The Cyclops

Roles

• Odysseus - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

Odysseus narrates to the Chorus how he escaped the Cyclop's cave

Summary

The Cyclops are mythological giants with one eye on their forehead that live in Sicily on Mount Aetna. Odysseus, going back to Ithaca after the Trojan war, gets lost and runs into the Cyclops when he stops in Sicily. They meets Silenus and his sons the Satyrs that have been enslaved by the Cyclops. In the beginning of the play Odysseus meets Silenus and he offers to trade wine for food. When the Cyclops arrive Silenus accuses Odysseus of stealing his food. As a consequence the Cyclops kidnap Odysseus and members of his crew and brings them to their cave where he eats a few of his crew members. Odysseus, however, manages to escape by getting him drunk and sneaking out. In this monologue Odysseus narrates to the Chorus how the Cyclops killed and cooked some of his crew members. He describes in detail the gruesome killing. Then he tells them how he had the idea to get him drunk in order to be able to escape from his cave.

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