Read the excerpt from Part 2 of The Odyssey by
Homer
This excerpt best supports the conclusion that
Odysseus is
bc
I would not heed them in my glorying spirit,
but let my anger flare and yelled:
frustrated
proud
O violent
‘Cyclops,
sympathetic
if ever mortal man inquire
how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him
Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye.
Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca!’
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is proud.
In this excerpt from The Odyssey, Odysseus’s actions and words reveal his pride and arrogance. After he has blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus and managed to escape, he taunts the Cyclops, yelling out his name and boasting about his victory. Odysseus could have escaped in silence, but instead, his pride compels him to announce his identity, ensuring that Polyphemus knows who is responsible for the humiliation. The line “Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye” indicates a desire to gain glory by boasting about his cunning and strength.
His “glorying spirit” refers to his sense of pride and his need for recognition. Despite the danger and the consequences, Odysseus’s pride in his achievement leads him to shout out his name. This is a significant moment because it shows how Odysseus is more concerned with his own reputation and pride than with securing his safety or thinking through the potential repercussions. By revealing his identity, Odysseus invites Polyphemus to curse him, which ultimately leads to more challenges on his journey home.
The consequences of his pride become evident when Polyphemus, in his rage, calls upon his father Poseidon to take revenge on Odysseus, leading to further obstacles and delays in Odysseus’s journey. This moment underscores the theme of hubris, or excessive pride, which is common in Greek literature. Odysseus’s decision to boast, even after escaping, demonstrates that pride can cloud judgment and lead to more suffering.