To entertain the audience
Odysseus and his men encounter the land of the lotus eaters in Book Nine. Now, after being carried in the sea for nine whole days they land on Lotophagi on the the tenth day. Of course after all that time on sea, Odysseus and his men would grow hungry. So, before further continuation of their journey they ate. Soon after, Odysseus sent out three men to explore the island. Inevitably, they encounter the “Lotus-eaters,” who were the people of Lotophagi. They were rather kind and never wanted to cause harm. Now, again, the lotus-eaters ment harm to no man, so they offered Odysseus’s men a lotus. Although, the men of Odysseus had no knowledge that whomever ate the honey flavored fruit would no longer long to return home, or would no longer care for things that were once sacred to them. No, instead when one devoured the taste of a Lotus, they’d only crave for the taste of even more Lotus. Thus, after Odysseus men ate the Lotus, they forgot of their important mission; To return to Ithaca. Odysseus then has to force his onto their ship, so they can return home.
This short summary of what happened on the land the is called Lotophagi, proves that the correct answer to this question is b ) Some of Odysseus's men taste the lotus fruit and refuse to leave the island. Odysseus takes them back to the ship by force.
- Marlon Nunez
