somewhat hinder his attempt to return home. Odysseus men want to loot the goods and return to the ship. But, despite the pleading of his men, Odysseus wants to meet the cave-dwellers and see what they have to offer. This came to be a dire mistake. Polyphmos enters the cave, and after brief words, he, in one swift motion, grabs, dismembers, then proceeds to feed on two of Odysseus men. After a brief stay in the cave and a few more dead men, Odysseus congers a plan which defeats Polyphmos and returns Odysseus and his men safely back to the ship. This episode cost Odysseus the lives of men - lives lost for pure curiosity and his yearn for action. Directly after escaping Polyphmos, Odysseus cries out in anger at the Kyklops, who proceeds to toss boulders at Odysseus ships. After each cry, Polyphmos gets closer and closer with his tosses. Then, unintelligently, Odysseus, for sake of false confidence, reveals his name to Polyphmos. Polyphmos then prays to his father, Poseidon, against Odysseus voyage home to Ithaka. Instead of the mens, now Odysseus actions endanger their lives.Odysseus and his men sail to another land - Aiolia Island, the home of Aiolos Hippotads, the wind king. Aiolos plays host to Odysseus and his crew for a month. Staying for this length of time suggests Odysseus desire to return home is diminishing. Being controller of the winds, Aiolos grants Odysseus a bag containing storm winds to aid his journey home. After ten days at sea, the men finally catch glimpse of their long sought after homeland. As Odysseus slept, his crew, wondering what was in the bag, opens the it. The great winds rush out, blowing the ships clear back to Aiolia. Odysseus, despite his courage, has thoughts of suicide but decides against it: "Should I go overside for a quick finish / or clench my teeth and stay among the living?" (10:57-8). Odysseus confronts Aiolos in a manner not characteristic to the great orator that Odysseus is....
