| What is an invocation? | a prayer; the one in the Odyssey is to the Muses |
| Who are the Muses? | the nine goddesses of the arts such as poetry, music, dance; daughters of Zeus |
| Who is Telemachus? | Odysseus’ son who is looking for his missing father |
| Who is Odysseus? | leader of the Greek army in the Trojan War; wanders for twenty years before returning home; the hero of the Odyssey |
| At the beginning of the reading, where is Odysseus? | on Calypso’s island |
| How long has it been since Odysseus left for the Trojan War? | twenty years- ten for the war; ten wandering after the war |
| Who is Odysseus’ patron goddess? | Athena, the goddess of wisdom |
| Who is sent to Calypso as a messenger from Zeus? | Hermes, the messenger god |
| What is an epic or Homeric simile? Give an example of one- what two things are being compared? | Comparison of epic events to simple and easy understandable every day events; ex. compares Hermes to a gull flying just above the waves, dipping down to catch a fish |
| What is Odysseus doing when Homer first introduces him to his readers? | sitting, looking over the ocean toward the direction of Ithaca; crying |
| Why is Odysseus crying on Calypso’s island? | He misses his wife and his home |
| What does Calypso give Odysseus to help him on his journey? | a raft, food, and drink |
| To whom does Calypso compare herself? | Penelope, Odysseus’ wife |
| Whom does Odysseus choose between Calypso and his wife? | Penelope, even though she will become old |
| Why does Odysseus encounter a storm at sea? | Poseidon is angry at him and punishing him |
| Where does the storm lead Odysseus right after he leaves Calypso’s island? | the island of Scheria |
| Who welcomes Odysseus when he arrives on the island of Scheria? | Naussica- King Alcinous’ daughter |
| What law is given to Odysseus when he arrives on the island of Scheria | Greek Law of Hospitality- be kind to strangers |
| Who is Odysseus’ father? | Laertes |
| Where is Odysseus’ home? | Ithica |
| Who are the Lotus Eater? | Live on island, eat Lotus flower, make some parts of crew forget about home |
| Who rescues the men from the Lotus Eaters? | Odysseus |
| Who is the Goddess of Wisdom? Why is this goddess associated with Odysseus? | Athena- she’s his protectorate |
| Who are the Cyclops? | Brutish, 1-eyed giants that raise sheep |
| Who is Polyphemus? | Cyclops, son of Poseidon |
| Why is Polyphemus important to the story? | He is the reason Odysseus has been kept off course and not allowed to return home- Poseidon’s revenge |
| Why do Odysseus and his men visit the Cyclops’ cave? | Curiosity and hospitality |
| What does Odysseus tell Polyphemus about the location of his ship? | Lies and tells him it crashed on the rocks |
| What does Polyphemus do to two of Odysseus’ men after Odysseus tells him about the ship? | Eats them |
| Why doesn’t Odysseus kill Polyphemus? | Because they need his help to get out of the cave |
| What do Odysseus and his men Make from the club found in the cave? | Spike/spear |
| When Polyphemus returns, what does Odysseus offer him? | Wine |
| What does Odysseus tell Polyphemus his name is? | Nohbdy |
| What violent act does Odysseus perform on Polyphemus? | Puts his eye out |
| Why don’t the other Cyclops come to Polyphemus’ aid? | He says “Nohbdy” did anything to hurt him |
| How do Odysseus’ men get out of Polyphemus’ cave? | 1 man tied to 3 sheep |
| How does Odysseus leave Polyphemus’ cave? | Grabs belly of largest/most prized ram |
| What does Odysseus do once he is back on his ship? | Taunts Polyphemus |
| What do we call today the result of what Polyphemus threw? | Tidal wave |
| Who lives on the Isle of the Winds? | Aeolus |
| What gift does he give Odysseus? | All the stormy winds tied in a leather bag |
| When Odysseus and his men come within sight of Ithaca, why don’t they reach it? | His men opened the bag of winds and blew them off course |
| Who are the Laestrygones? | Giant cannibals |
| Who is Circe? | Witch and goddess, most beautiful of all immortals |
| Who did not go into Circe’s home and why? | Eurylochus; he was suspicious |
| What does Circe do to Odysseus’ men? | Turns them into pigs; her spell makes them forget their home |
| Why is Odysseus immune to Circe’s spells? | Hermes gave him an antidote to counter Circe’s power |
| How long do Odysseus and his crew stay in the company of Circe? | 1 year- many seasons |
| Explain the delay in departure from Circe’s island. | Circe commands Odysseus to visit the Land of the Dead to see Tiresias. |
| Why does Odysseus go to the Land of the Dead? | To see Tiresias and learn of his destiny |
| What does Odysseus do that will allow him to call up the dead? | 1. sacrifice a heifer2. burn bits on an altar3. sacrifice a black lamb4. let blood stream into pit |
| What does Tiresias predict for Odysseus’s men? | Death if they eat or slaughter the sacred cattle of Helios |
| What does Tiresias say Odysseus will find when he returns home? | His house filled with trouble; rude men trying to marry his wife |
| What four steps does Tiresias recommend Odysseus do when he returns home? | 1. kill the suitors2. go overland on foot3. take an oar4. make sacrifice to Poseidon |
| Where does Tiresias say Odysseus will die? | At sea of old age |
The Odyssey Review
April 20, 2020