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The answer 'Nobody' saves Odysseus and his men (who must extricate themselves from Polyphemus's cave, and cannot do this on their own, the boulder stopping the cave's mouth being too large) when the neighbouring Cyclopes come to check out the commotion (Odysseus has put out Polyphemus's eye, and the monster is howling in agony). When the callers ask (in effect) 'Who caused you such distress?', Polyphemus answers 'Nohbody.' So the callers chalk it up to some impersonal cause, and depart. Had they removed the boulder, the jig would have been up.
So far, so good.
The choice of the name is ingenious. It is what we have come to expect from Odysseus. This can't however be the whole story. Ingenuity is one thing. Prophetic power is another. Odysseus, cunning as he is, could not have known what question the Cyclopes would ask. Had they asked 'What's causing you pain?' rather than 'Who did this to you?', the name would probably not have saved Odysseus.
There are two points here, both subtle. The first is that the ingenuity belongs not to Odysseus but to the poet; to Homer, let us say. And this epic is a demonstration of the art of (ingenious) story-telling. (In fact, The Odyssey is much less interesting thematically, much less deep, than the Iliad. It's a good thing that it has the narrative texture that it does.)
A second, and more important point, is that Odysseus, after the (Trojan) War is over, does not have a clear identity. The end of the War is the end of the warrior way. What are men and women after that way, the dominant way of the whole culture, is obsolete? In the interim, they lack identities. They are nobodies. So, Odysseus's choice of name also captures an essential feature of the epic's essence, that it explores basic issues of identity (in that cultural context). The exploration, in my judgement, is pretty monochromatic. But others may think differently.
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∙ 12y ago
Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is "Nohbody" as a clever trick to deceive the Cyclops when he blinds him. The Cyclops then tells his fellow Cyclopes that "Nohbody" harmed him, so they do not suspect Odysseus and his men as the culprits. This deception helps Odysseus and his men escape from the Cyclops' cave.
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What does the cyclops do when he realizes when he has been tricked?
He tries to find Odysseus, aka "Nohbody", and get ahold of him and kill him.
How does Odysseus describe himself to the phaecians?
Odysseus describes himself as "wily Odysseus" when he introduces himself to the Phaeacians. He emphasizes his intelligence and resourcefulness, traits that have helped him survive his long journey back from the Trojan War.
What does Melanthius think will happen between himself and Odysseus?
Melanthius believes that Odysseus will never return and reclaim his throne, allowing him to continue his disloyal behavior without consequences. He is confident that he can align himself with the suitors to maintain his position of power in the absence of Odysseus.
How does telemachus react when odysseus identifies himself?
Telemachus is initially skeptical and does not believe Odysseus is his father. However, he becomes emotional and overjoyed when Odysseus reveals secret knowledge that only his father would know, confirming his identity. Telemachus embraces Odysseus and they have a heartfelt reunion.
What customs does Odysseus expect the cyclops to honor in the odyssey?
Odysseus expects the cyclops Polyphemus to honor the Greek custom of hospitality towards guests, but Polyphemus violates this by eating some of Odysseus' men. Odysseus also expects Polyphemus to follow the custom of giving a guest his name when asked, but Polyphemus deceives Odysseus by calling himself "Nobody."
What name does Odysseus call himself?
Odysseus calls himself Noman..
How does Odysseus show cunning in the crisis with the cyclops?
Odyesseus tells the cyclopes that his name is nohbody, and the cyclopes yells "nohbody has blinded me!" That made the other cyclopes' think that all was well. :)
What does the cyclops do when he realizes he has been tricked?
He tries to find Odysseus, aka "Nohbody", and get ahold of him and kill him.
How does Odysseus shows that he is clever with language?
Odysseus demonstrates his cleverness with language through his use of wit, rhetoric, and manipulation. For instance, he employs disguises and aliases to deceive others. He also employs strategic storytelling to evoke sympathy or gain an advantage in various situations. In addition, Odysseus often speaks in a way that is veiled and indirect, allowing him to remain evasive and elusive when dealing with threats or adversaries.
How does Odysseus show cleverness in The Odyssey?
in the odyssey, odysseus show cleverness in many ways. He show cleverness when on the island with the cyclopes. With the cyclopes killing his men odyssues must fin a way to keep most of his men alive. So he gets the cyclopes drunk with wine and telling him he is nohbody. then when the cyclopes falls asleep odysseus staps the cyclopes in the eye. When he escapes the cyclpose he makes him look stupid making the cyclopes scream "nohbody did this Nohbody did this!"
What is ironic about the us of the name Nohbody by Odysseus?
The name Nohbody is ironic because when Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is Nohbody, Polyphemus's fellow Cyclopes would not know who to blame when he calls for help. This allows Odysseus to escape Polyphemus's cave, despite calling out for help and revealing his true identity to the Cyclopes.
Dramatic irony occurs when the cyclops yells nohbody has blinded me?
This is an example of dramatic irony because the cyclops is blind and doesn't realize that "Nohbody" is actually Odysseus. The audience knows the truth while the character remains ignorant.
Who is Nohbody in The Odyssey?
In The Odyssey, Nohbody is a clever pseudonym used by Odysseus when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus. By telling Polyphemus that "Nohbody" has harmed him, Odysseus outwits the Cyclops, who is then unable to accurately identify his attacker when seeking revenge. This deception allows Odysseus to escape from Polyphemus' cave.
What did the gods call the herb that Odysseus took to protect himself from Circe?
Moly
What name does Odysseus call himself to the monster?
depending on what version you read, he either calls himself "nobody" or "no man"
Why does Odysseus call himself Noman?
He calls himself noman because in ancient greek it was a wordplay. Odysseus and Odisseus both sound very similar but Odisseus means noman. So it was an ancient pun.
What did the gods call the herb that Odysseus used to protect himself from Circe?
A magical herb called moly.
