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The Odyssey Part I Study Questions

Invocation—

  1. What is an invocation?—a prayer asking for help
  1. Who are the Muses?—9 daughters of Zeus – inspire the arts

Sailing From Troy

  1. At the beginning of our reading of “The Odyssey”, where is Odysseus?—Calypso’s island (the first yellow box)

Then on Scheria, the Island of the Phaecians ruled by King Alcinous’ – when Odysseus begins, “I am Laertes’ son…”

  1. How long has it been since Odysseus left his home for the Trojan War?—20 years (10 at Troy, 10 at sea)
  1. Who is Odysseus’ patron goddess?--Athena
  1. Where does the storm leave Odysseus?—on the island of Scheria
  1. Who finds Odysseus washed up on the shore?—Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous
  1. What does Odysseus ask for from the minstrel (singer)?—a song about Troy
  1. Who is Odysseus’ father?--Laertes
  1. Where is his home?--Ithaca
  1. Why did Odysseus’ men butcher the sheep at Cicones?—they were drunk and acting stupid
  1. When they left Cicones, how many men were missing from each Achaean ship?—6 benches on each ship were empty

The Lotus Eaters

  1. How did Zeus punish the Achaeans for their behavior at Cicones?—sent a terrible storm to blow them off course
  1. Who are the Lotus Eaters?—men who eat the Lotus flowers which makes them forget about home
  1. Who rescues the men from the Lotus Eaters?—Odysseus

The Cyclops

  1. Who are the Cyclopes?—one-eyed giant monsters
  1. Why do Odysseus and his men visit the Cyclops’ cave?--curiosity
  1. What is the name of the Cyclops that lives in the cave where Odysseus and his men are waiting?—Polyphemus
  1. Who is the Goddess of Wisdom and why is she associated with Odysseus?—Athena- because he is smart and she is the goddess of wisdom
  1. What does Odysseus tell Polyphemus about the location of his ship?—he says it was destroyed on the rocks by Poseidon
  1. What does Polyphemus do to two of Odysseus’ men after Odysseus tells him about the ship?—eats them
  1. Why doesn’t Odysseus kill Polyphemus?—they would not be able to move the big boulder blocking the cave entrance
  1. What do Odysseus and his men make from the club found in the cave?—a stake
  1. When Polyphemus returns, what does Odysseus offer him?—3 bowls of wine
  1. What does Odysseus tell Polyphemus his name is? (watch spelling)--Nohbdy
  1. What violent act does Odysseus perform on Polyphemus?—stabs the stake in his eye
  1. Why don’t the other Cyclopes come to Polyphemus’ aid?—he shouts Nohbdy is hurting me
  1. How do Odysseus and his men get out of Polyphemus’ cave?—they tie themselves to the underside of the sheep and escape
  1. What does Odysseus do once he is back on his ship?—shouts back at Polyphemus and tells him his name is Odysseus (hubris)
  1. How does the incident with Polyphemus have long-range effects on Odysseus?—Polyphemus asks his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus and make him suffer and lose his ship and companions and find trouble when he finally returns home
  1. Why is Polyphemus important to the story?—he represents the brute force that Odysseus must overcome – he must uses his brain to defeat him

The Land of the Dead

  1. What gift does the wind king, Aeolus, give to Odysseus?—a bag of winds containing all the winds except the favorable west wind
  1. When Odysseus and his men come within sight of Ithaca, why don’t they reach it?—some of the men open the bag of winds and it blows them off course
  1. When Aeolus cast them out where do Odysseus and his crew sail to?—Land of the Laestrygonians
  1. Who are the Laestrygonians?—giant cannibals
  1. How many of Odysseus’ ships do they destroy?—all but the one Odysseus is on
  1. Odysseus and his reduced crew escape and sail where?--Aeaea
  1. Who is the ruler of Aeaea?—the sorceress-goddess Circe
  1. What does the witch Circe transform half of his men into?—swine (pigs)
  1. Why is Odysseus immune to Circe’s spells?—Moly- a magic herb
  1. How long do Odysseus and his crew stay in the company of Circe?—one year
  1. Circe informs Odysseus that he must journey where?—the Land of the Dead

43. Whom must Odysseus consult with in Hades?--Tiresias

  1. Whose soul was Odysseus shocked to encounter in the underworld and why?—

Elpenor – his friend who died at Circe’s house, and Anticlea – his mother

  1. What god does Tieresias say is angry with Odysseus and why?—Poseidon- blinding Polyphemus
  1. What does Tieresias say Odysseus and his men will encounter on Thrinacia? What will happen to his men if they disobey?—

the cattle of Helios; death to his crew, Odysseus alone will survive

  1. What does Tieresias say Odysseus will find when he gets home – his house filled with trouble- men eating

his cattle, courting his wife

  1. Where does Tieresias say Odysseus will die?— when he is old and his land is at peace

The Odyssey Part I Study Questions page #1