Why does Odysseus taunt Polyphemus in 'The Odyssey'?

If you ask me, it's because he's 1. Insanely happy he got out of there alive with most of his men 2. Angry at the fact that he lost men simply because the cyclops was a major douchebag 3. Proud of himself due to how he handled the situation. read more

If you ask me, it’s because he’s 1. Insanely happy he got out of there alive with most of his men 2. Angry at the fact that he lost men simply because the cyclops was a major douchebag 3. read more

Odysseus' pride and anger cause him to taunt Polyphemus. He cares because Polyphemus killed his men and insulted him. Due to Odysseus' taunting and tricking Polyphemus, he brings on the continued wrath of Poseidon. read more

The simple answer is that Odysseus is a prideful guy, so when he out smarts the simple-minded cyclops, he thinks a few insults and taunts are icing on the cake. The hard answer is as a plot device and a character exposition. read more

This is why Odysseus shouts at Polyphemus to prove that he is a classical Greek hero who has feats of bravery and strength to boast about.Yet for the epic Odyssey, heroic renown is gain through cleverness and trickery not bravery and strength, thus in revealing his name--blowing his cover--Odysseus fails in this encounter, which he pays for throughout the rest of the book. read more

First, he taunts Polyphemus, causing the giant to throw a great boulder at Odysseus's ship. The waves cause the ship to come closer to shore rather than farther away. This could have been a deadly error in judgment, but the ship manages to push off and get even farther away from shore. read more