Question

read the excerpt from the odyssey:
o hear me, lord, blue girdler of the islands,
if i am thine indeed, and thou art father:
grant that odysseus, raider of cities, never
see his home: laertes son, i mean,
who kept his hall on ithaca. should destiny
intend that he shall see his roof again
among his family in his father land,
far be that day, and dark the years between.
let him lose all companions, and return
under strange sail to bitter days at home.

what motivates the cyclops to ask poseidon for the
denial of odysseus and all his men? select two
options.

• he hates all the greeks because they destroyed

troy.

• he wants revenge for the loss of his eye.
• he thinks all of mankind is weak and feeble.
• he is angered by odysseus’s taunts.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The Cyclops' request isn't about hating all Greeks for Troy's destruction, as his conflict is with Odysseus specifically, not all Greeks due to Troy. So this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: Odysseus blinded the Cyclops (Polyphemus), so wanting revenge for the lost eye is a valid motivation for asking Poseidon (his father) to curse Odysseus. This is correct.
3. Analyze the third option: The Cyclops' request is personal against Odysseus, not about thinking mankind is weak. So this is incorrect.
4. Analyze the fourth option: Odysseus taunted the Cyclops after escaping, which angered him. This anger, along with the eye injury, motivates his request for Poseidon's curse. This is correct.

Answer:

B. He wants revenge for the loss of his eye, D. He is angered by Odysseus’s taunts