Foreshadowing In The Odyssey

When Odysseus
requests that the cyclops give him a gift which is required by the law of the gods, the cyclops
refuses. Odysseus informs the cyclops that it is the law of Zeus who insists the host show
hospitality to his guest. It is immediately obvious that Odysseus and his men are going to face
danger from the cyclops. The cyclops is not going to treat Odysseus very kindly. This is a sign
of , hinting that Odysseus is going to have problems from the cyclops. Odysseus's request for
hospitality from the cyclops is met with rude rejection. The cyclops in turn eats Odysseus'
men:

Scorning the gods, Polyphemus grasped two of Odysseus
men and slammed their heads against the ground. He then proceeded to eat them whole.

The cyclops is not going to welcome Odysseus and his men. Instead
he is going to eat them all if he gets the chance. The fact that he had two more men for
breakfast foreshadows the danger that is to come:

When the
Cyclops awakened in the morning, he ate two more men before taking his sheep to pasture, leaving
the dreaded boulder behind to block the exit.

It is
obvious that Odysseus and his men are in danger when the cyclops puts a boulder on the cave.
This is the foreshadowing or hinting that the cyclops is going to keep Odysseus and his men held
hostage. He is planning to have breakfast and dinner on Odysseus' men:

He devours two of Odysseuss men on the spot and imprisons Odysseus
and the rest in his cave for future meals.

No doubt,
Odysseus and his men are in trouble. They are going to be eaten by the cyclops. Odysseus and his
men were treated with a lack of respect. The cyclops showed no hospitality. Odysseus begins to
realize that he will have to devise a plan to escape the cave of the cyclops. He has no choice
but to blind the cyclops.