Paraphrase and summarize

Take the following passage from The Odyssey and perform close reading on it. Paraphrase and summarize what this passage is saying in your own words.

Page 190 Lines 209-221

Dear friends, surely we are not unlearned in evils.

This is no greater evil now than it was when the Cyclops

had us cooped in his hollow cave by force and violence,

but even there, by my courage and counsel and my intelligence,

we escaped away. I think that all this will be remembered

some day too. Then do as I say, let us all be won over.

Sit well, all of you, to your oarlocks, and dash your oars deep

into the breaking surf of the water, so in that way Zeus

might grant that we get clear of this danger and flee away from it.

For you, steersman, I have this order; so store it deeply

in your mind, as you control the steering oar of this hollow

ship; you must keep her clear from where the smoke and the breakers

are, and make hard for the sea rock lest, without your knowing,

she might drift that way, and you bring all of us into disaster.”

After that, comment on two of your classmates’ close readings.