Cyclops

We concluded the Trojan War with the death of Hector by a spear through the most vulnerable spot, not protected by strong armor. Achilles found it where the neck meets the collarbone. Thus the death of Patroclus was avenged. Paris, no match with Achilles in hand to hand combat, was a skilled archer. He shot Achilles in the one place he could be hurt, the heel. Thus ended the Iliad. We went on to read of The Odyssey, Odysseus's voyage home to Ithaca and his run in with the Cyclops, Polyphemos. Odysseus, with twelve of his bravest men thought to make off with some of the cyclop's goats, sheep and cheese but became imprisoned in the cyclop's cave. Odysseus drew his sharp sword and rushed to the giant's side, preparing to stab him in the heart while the giant was sleeping, when he stopped: "If I killed him," he thought, "then I condemn myself and my men as well, for we could never move that great boulder from the doorway.". Odysseus gave the giant wine and when the giant drank himself into a stupor, Odysseus and and his men thrust a stake into the giant's single eye. As Odysseus made his escape he continued to taunt the blind giant who broke off a hilltop and hurled it in their direction. "So my fate has come," groaned Polyphemos, "Long ago, a wizard on this island predicted that I would lose my eye at the hands of Odysseus. But I always thought Odysseus would be some giant, powerful and armed--not a puny, scrawny thing." Here I cautioned the children never to underestimate their opponent. People are very resourceful. After Odysseus made his escape, he was overcome with anger and a desire for revenge thus causing the giant to strike out endangering Odysseus, his ship and his crew. I told Bryan and Breeanna when they make decisions out of anger or a desire for revenge, those decisions may not the best decisions. 9/10/2013