**Epithet Ex: Grey-Eyed Athena and Wily Odysseus

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1 The Odyssey Summaries Name Per Book 1 Sample Summary 1. The Iliad and The Odyssey are Epic Poems. 2. The Iliad is the story of the Trojan War (part 1). The Odyssey is part 2 and tells what happens after the war. 3. In Media Res Means In The Middle The Odyssey starts in the middle of the story. (First time in history we see the flashback used.) 4. The Iliad and The Odyssey were told orally, SUNG by the blind poet Homer. 5. Homer asks Calliope, the Goddess of Inspiration, to help him tell the story of Odysseus. 6. Setting = Mount Olympus then moves to Ithaca. 7. Athena asks Zeus and other gods for help getting Odysseus home. Zeus sends Hermes to Calypso. 8. Athena goes to the home of Odysseus and meets son, Telemachus. 9. Telemachus tells Athena (in disguise) that they are plagued by suitors for Penelope s hand in marriage. 10. Athena tells him to warn the suitors then get a ship to seek news of his father. Literary Element: **Epithet Ex: Grey-Eyed Athena and Wily Odysseus

2 Book 2 Sample Summary Setting Ithaca (Odysseus Home) 1. Telemachus calls a council. Challenges guest s behavior. Antinous blames Penelope for their bad behavior every night she unravels the weaving of Odysseus funeral shroud. 2. Zeus sends two eagles as an omen to warn men. 3. Telemachus asks for ship to seek news of father. Asks Eurycleia for help food and don t tell Penelope for ten days that he is gone. 4. Telemachus & Athena leave with 20 men. Book 3 Sample Summary 1. Telemachus goes to PYLOS (Setting) to talk to KING NESTOR. 2. Agamemnon wanted to perform a sacrifice to the Gods to thank them for helping in the war. 3. Menelaus wanted to take Helen and head straight back to Sparta. 4. Agamemnon stays to perform the sacrifices. When he gets home, he is murdered by his wife and her lover. Their son, ORESTES, waits 7 years until he is old enough and kills his mother and her new husband. 5. Menelaus was stuck in Egypt for 7 years. 6. KING NESTOR tells Telemachus to go to SPARTA and talk to Menelaus to find out more about Odysseus.

3 Book 4 Sample Summary Setting: Sparta & Ithaca 1. Telemachus goes to SPARTA to talk to King Menelaus and Queen Helen. 2. Before the war was over, Odysseus dressed as a beggar, snuck into Troy and saw Helen. 3. Menelaus gets stuck in Egypt, then a 2 nd time at the Nile river. A Goddess pities him. She tells him to get 3 men and disguise themselves as seals and capture her father, Poseidon. 4. Poseidon tells the men that Zeus was angry because they did not perform sacrifices to thank the gods. If they wanted to get home, they would have to perform the rituals. 5. Poseidon tells them 2 men did not make it back. AJAX was killed by Poseidon for bragging he had beaten the gods. 6. Odysseus is still alive, but marooned on an island with no way home. 7. Back in Ithaca, Antinous and the suitors are plotting to ambush and kill Telemachus. Book 5 1. Setting The Island of. 2. What is the message from Zeus? Delivered by? 3. Calypso gives Odysseus a choice. What is it and what does he choose? 4. How long is Odysseus sailing on the water? 5. Who hurts him and how? 6. Who helps him and how? 7. What does he do before falling asleep?

4 Book 6 1. Setting - Phaeacia 2. Who helps Odysseus and how (the dream)? What is the excuse she gives to go to the river? 3. Explain Odysseus awkward situation and how he asks for help. 4. Explain what she/princess does for him, why she cannot escort him directly, and the instructions she gives him. Book 7 1. Note the Setting 2. Who helps Odysseus get into the palace and how (note the 2 ways)? 3. What does Odysseus do to show his humility? 4. How is he treated? Where is he seated? 5. What does the queen notice about Odysseus? 6. What will happen tomorrow? Book 8 1. Note the Setting 2. What does the King prepare for Odysseus? 3. What entertainment is provided during the banquet? 4. Why does Odysseus get so emotional? 5. What athletics are performed? 6. Why does Odysseus compete and how does he do? 7. What does the king order to be given to Odysseus? 8. What happens between Odysseus and Princess Nausicaa? 9. What is King Alcinous final question?

5 Book 9 ***THE FLASHBACK*** Odysseus tells the story of what happened over the past 7-8 years st destination after Trojan War ended. Where? Who lives there? What happened? 2. 2 nd destination. Where? Who lives there? What happened? 3. 3 rd destination. Where? Who lives there? a. Why does Odysseus go into/stay in the cave? b. Why can t they leave? c. What happens to Odysseus men? d. What is Odysseus plan? What weapon does he make? Does it work? e. How do they get out of the cave? f. What does Odysseus do once they get out? Book th destination (after Land of the Cyclops). a. Which god lives there? b. What does he give Odysseus? c. What do the men do? 2. 5 th destination. Where? What happens to Odysseus men? 3. 6 th destination. Whose island is it? a. What do the men find when they go exploring? Who refuses to enter? b. What happens to the men that enter? c. Who helps Odysseus? How? What instructions are given to Odysseus? d. What does the witch offer Odysseus? Why? e. How long do they stay? f. Where must Odysseus go and who must he speak with in order to get home?

6 Book Setting 2. What must Odysseus do to speak to Tiresias? 3. What does Tiresias tell him he must (not) do to get back to Ithaca? 4. Who does he see as he leaves (surprised to see)? Book What 3 dangers does Odysseus face back at sea? 2. How does he escape them? 3. Where do they land? What do the men do? What are the consequences of their actions? 4. Where does Odysseus end up? Book 13 **End of Flashback** Back in Phaeacia (Present Day) 1. Where does Odysseus go? (Setting) 2. Who helps Odysseus and what is he turned into? Why? Book Who helps Odysseus and how? 2. Does he know who he is helping? Why would he help a stranger? Book How does Telemachus know to come home? 2. How is he protected?

7 Book Does Telemachus know he is meeting Odysseus? Why/why not? 2. How does Athena change Odysseus? What does Telemachus mistake him for? 3. What do the two plot? Do they need reinforcements? Book Odysseus is again disguised as a? 2. Who recognizes him even in his disguise? What happens to it after it recognizes him? 3. Where does Odysseus go? How is he treated? 4. Who treats him this way and what does he do? Book Who shows up at the palace? Why does he argue with Odysseus in disguise? 2. What happens between Odysseus and this man? 3. Who retaliates against Odysseus for the fight and what does he do? Book Who does Odysseus go to see? What does she do for him? 2. Who recognizes Odysseus and how? What is his reaction to being recognized? Book What sign is Odysseus given & by whom? 2. In addition to Telemachus and Eumaeus, who else helps Odysseus? 3. What does a prophet predict?

8 Book What is Penelope s challenge and what do they win if they succeed? 2. Who wins the challenge? Book Who helps Odysseus and Telemachus? 2. Besides the suitors, who else is killed? 3. Who wins the fight? Book How do they get rid of the bodies? 2. How does Penelope test Odysseus to make sure that it is him? Book Who does Odysseus go to see after the fight with the suitors? Why is this man not in the palace? 2. What happens while Odysseus is meeting with this man in the fields? 3. Which 2 people stop the fighting?