The narrative shifts to the past as Odysseus tells the story of the adventures he and his men encountered after leaving Troy. 

Odysseus and his men first come to the land of the Cicones, where they pillage the city. Against Odysseus’s wishes, his men decide to stay and celebrate their victory, giving the Cicones time to regroup and launch a reprisal attack. Odysseus manages to escape, but only after losing six men from each of his ships. Odysseus then arrives at the land of the Lotus Eaters, where some crew members consume the intoxicating lotus and forget their desire to return home. Odysseus forces them back onto the ship and sails away.

Next, they reach the island of the Cyclopes, giant one-eyed creatures. Odysseus explores the island with a handful of his men. They find a cave full of farming implements and large cheeses. When the owner of the cave, the Cyclops Polyphemus, arrives, he laughs at Odysseus’s request for hospitality and eats two of Odysseus’s men. The Cyclops then traps the survivors in the cave before going to sleep. Odysseus resists the urge to kill Polyphemus, knowing that if he does so, he and his men will not be able to escape the cave.