Linguistic Weapons
The specific alias Odysseus uses to weaponize the gian'ts language against his neighbors
What is "Nobody"?
Home compares the blinding of the giant to this manual tool used by a shipbuilder.
What is a shipwright's drill?
The primary reason Odysseus shouts his name from the ship after the escape.
What is kleos/glory?
The specific objective Odysseus and his men have throughout Book 9.
What is returning home (Ithaca)?
The person the poet calls upon for inspiration in the first line.
Who is the Muse?
The neighboring giants ignore Polyphemus's cries for help because he tells them this "person" is hurting him.
Who is "Nobody"?
The visceral simile used to describe the sound of the giant's eye hissing.
What is the Blacksmith's Ax?
The warning the crew gives Odysseus as he stands on the deck of the ship.
What is "Don't do it! Don't be a savage!"
Odysseus's cunning wisdom, which is the opposite of brute force.
What is metis?
The crew is described as reckless in the opening lines because they ate this.
What are the Cattle of the Sun (Helios)?
The specific god the giant prays to after learning Odysseu's true identity.
Who is Poseidon?
Odysseus lashes the rams together in groups of this many to exploit the giant's blindness.
What are threes?
The wizard who prophesied that the giant would be blinded by someone named Odysseus
The term for excessive pride that leads to Odysseus's shoreline mistake.
What is hubris?
The phrase "man of twists and turns" is an epithet referring to whom?
Who is Odysseus?
The name of Odysseus's father, which he reveals during his shoreline taunt.
Who is Laertes?
Odysseus chose to blind the giant rather than kill him because of this tactical obstacle.
What is the giant boulder?
The giant's initial reaction to the name Odysseus (who he expected the hero to be)
Who is large, giant, powerful warrior?
The sly or cunning intelligence used to trick the giant with wine.
What is guile?
The invocation serves as this for the rest of the epic poem.
What is a syllabus or roadmap?
The subsequent result of revealing his identity - it wasn't just rocks, but this longterm problem.
What is the Curse of Poseidon?
The paradox of the giant's character revealed when he speaks to his favorite ram.
What is empathy/tenderness?
Even though it was fated, the curse only worked because Odysseus gave the giant this "target."
What is his true name?
The unavoidable feeling that the disaster was fated to happen.
What is uncanny?
According to the invocation, Odysseus fought to save his life and bring his...
What are shipmates home?