1. Calypso is a lustrous goddess who loves mortals, in particular Odysseus.  In these ways, she is like Penelope.  They are both beautiful and have a love for Odysseus. On the other hand, she is unlike Penelope because she holds Odysseus captive on her island for a long period of time.  Zeus finally has to intervene and force her to let him go.  Penelope is just as loving, if not more, but instead of keeping Zeus with her, she knew she had to let him go on this journey.  She waits for him always, though.  This is one reason Calypso is the "anti-Penelope." Other reasons include her personality, and the fact that she has Odysseus while Penelope waits for him (what I am trying to get at is hard to put into words).  Calypso is demanding and stubborn, while Penelope is more timid and obedient and has a softness to her.  Odysseus only wants to go back home, and since Calypso holds him on her island, seducing him, the one thing he can't have is Penelope/home.  Calypso is also considered promiscuous, while Penelope is the most faithful wife out there.  Calypso is so different from Penelope, but Odysseus wants them both.  Calypso and her island are only a beginning piece to Odysseus's journey--he overcame his temptation this time, but can he do it again?

4. The Cyclops is a "starting point" for Odysseus's journey because this is when Odysseus goes too far, and is too cocky.  He tricked the Cyclops easily, and when he was leaving he told him his real name.  Then the Cyclops called on Poseidon, who already was not very fond of Odysseus, to punish Odysseus.  This is when travel becomes very tough for him.  The Cyclops represent Odysseus's own stupidity.  Though they are very dumb, it is symbolic and iron because Odysseus tricks them, but it is he who suffers in the end.  If he had just left without revealing his own name (the stupid part) then his journey would have been much shorter and easier. The fact that Odysseus also calls himself "Nobody" when he is trying to trick the Cyclops is symbolic as well.  This is part of his plan, but in a way it is true.  Who is Odysseus?  He is not a god, but he is so cocky and confident that he thinks he can trick the gods and overcome them.  To the gods, he really is nobody, especially to Poseidon, who later shows Odysseus that the gods are stronger and smarter than him, a mere human.