Week 3 Essay History

Western Civilization Lesson 15 - Week 3 Essay
Week 3 writing assignment:
CB.
3/23/17
Answer two of the following questions.
Question 1 word count: 338  Question 2 word count: 618
1. Read Homer's description of the Cyclopes (plural) in Book 9 of The Odyssey. Would you describe them as having a civilization? Why or why not?

2. What happens between the Cyclops and Odysseus and his men? How does the story end?

(Question 1) In Book 9 of 'The Odyssey' Homer described the Cyclopes as inhuman. I would say yes, they aren’t civilized, and I agree with that point. The Cyclopes did not act in any way like people do. They relied on the protection and care of the gods. The Cyclopes lived off of wild land, such as wheat, and grapes. They eat them but also rely on the sun and rain to keep the crop growing. They didn’t tend to their crops and they had no tools. The Cyclopes lived like animals with no standards or innovation. (Just living off the land.) They let fertile land rot and go to waste, and they don’t farm, all they really do is tend sheep. This shows they are lazy and unmotivated; not like others who work hard to farm and make their living. They take their fortunate position and ruin it.

Also, they didn't have laws like people, or gatherings to make laws or talk about issues and so on. The Cyclops only cared to take care of themselves. And so, they were not a community effort by any means. They lived in caves and mountaintops. Another example of their rough behavior and way of life. To compare to animals.

 The island is not colonized, there are no ships on the island, it is just full of wild goats. Their island is not an ugly one though. It has meadows down to the seashore, which is good for cultivating grapes, level land for plowing, deep soil, and a quaint little harbor for ships to moor on, if they did trade. (Which the Cyclopes don’t). Fresh clear water by the shore and flowers scattered round it in the grass. They have a good island they just don’t try to improve it. And that is all the reasons why the Cyclopes are more beast than human, not from appearances, but from their poor standard of living, carelessness, lack of "humanity" or goodwill towards the other monsters, and finally, the waste of their nice home.

 (Question 2) First, in Book 9 of "The Odyssey" our group of travelers meet a horrible Cyclops. Ulysseus is the traveler and leader of the group who has crashed on the island with his men and ships. He is going to see what the “people” on this island are like. A few of his men and him go up and see a pen full of lambs, goats, good cheeses, and milk. They are eager to steal this bounty but Ulysseus wants to be a good guest and meet the owner of the nice provisions who lives there to see if he will offer them a present, since they are weary travelers. He brings his wine as an offering. They wait in the cave-home. The Cyclops definitely does not play the part of a hospitable host. He gulps down two men, then sleeps. Ulysseus is tempted to kill the Cyclops right there but he knows he must form a plan since there's a heavy boulder blocking the door. (Sometimes he is called by Odysseus  they are not separate people) They all wait for breakfast, the Cyclops eats more men when he leaves to tend his flocks.(xxnote The Cyclopes only do this "tending to the animals" to feed themselves, not because they are civilized. And not because they farm to trade or sell, and make an economy or livelihood befitting a being) Ulysseus takes action. He takes the Cyclops staff. The team works to chop off an amount of it and sharpen a point. When the Cyclops is back from his work, Ulysseus tells him his name is "nobody" and cleverly offers the wine. The Cyclops gets drunk, passes out, and they heave the sharpened pole in his eye blinding him. The Cyclops makes such a racket the others (community) come to see the fuss. They ask what’s going on and (they reveal the Cyclops name at this point of the story) Polyphemos yells out “Nobody’s tricked me! " So they leave. The plan is further in motion. Poseidon is Polyphemos’s father, this comes into play later. They move to the second part of the plan when Poly falls asleep. The team all attach themselves onto the belly of the rams (from Poly's flock). They hurry to make it to their ships and sail away. They are in their ships, out on the ocean, and a distance from shore. Poly is at the shore (waking to an empty cave) furious his prisoners have escaped. Safety is in reach, except that then Ulysseus decides to taunt the crazy Cyclops out of pride. Poly is so mad he throws a boulder making big waves shoving at the ship like it's a toy boat in a tub. The men scared, reasonably, want Ulysseus to stop. He ignores this and goes further to share his real name. Odysseus. In ancient Greece pride was important to the Greek people, an individuals accomplishments was in great standing. He does this so everyone will know his name in stories told, and so he will be known for piercing the Cyclops eye. Glory and brawn go in hand with "great accomplishments" and are (also) important to the Greeks. Though Odysseus’s cleverness helped him through this story. (And to stay alive unlike some members of the group) Poly goes and prays to his dad, Poseidon mythological Greek god of the sea, to curse Odysseus. This explains why Poseidon wrecked their ships on the island in the first place. The beginning of our story connects to the end. Poly hurls another rock at them, missing, and launching their boat out to sea. Onwards to their journey back to Ithaca and home and that is how Book 9 of Homer's "The Odyssey" ends.