Question

Polyphemus had been warned by a wizard that Odysseus would blind him. In what ways is Odysseus different from the attacker the Cyclops might have imagined?

A) Odysseus was a skilled warrior
B) Odysseus was a skilled magician
C) Odysseus was a fellow Cyclops
D) Odysseus was a powerful sea god

Answer 1

Odysseus was a skilled warrior known for his strategic thinking, not a Cyclops, magician, or sea god, which contrasted with Polyphemus' expectations of his assailant. So, the correct option is A) Odysseus was a skilled warrior.

Step-by-step explanation:

Odysseus had been forewarned by a prophet that he would be responsible for blinding the cyclops Polyphemus. When we consider the characteristics of Odysseus and how they differ from the expected assailant that Polyphemus might have had in mind, we see a stark contrast. Unlike the mighty Cyclops, powerful sea gods, or skilled magicians, Odysseus was neither a fellow Cyclops nor a magical being.

He was, in fact, a skilled warrior. His cleverness and tactical thinking allowed him to successfully navigate through his challenges. The famed encounter with Polyphemus showcases his wit over brute strength when he deceives the Cyclops by calling himself 'Nobody' and later blinds him with a heated stake. This foresight and strategic approach make him quite different from the imagined brute force attacker that Polyphemus might have envisioned.