guest-gift, but to me it still seems rude to just assume that you will receive one and to inquire after it (9:300-302). Perhaps it's just that foreign of an idea, and it would be rude not to give one. That's probably the case. However, now it's polite to bring a gift when you visit people. I know people who do that almost every time they come over. And even though the host/guest relationship was very important, it just doesn't seem polite.

Gross. Cyclops is just eating people left and right. It gets pretty graphic, like so many movies about Scottish freedom. Also gross: they hide the stake under a pile of dung, and then they stick it into his eye. DUNG EYE. What a great idea. Odysseus is pretty brilliant.

Is it okay to deceive evil people in the face of your mortality?

430-444: ew.

575: Cyclops says he'll give him a guest gift to speed him home. Was he being deceive-y? Does he respect Odysseus enough to help him out like that, or is he trying to trick him again? I can't even figure it out.

OH NO. In 585-595, Cyclops, who is the son of Poseidon and is shouting out in pleading prayer to his father, pretty much screws over Odysseus and his crew. OOPS. But in 618-619, it says that Zeus was intent on destroying the crew... so I don't know how Cyclops' prayer really translated. I guess they were all in it together or something.