9. To the nearest thousand (or exact number), how many lines is The Odyssey? 11,300

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1 Odyssey Review Name Background Information: Short Answer 1. Who is credited with writing The Odyssey? Homer 2. What country is the story from? Greece 3. What is the name of the story that is connected to The Odyssey? Iliad 4. Who is the great hero from #3? Achilles 5. Where is the only place he was vulnerable? Heel 6. What war is the background for both stories? Trojan War 7. What was Odysseus s great idea for the Fall of Troy? Trojan Horse 8. What started the war? Paris, prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen (wife of the King of Sparta, Menelaus) 9. To the nearest thousand (or exact number), how many lines is The Odyssey? 11, What did Greek society believe about how the gods acted? They acted like humans, with petty jealousies & trivial arguments. They were interested in human affairs. Literary Terms: a. epic long narrative poem that tells about a hero s adventures b. heroic tradition sets standards on the value of man s honor c. epic hero larger than life figure, usually male, who embodies the ideals of a nation or race d. epic simile elaborate, more involved version of a regular simile. May go on for several lines. e. epithet brief descriptive phrases that characterize a person or thing.

2 Characters: Odysseus- King of Ithaca Antinous Suitor of Penelope Lotus Eaters Inhabitants of a land Odysseus visits -- drugs Calypso sea goddess, wishes to make Odysseus immortal. Alcinous King of Phaeacians Telemachus Odysseus s son Athena goddess of war and wisdom (Greek side of Trojan war) Sirens creatures, part woman & part bird, whose songs lure sailors to death Ulysses Roman name for Odysseus Zeus- chief of Greek gods & goddesses, father of Athena & Apollo Penelope Odysseus s Wife Scylla six-headed sea monster who devours sailors Charybdis dangerous whirlpool personified as a female sea monster Circe - goddess & enchantress Hermes god of invention, commerce, & cunning; messenger of the gods Cyclops one-eyed giant (Polyphemus) Poseidon God of sea, earthquakes & horses; father of Cyclops Argus - Odysseus s dog Cicones allies of Trojans Tiresias a blind prophet whose spirit Odysseus visits in the underworld Assignment #1: Write an epithet that can describe you. Example: The great tactician

3 Invocation Question 1. Who does the storyteller ask for help in retelling Odysseus s story? Muse Sailing from Troy Questions 1. Who is the narrator in this section? Odysseus 2. What is Odysseus s destination? Ithaca 3. What mistakes did Odysseus and his men make in Ismarus? They were greedy and mutinous. They drank wine and feasted on sheep and cattle but didn t pay attention to people who went inland. They were exposed to the Cicone army. 4. What do the empty benches in line 63 reveal about the outcome of the battle? The empty benches show the number of men killed in battle. 5. What is Odysseus s greatest fear about the Lotus? Would make his men content, never longing to return home. 6. In lines , which characteristics of an epic hero does Odysseus show? Wisdom & Leadership 7. What is the Cyclop s first name? Polyphemus 8. What is Polyphemus s attitude toward Zeus? Indifferent & not afraid 9. In exchange for wine, what is Polyphemus s promises to Odysseus? He would eat Odysseus last. 10. What trick helps Odysseus to defeat Polyphemus? Saying his name was Nohbdy 11. Why doesn t Odysseus just kill the Cyclops? He needs the Cyclops to move the boulder that is blocking the entrance to the cave.

4 12. Why does Odysseus reveal his true identity to the Cyclops? He is overcome by emotion & proud of his victory. 13. Why, despite the prophecy, is Polyphemus surprised by Odysseus? He is only oneeighth his size! 14. What is Odysseus s greatest weakness as a leader in this episode? Hot-headed, boastful, vengeful Vocab adversary ponderous entreat disdain indifferent List the plan for escape from the Cyclops s cave. (5 pts.) 1) Encourage Cyclops to drink wine, causing him to fall asleep. 2) Heat & sharpen a large stake 3) Drive the stake through the Cyclops s eye to blind him 4) Hide underneath the sheep when they are let out to graze (Cyclops checks the tops to make sure the men aren t riding them) 5) Escape in their ship The Land of the Dead Questions 1. What was Aeolus s parting gift to Odyssey? A great bag holding all the unfavorable, stormy winds 2. What prevents Circe from turning Odysseus into a pig? On the way to her house, he meets the god Hermes who gives him a magical plant called moly to protect him from Circe s powers. 3. What does Circe say Odysseus must do in order to reach home? Go to the Underworld (Hades) and consult with the blind prophet, Tiresias. 4. What does Elpenor s spirit ask of Odysseus? Burn Elpenor s body and build a memorial for him on the shore of Aeaea Island. 5. What difficulty does Tiresias predict for the journey to come? Odysseus will lose his ship and crew, struggle alone, and arrive home to trouble.

5 The Sirens Questions 1. Of what does Circe warn Odysseus? Sirens; The Wandering Rocks; Scylla, Charybdis 2. By not plugging his own ears with wax when Odysseus sails past the Sirens, what is he taking? A risk 3. Which details of the Sirens song are designed to flatter the epic hero? The description of the Greek s victory over Troy is designed to flatter Odysseus 4. Think about the Siren s song to Odysseus. What did they probably tempt him with (remember what he would want - 2 things)? What could the Sirens tempt you with (2 things)? (6 pts.) Scylla and Charybdis Questions 1. Why is Odysseus told to sail closer to Scylla than Charybdis? It is better to lose 6 men than all of them, plus the ship. 2. As they approach Charybdis and Scylla, how does Odysseus keep the men calm? He encourages them. 3. Why doesn t Odysseus tell the men of Scylla and Charybdis? He did not want them to panic, and he knew the deaths were inevitable. 4. Why does Odysseus feel guilty about Scylla killing 6 men? He knew Scylla was going to kill 6 men, but he didn t warn them. Also, he can t take revenge on Scylla for their deaths.

6 The Cattle of the Sun God Questions 1. What had Circe warned Odysseus about the island of Thrinacia? Don t steal Helios s cattle, because he will take revenge. 2. What do Odysseus s shipmates do while he is sleeping? His men sacrifice some of the cattle belonging to Helios and then eat them. 2. What happened to the ship after they left Thrinacia? It was destroyed by a lightning bolt sent from Zeus. Only Odysseus survived. Vocab stealth regaled contenders disconsolate vile peril dwindles abominably anguish questing The Return of Odysseus Questions 1. What happens to the Phaecians ship after dropping Odysseus off? Poseidon turns their ship into stone. 2. What happens to their city? Poseidon builds a huge mountain around their port, blocking off their access to the sea. 3. Who warns Odysseus of the suitors? Athena 4. To what are Odysseus s and Telemachus s cries compared in the epic simile in lines ? Those of a hawk that has lost its nestlings to a farmer

7 15. Why is Telemachus initially doubtful that the man before him is Odysseus, his father? The change in Odysseus s appearance has led him to assume Odysseus is a god. 16. Athena is the goddess of wisdom. Why might she want to help Odysseus? He is known for his wit and cleverness. Argus Question 1. What happened to Argus after seeing Odysseus? He dies. The Suitors Questions 1. How does Antinous react to Odysseus? He calls him a pest and a rat. 2. What cultural value did Antinous disobey? He violates his culture s rules regarding hospitality. 3. What does Penelope think of Antinous? She does not like him. Penelope Question 1. Before the bow test, what was another trick Penelope used to delay choosing a man to marry? She told them she needed to finish weaving a tapestry, but she would weave all day & undo the stitches at night. The Challenge Questions 1. Explain the test of the bow. What must the suitors do? What is their prize? Suitors must string Odysseus s bow & shoot an arrow through a target. Their prize is to marry Penelope & gain Odysseus s wealth. 2. Why do the suitors look down on Odysseus when he first appears? He was dressed as a beggar.

8 Odysseus s Revenge Questions 1. In the struggle between Odysseus and the suitors, which side are the gods on? Odysseus s 2. What happens to Antinous? Odysseus kills him as he is drinking wine. 3. What cultural values are revealed by Odysseus s explanation for his anger in lines ? The Greeks believed that gods could visit homes in disguise and would punish humans who did not treat them well. He is angry because the suitors have dishonored the Greeks religious laws. 4. What does Eurymachus blame for the suitors actions? List things that Eurymachus tried to bribe Odysseus with? He blames Antinous. He offers to pay back all the meat and wine, plus provide gifts of oxen, bronze, and gold. 5. Whose help does Odysseus not refuse during the battle? Telemachus s. Penelope s Test Questions 1. What is Penelope s initial reaction to Odysseus? With distrust 2. What causes Penelope to accept Odysseus? He does not attempt to move the bed. Vocab throng implacable frenzy wiliest omen 3. Is Penelope an epic hero just as Odysseus is? Support your opinion with references to selections and to your own ideas on heroism. 4. Based on your understanding of the tale of Odysseus, identify at least three values that seem to have been important to their society. Use details from the selections to support your ideas.