The Odyssey Study Guide

1. What is the prayer said at the beginning of an epic called?

1. simile
2. invocation
3. recipe
4. metaphor

2. Who says the invocation for The Odyssey?

3. Whom does he speak to?

4. What does he request?

5. Muse, daughter of Zeus is an example of a(n)

1. epithets
2. episodes
3. invocation
4. Homeric simile

Part one: Sailing from Troy

1. To whom does Odysseus tell his story?

2. Who is the father of Odysseus?

3. Where is Odysseus' home?

4. What do you definitely know about his homeland?

1. It is beautiful
2. It is very small and old
3. It is an island and is very rocky
4. It is not a part of Greece.

5. What type of narration is this section of the story?

6. What problems does Odysseus have with his men when they encounter the Cicones?

7. How many men does Odysseus lose to the Cicones?

The Lotus Eaters

1. Find and epithet on page 984 and write it here.

2. How was Odysseus blown off course?

3. How many men does Odysseus send to scout the island?

4. How do the Lotus eaters live?

5. Why is this dangerous for Odysseus?

6. What does Odysseus do to save his men?

The Cyclops - page 986

1. The Cyclopes are what type of individuals?

1. They are gentle and kind
2. They are immortal gods that don't listen to anyone
3. They are gigantic creatures that are lazy and mean.

2. To what does Odysseus compare the Cyclops?

3. What does Odysseus bring with him to the Cyclops' house?

1. An animal hide filled with wine
2. A big bow and arrow to kill the monster
3. A slave to trade for money
4. Many different types of cheeses.

4. What does the Cyclops have in his house?

5. What do Odysseus men want to do?

6. Which quality of an epic hero does Odysseus demonstrate when addressing the Cyclops?

7. What can we understand about conduct and respect for the gods from Odysseus on page 989?

8. Find an epithet on page 989.

9. Find two Homeric similes on page 989.

A)

B)

10. What name does Odysseus tell the Cyclops to call him?

11. Why can't Odysseus kill the Cyclops and then just run away?

12. How does Odysseus escape with his men?

13. How does Odysseus endanger his crew?

14. The Cyclops's father is

The Land of the Dead - page 999 only

1. Who is Aeolus?

2. What does Aeolus do for Odysseus?

3. How does Odysseus' crew mess up again?

4. Who are the Laestrygonians?

5. Who is Circe? Where is her home?

6. What harm does Circe cause Odysseus and his crew?

7. Where does Circe say Odysseus must go?

The Sirens - page 1005

1. Where is Odysseus at the start of this episode?

2. What does Circe warn him about?

3. What will the sirens do?

4. What should Odysseus do to himself and his men to survive?

5. What is Scylla?

6. What is the Charybdis?

7. To survive, what does Circe tell Odysseus to do?

8. After this peril, what other danger will he face?

Scylla and Charybdis - page 1007

1. Odysseus and his men face the first danger (the Sirens), then what makes them drop their oars?

2. How does Odysseus encourage his men?

3. Find a simile on page 1009 and write it here.

4. How many men are taken by Scylla?

The Cattle of the Sun God - page 1010

1. What do the men do when they are hungry?

2. What is the result of their actions?

3. What happens to Odysseus?

The Odyssey Part Two: The Return of Odysseus - page 1022

1. How long has Odysseus been gone from Ithaca?

2. The main reason that the suitors and servants don't recognize Odysseus when he first appears is that

3. What are the suitor's doing at Odysseus' house?

4. Which god or goddess helps disguise Odysseus?

5. Who does Odysseus go to first?

6. What is this man's job?

7. Who arrives while he is visiting this person?

8. What three things does Odysseus tell Telemachus to do?

Argus: - page 1028

9. Who is Argus?

10. What happens to him after he sees his master?

The Suitors:

11. Who is Antinous?

12. How does Antinous treat Odysseus?

13. What does he do to Odysseus?

14. Why are some of the suitors ashamed of Antinous' behavior?

15. The suitors look down on Odysseus when he first appears because they think he

The Challenge: - page 1035

1. How will Penelope decide who she will marry?

2. What are some of the insults the suitors say to or about the beggar/Odysseus?

3. What do the suitors hear after Odysseus strings the bow?

3. Does Odysseus complete the task?

Odysseus' Revenge: - page 1039

1. Who does Odysseus strike down first?