Question

inferring motive
but this, but you – small, pitiful and twiggy –
you put me back with wine, you blinded me.
come now, odysseus, and i’ll treat you well,
praying the god of earthquake to befriend you –
his son i am, for he by his avowal
fathered me, and, if he will, he may
heal me of this black wound – he and no other
of all the happy gods or mortal men.’
few words i shouted in reply to him:
‘if i could take your life i would and take
your time away, and hurl you down to hell!
the god of earthquake could not heal you there!’
at this he stretched his hands out in his darkness
toward the sky of stars, and prayed poseidon:
‘o hear me, lord, blue girdler of the islands...
what motivates cyclops to ask poseidon to interfere
with odysseus’s journey home?

Explanation:

The Cyclops was blinded by Odysseus and had his eye put out with a wine - induced trick. He is filled with anger and a desire for revenge. By asking Poseidon (his father) to interfere with Odysseus's journey home, he aims to make Odysseus suffer as he himself has suffered, seeking retribution for the harm Odysseus caused him.

Answer:

The Cyclops is motivated by revenge. Odysseus blinded him (put out his eye) after tricking him with wine, so the Cyclops asks his father Poseidon to interfere with Odysseus's journey home to make Odysseus suffer as payback for the harm done to him.