Odysseus, the hero from Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, does not kill the brutish cyclops, Polyphemus, because Odysseus and his men would be trapped in the cave. ... Only Polyphemus would be able to move the rock. This is a moment in the text that reveals Odysseus as not just brave but wise.

How did Odysseus kill Polyphemus?

Odysseus at length succeeded in making Polyphemus drunk, blinded him by plunging a burning stake into his eye while he lay asleep, and, with six of his friends (the others having been devoured by Polyphemus), made his escape by clinging to the bellies of the sheep let out to pasture. ...

Who was Polyphemus killed by?

On the second day, Odysseus made the cyclops drunk, claiming his name was "Nobody", before five men drove a small sharpened stake into Polyphemus' only eye, blinding him.