Survive Essay

The Cyclops saga song “Survive” by Jorge Rivera Herrans was not similar to the book “The Odyssey” by Homer. The poem included scenes that the book did not contain and contradicted the storyline. In the poem “Survive”, Odysseus does not reply to the men during the attack against Polyphemus, implying that he might have died which is inaccurate in various ways because in the book scene he was able to win and not get trapped or die by Polyphemus. Poem “Survive” expresses, “Where are our orders?/Catin? Captain!”(Herrnas 43-45). Odysseus's men calling out for him and Odysseus not replying is a sign that he has died and they have failed in their plan. This does not occur in the story as Odysseus manages to escape along with men and wins the fight.

Polyphemus tells the men that they will die there. This victory of Polyphemus that is being exhibited did not exist in the book itself. According to the poem “Survive”, “You won’t live through this day now die/Die”(Herrnas 52-53). In the original text of “The Odyssey”, Polyphemus says no such thing and although he manages to kill some men, he does not kill all. Therefore, these differences make them significantly contrast each other because storyline is important and makes a change in whether it is similar or not. In the book scene, Odysseus successfully stabbed Polyphemus. The accomplishment of the attack existed in the book version only. According to “The Odysseus” book 9, “And drawing the sharp sword from my hip I went/along his flank to stab him where the midriff/holds the liver”(Homer 291-292). He was able to attack Cyclops, which is unlike what happened in the poem. According to “The Odysseus'' book 9, “If I killed him/we perished there as well, for we could never/ move his ponderous doorway stab aside/ So we were left to groan and wait for morning ”(Homer