The ending: What did you feel about it? Was it like any endings we made up? Did the suspense carry on? When did you finally feel that everyone was safe? Or are they safe, given Polyphemus’ words to Poseidon?

Odysseus: We see a good example of his cleverness and cunning. What was it? (Getting the Cyclops drunk; tying sheep together and escaping beneath them.) But was it a good idea to shout out his name to the Cyclops? Why do you think Odysseus did this? Have you ever boasted to your friends or enemies? (Use role and improvisation to explore this idea. Think of something you are good at and boast about it to a partner. Can you out-boast one another?) Talk about the character of Odysseus as we see it in this episode, and add more ideas and evidence round  his picture (Episode 1).

The names of Odysseus: Remember that when he first introduced himself Odysseus said: “I have many names.” Here he uses a name to trick the Cyclops. (Nobody.) There are two more names Odysseus calls himself. (King of rocky Ithaca; ram amongst sheep.) Can you explain these names? When he called out his own name, Odysseus said “Like a craftsman, I had to leave my name on my handiwork.” Explain this.

Blind man’s buff: Demonstrate how this game is played. It is not just a chasing game. The children should trick the blindfolded catcher by bending and ducking. Try playing it in small groups and take turns being the Cyclops. (Use the role of the Cyclops as a device for composing a series of ‘terrible threats’ which he utters as he tries vainly to catch the men.) When making up these threats, recall what the Cyclops has already done.

The map: Draw the island of the Cyclopes and put it on the blank map (Odysseus’ voyages blank map for personalising).

Lost lives: The Cyclops offers something precious to Odysseus. What is it? (A little more life.) Think back to the time when Odysseus beached the ship to explore the island. He took with him twelve men. How many are there now? What has happened to them? (Eaten by the Cyclops: the first he smashed against the cave, popped in his mouth and washed down with milk; the second and third he ate in the morning, crunching their bones; he bit through the skull of the fourth.) Keep a tally. There will be more!

Describing ourselves: Odysseus uses the names ‘one-eye’ and ‘two-eyes’ to describe the men and the Cyclops. If it can be discussed sensitively, suggest other names like this (e.g. straw-hair, spiderlegs, elephant-feet, four-eyes). What might we think people with those names look like? Ask them to think of a hyphenated name to describe themselves. (Select and use descriptive vocabulary.)

Describing the Cyclops: Point out examples of similes in this episode. (Like a stake; like a fence post; as surely as a stopper seals the top of a wine skin; as though it was an eggshell.) What do they describe and why are they effective? We have heard a short way of making one (tusk-like teeth) using a hyphen. Make up other similes to describe the Cyclops. List the body parts of the Cyclops then try to compare each part with something else, so that we can picture it. Finally make a simple outline drawing of Polyphemus and write the description around it, matching the words to the body parts. (Select and use descriptive vocabulary.)