Question

He had in wizardry among the Cyclops,

and these things he foretold for time to come:

my great eye lost, and at Odysseus' hands.

Always I had in mind some giant, armed

in giant force, would come against me here.

But this, but you – small, pitiful and twiggy –

you put me down with wine, you blinded me.

-The Odyssey,
Homer

What deeper meaning is revealed through the Cyclops’s interpretation of the prophecy?

Ignoring a prophecy leads to punishment by the gods.
Epic heroes can have qualities that one would expect only a supernatural being to have.
People are expected to treat guests with respect, and hospitality is rewarded.
Home is the best place to be.

Answer 1

The deeper meaning revealed through the Cyclops's interpretation of the prophecy is that people are expected to treat guests with respect, and hospitality is rewarded. This is because the Cyclops ultimately faced punishment for disregarding this common belief and disrespecting Odysseus and his crew.