| who is speaking in the opening scene? | Homer |
| what is a muse? | 9 daughters of Zeus with jobs to inspire people |
| what happened in Troy? | Trojan War |
| where is Odysseus, “the contender”, trying to go? | home (Ithaca) |
| which god is plotting against Odysseus? | Poseidon |
| which goddess is trying to help Odysseus? | Athena |
| how long did the Trojan War last? | 10 years |
| how many years has Odysseus spent trying to return home? | 10 years (7 on the island with Calypso) |
| who is Calypso and what is her relationship to Odysseus? | a nymph who loves Odysseus |
| who is narrating the story? | Odysseus |
| who is Hermes and what is his mission? | messenger of the gods who is trying to get Calypso to release Odysseus |
| who is Calypso secretly jealous of? | Penelope |
| how does Odysseus regard his wife Penelope while he is away? | he loves and misses her very much |
| how does Calypso assist Odysseus on his journey home? | helps build a raft and gives him supplies |
| what tragedy strikes Odysseus at sea? | a hurricane and his ship wrecks |
| how is Odysseus treated on the island of Scheria, home of King Alcinous? | they treat him as a noble guest |
| describe Ithaca | Odysseus’ home which he is very proud of |
| from his self introduction, how does Odysseus view himself? | very confident in himself |
| what happens at his first stop, Ismaros, land of the Cicones, on his journey home? | he successfully attacks the island but his men become drunk and stop listening to him |
| what dangers did Odysseus and his men encounter when they landed on the Lotus Eater’s island? | they no longer wanted to return home |
| what did they eat to get this feeling of never wanting to return home? | plants called lotuses |
| how did Odysseus solve the problem with the lotus eaters? | he tied his men to benches and stopped eating the lotuses |
| describe the Cyclops | one eyed monster; son of Poseidon |
| what was the Cyclops’ response when Odysseus told him of their ship wreck? | he asked where the ship was |
| what plan did Odysseus contrive to divert Cyclops? | get him drunk and blind him so they could sneak out |
| what is ironic about the use of the name “Nobody” by Odysseus? | it sounds like nobody |
| after blinding the Cyclops, how do Odysseus and his men escape the cave? | hide under the sheep herd |
| how does the Cyclops hope to avenge his injury from Odysseus? | prays to Poseidon to curse Odysseus |
| in what ways did Odysseus calling out to the Cyclops endanger his men? | by taunting the Cyclops, he told him his real name so now the Cyclops can get revenge |
| what customs of Greek society are observed in the book? | hospitality to strangers |
| what assistance does King Aeolus give Odysseus and why isn’t it successful? | a bag of wind but his men open it |
| summarize what happens on the island of Laistrygones | cannibals kills and eat some of his men |
| why were his men drawn to Circe? | she’s pretty, has a good voice, gave them food and drinks |
| what did Circe begin turning his crew into? | pigs |
| why did Circe’s plan fail on Odysseus? | Hermes gave him a magical herb |
| why must Odysseus go to Hades, the land of the dead? | he has to talk to a blind oracle for directions home |
| how does Odysseus summon the spirit of Tiresias? | told he must pray and sacrifice a black lamb |
| what advice does Tiresias give about the island of Thrinakia? | to stay away from cattle |
| if Odysseus does’t follow the advice about the cattle, what does the spirit foretell? | it will bring great destruction for his ship and crew |
| what advice does Circe give Odysseus when he returns from Hades? | advice about the sirens, scylla, and charybdis |
| who are the sirens? and what danger do they propose? | 2 beautiful girls who lure sailors to their death |
| how did Odysseus keep himself and his men safe when going past the sirens? | beeswax in ears and tied to the mast of the ship |
| describe scylla and charybdis | scylla-6 headed sea monster. charybdis- a dangerous whirlpool |
| which of the two, scylla or charybdis, was the lesser of the two evils? and why? | scylla because charybdis would kill all of his men but the sea monster would only eat some of his men |
| who owns the cattle on the island of Thrinakia? | Helios |
| why did Odysseus’ men end up eating the cattle? | they completely ran out of supplies and had to eat something |
| what threat did Helios make in response to the death of his cattle? | asked for Zeus to punish them or Helios would go to the underworld instead of olympus |
| who punished Odysseus’ men for eating the cattle? | Zeus uses lightening bolt |
| who survives the punishment from Zeus and his lightening bolt? | Odysseus is the only one who survives |
| who helps him return to Ithaca after 20 years? | Phaeacians |
| who do Odysseus visit when he gets home and how is he disguised? | he visits Eumias (swine herder) and he is dressed as a beggar |
| where did Telemachus go while Odysseus was gone? | to Sparta and Pilos to talk to friends about his mother’s suitors |
| what news does Athena share with Telemachus? | suitors are planning on marrying Penelope and killing him so they can be king |
| when Telemachus returns to Ithaca, who does he visit first and why? | visits Eumias because Athena told him to |
| what important Greek value does Telemachus’ treatment of the unknown beggar reveal? | hospitality to strangers |
| how does Athena transform Odysseus just before he reveals his identity to Telemachus? | takes away beggar disguise and makes him look like he did before he left |
| why is it ironic that Odysseus should return to Ithaca as a beggar? | he is really the king |
| what is Argos’ condition when he sees him? | old and sickly (represents condition of Ithaca) |
| what tale does the beggar tell Penelope? | makes up stuff about Odysseus because the truth is too painful |
| how is Penelope’s interview with the beggar ironic? | she tells him she is trying to find her husband but in reality he is her husband |
| who recognized Odysseus when he returns? | Eurycleia (a servant) notices his scar/birthmark on his foot |
| what do we learn about Penelope in her interview with the beggar? | she remained loyal for 20 years but she is growing weary |
| why do you think Odysseus continues to keep his identity hidden from his wife? | wants to see if she will be faithful |
| how does Penelope suggest she is looking for Odysseus by the test of the bow? | the only one who can do it is Odysseus |
| what does Penelope promise the winner of the contest? | her hand in marriage |
| who else does Odysseus reveal his identity to? | the swineherd and the cowherd |
The Odyssey Reading Guide
April 17, 2020