Question

paraphrasing a passage

but those who ate this honeyed plant, the lotus,
never cared to report, nor to return:
they longed to stay forever, browsing on
that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.
-the odyssey, homer

read the passage. identify the central idea and key details. then, paraphrase the passage.

Explanation:

Identify central idea and key details

• Central Idea: Eating the Lotus plant makes people lose their desire to return home.
• Key Details:

1. Those who ate the sweet Lotus plant had no desire to report back or return.
2. They wanted to remain there forever, feeding on the local flowers.
3. They completely forgot about their homeland.

Formulate the paraphrase

• Rephrase the passage in original words while maintaining the core meaning:

"Anyone who consumed the sweet Lotus flower lost all desire to send word back or return home; instead, they wished to remain there forever, feeding on the local plants and completely forgetting their native land."

Answer:

Central Idea:
Consuming the Lotus plant causes people to lose their memory of home and their desire to return.

Key Details:

• Eating the sweet plant eliminates any urge to report back or leave.
• The consumers desire to stay forever and feed on the local blooms.
• They completely forget their homeland.

Paraphrase:
Anyone who consumed the sweet Lotus flower lost all desire to send word back or return home; instead, they wished to remain there forever, feeding on the local plants and completely forgetting their native land.