Question

read the excerpt from part 2 of the odyssey by homer.
we would entreat you, great sir, have a care
for the gods’ courtesy; zeus will avenge
the unoffending guest.’
he answered this
from his brute chest, unmoved
‘you are a ninny,
or else you come from the other end of nowhere,
telling me, mind the gods! we cyclopes
care not a whistle for your thundering zeus
or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far.
how does this excerpt prove that odysseus causes his
crew’s demise?
○ by explaining his haphazard travels
○ by describing his loyalty to zeus
○ by showing his physical weakness
○ by revealing his ignorant assumptions

Explanation:

To determine how the excerpt proves Odysseus causes his crew’s demise, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The excerpt doesn’t focus on haphazard travels.
• Option 2: Odysseus shows disrespect for Zeus, not loyalty.
• Option 3: The excerpt highlights his arrogance/ignorance, not physical weakness.
• Option 4: Odysseus’ ignorant assumption that Cyclopes don’t care about the gods (and his dismissal of divine retribution) leads to conflict, endangering his crew. His refusal to heed warnings about the gods’ wrath and his belief in Cyclopes’ superiority over gods reveals his ignorance, which causes trouble.

Answer:

D. by revealing his ignorant assumptions