The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

Epic Terms
Epic:

Epic Hero:

Epithet:

In Media Res:

Archetype:

Who is Homer?

What is the Odyssey? VIP

a) Epic poem depicting the values and beliefs of the Greek Culture
b) Story of Odysseus voyage home from the Trojan War.

What is it about? fill in the blank!

The story revolves around ________________________ of Ithaca, a Greek hero of the

Trojan War.
Ten years have passed since the _______________________ were defeated, yet Odysseus
has yet to return to his wife, Queen Penelope, and his son, Prince Telemachus.
The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus long _____________________ home and the
____________________ he faces along the way.

Who are the main characters? VIP

Odysseus
o King of Ithaca and Hero of the Trojan War
o Known for his wicked intelligence in battle
o Linked to the Goddess Athena
o Enemy of Poseidon
Telemachus
o Odysseus son and Prince of Ithaca
o Prevents suitors from courting Penelope while Odysseus is away
Penelope
o Odysseus wife and mother of Telemachus
o Queen of Ithaca

The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

o Faithfully awaits Odysseus return to Greece

Athena
o Goddess, daughter of Zeus
o Goddess of wisdom, battle, and the arts
o Uses disguises to help Odysseus and Telemachus
Poseidon
o God of the sea, holds a grudge against Odysseus and seeks vengeance
Zeus
o The greatest of the Greek gods, father to Athena

STUDY QUESTIONS
Book 1
1. What is a Muse?

2. What is the purpose of the Invocation?

Book 5
3. Is Odysseus trapped on Calypsos island against his will? How do we know this?

4. What does Calypso offer Odysseus to convince him to stay on the island with her?

5. What is Odysseus worried about?

Book 9
6. Who does Odysseus first encounter on his voyage back home?

7. What happens when he meets the people of Ismarus?

8. Who are the second group of people Odysseus and his men meet?

9. What happens to the men when they meet these people?

10. What is the third place Odysseus and his men visit?

The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

11. List three impressions Odysseus has of the Giants, according to the text:
a.
b.
c.

12. Who is the father of Polyphemus? Why is this important?

13. What is the first thing the men do when they visit Polyphemus the Cyclops?

14. What happens to the men?

15. How does Odysseus get revenge? (describe three events in order)
a.
b.
c.
16. How do Odysseus and his men escape the cave?

17. What are the two things Odysseus does after they leave the shore?
a.
b.
18. What does Polyphemus do in response?

Book 10
19. How does Odysseus learn of his crews transformation by Circe?

20. How is he able to resist her magic?

21. Why does Odysseus refuse to partake of Circes meal?

22. What is Eurylochus reaction to Odysseus news concerning his conquest of Circe?

The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

23. How long does Odysseus remain on Circes island, Aeaea?

24. What disturbing news does Circe break to Odysseus concerning his journey home?

25. How do the men react to Odysseus news concerning their journey?

Book 11
26. Summarize what happens in this book (3-5 sentences)

Book 12
27. What aid does Circe lend Odysseus before he departs from Aeaea?

28. How does Odysseus men become immune to the Sirens singing?

29. Why is Odysseus tied to the mast?

30. What choice must Odysseus make when passing through the perilous sea cliffs?

31. What decision does he make?

32. In what way does Odysseus ignore Circes advice concerning Scylla?

Book 16
33. How does Odysseus get back to Ithaca?

34. How does Telemachus react to his fathers return?

35. What is Odysseus plan to foil the suitors plans?

The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

Book 17
36. Who is Argos? What happens to him?

Book 21
37. After giving up hope that Odysseus will return, what contest does Penelope propose to
her suitors and what will be the prize for the winner?

38. When the old beggar (Odysseus) speaks to the suitors, what does ask them to let him
try?

39. The men are irritated by this request and wont hear anything of it. What does Penelope
do to try to persuade them? Remember, she does not know Odysseus has returned.

40. Why does Penelope leave the banquet hall?

41. What epic simile is used to describe Oysseus, disguised as the old beggar, stringing his
bow? (Lines 197-206)

42. After Odysseus speaks to the evil suitors in lines 221-226, he nods to his son. What does
Telemachus do at that time?

43. Why does Odysseus pray to Apollo before shooting his bow?
44. Who is Odysseus first target?
45. When the rest of the suitors realize what is happening, what are they frantically looking
for but cannot find?
46. Why is this? Read the excerpt on the right.
47. What does yellow dogs mean?
48. What does sickly green fear pulled at their entrails mean?

The Odyssey notes and study questions

DUE DATE: ________________________

NAME: ______________________________
TYPE OF GRADE: MAJOR MINOR

49. Eurymachus tries to blame all of the suitors actions on whom?

50. What is he trying to bargain?
51. What does Odysseus say is the only payment for their foul deeds on his land?
52. What does Eurymachus try to rally the others to do?
53. What happens?
54. What does the shrouding wave of mist closed on his eyes mean? Line 321
Book 23
55. How does Athena improve Odysseus appearance?
56. Why is Odysseus upset at Penelope?
57. How does Penelope test Odysseus?
58. Why couldnt they move their bed?
59. Why was this their secret?
60. How does the epic end? (see the italics at the end. ;) )