The Odyssey, Book 9 summary

What happens

1. Ulysses names himself and describes his homeland before recounting a raid on the Cicones, whose reinforcements kill six men from each ship.
2. Storms drive the fleet off course, and Ulysses forcibly retrieves companions who eat lotus and lose their desire for home.
3. After resting on a nearby island, Ulysses explores the Cyclopes’ country with twelve men and waits inside a cave for its owner.
4. Polyphemus traps the visitors and eats six men; Ulysses gives him wine, calls himself Noman, and blinds him with a heated stake.
5. The survivors escape beneath sheep, but Ulysses ignores his crew’s warnings and reveals his real name while taunting Polyphemus.
6. Neptune hears Polyphemus pray against Ulysses’ return; the survivors rejoin their fleet, sacrifice, feast, and sail away grieving.

In this book

What to notice

Ulysses’ false name makes the cry for help sound like a denial of attack. The other Cyclopes leave instead of intervening.

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