Introduction

The story begins with Odysseus’ son, Telemachus.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Who is the subject of this poem: Man or God? What then could the purpose be?

2. Where is Odysseus prisoner? Who keeps him there? Who really keeps him there?

3. When the Gods speak about Odysseus, they begin with the story of Aigisthos. What is the story of Aigisthos?

4. Who speaks for Odysseus? What do the Gods decide to do?

5. What are the suitors described like? Why might Homer want to do this?

6. How is Telemachos acting? Thinking Campbell like, how does he compare to Luke Skywalker?

7. Why does Athena's question about Tele father strike a particular chord? (Again, think Campbell)

8. What instructions does Athena leave? What else does she give him?

9. Why does she mention Orestes?

10. How do we see a change in Telemachus?

Introduction

Telemachos gets his marching orders.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. How is Tele change shown the next day? How is this starting to answer Athena's question?

2. What are Telemachus Complaints?

3. According to Antinoos, why do the suitors show up? If he was serious about what he is saying, what two things should he do?

4. What "dirty trick" has Penelope been pulling for two years?

5. What do the Eagles do? What does it mean?

6. What is the Epithet used to describe Telemachos? How is it appropriate?

7. What are the results of the conference? Where would it fit on the hero path?

8. When Athena wants to insult him, what does she say?

9. How did Tele get men and a boat?

Introduction

And Telemachos hits the water, looking for Dad.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Where is he going? What is the epithet used to describe Nestor?

2. How does Nestor speak? How is his voice different from Tele? What does he say about Odysseus?

3. What parallel is Homer hammering into our heads by (again) repeating the Agamemmnon story?

4. How is Dawn almost always described?

5. How does Athena give herself away? What effect does it have on Tele?

6. Nestor sacrifices 81 cows, a huge number. Why might the poet exaggerate such a number

Introduction

Telemachos gets comfy with more answers, and his story pauses.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

12. What won't Athene tell Penelope?

Introduction

A fun book. Odysseus gets to leave his island.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. This is the first book that deals directly with Odysseus. For a writer, why might you spend the first four books with the main character off stage? What other works use this same technique?

2. The beginning of this section seems to present a plot problem. What is it?

3. Kalypso has unique powers-What are they? The island is described in dark ways. What attitude does HOmer show about eternal life?

4. Kalypso (lines 120-140) uses a great feminist argument in the beginning of this argument. What is it?

5. What advantages does Kalypso have over Penelope? Has Odysseus been blind to those advantages? Explain.

7. What stars is Odysseus to steer by? What other name does the Bear have (revolves in a fixed place)

8. What dilemma does Odys have after the nymph gives him the advice (in the middle of the storm)?

9. Why doesn't Athena help him more?

10. How is the scene with Ody and the Rocks unique in this story?

11. What necessary thing does Ody do before he lands?

Introduction

Naked and Cold, Odysseus shows his full glory to the town.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. It is now Nausikaa's turn to ride the Epic Ferris Wheel. How does she follow this?

(You'll have to read the book)

2. How does Athena shame her into going to the river?

3. How does Odysseus address Nausikaa? How is that different from everyone else?

4. Homer employs an epic simile here in describing Naus. What is it?

5. Ody shows some un-typical modesty. What is it?

6. How has Naus changed after meeting Odysseus?

7. Where does she leave Odysseus?

Introduction

Odysseus, Mr. Tricky, slips into the castle.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. How does Athena hide him?

2. What advice does she give him?

3. What is the palace like?

4. How do the king and queen react to Odysseus?

5. How does Odysseus explain his clothing?

6. What does the king Alkinoos whnt Odysseus to do? Does Ody say he will do it?

Introduction

Don’t take on the man.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. What is the purpose of the assembly?

2. Are the Phaecians very hard working? explain

3. What story does Demodocus tell? How is Demodocus treated?

4. How does Odysseus react to the story?

5. What sports are being played? What happens when Odysseus refuses?

6. What does Odysseus say to Eurylaos?

7. What is the next story Demodocus tells?

8. What gifts does Odysseus receive?

9. What does Odysseus say to Nausikaa now?

10. What is the last story Demodocus tells? Why doesO Odysseus react the way he does?

Introduction

Let the tales begin.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Who were the first people Odysseus runs into? what does he order his men to do?

2. What mistake do the men make?

3. Who are the "Lotus-eaters" What danger do they represent?

4. When they leave to explore the Cyclopes, what very useful thing do they bring with them?

5. Why do they stay in the cave?

6. How is Polyphemos a bad host (aside from eating the crewmen)?

7. What name does Odysseus tell Polyphemos?

8. How did they escape the cave?

9. What mistake does Odysseus make as he is leaving?

Introduction

Travelling this great big world.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. What gift do they next receive? How do they misuse it?

2. Why won't Aeolus help Odysseus a second time?

3. Who are the Laistrygones? What do they do to the ships?

4. When they kill a stag and eat it, whatare they most likely eating?

5. Why does he hit and curse Eurylochos?

6. What was Hermes message?

7. According to Circe, where does he have to go?

8. Who dies at Circe's house? Where will they see him?

Introduction

These questions ask you to think like a psychiatrist. Analyze the novel.

Introduction

Often, the names are the best way to remember and analyze this part of the work.

Questions

Identify the following people.

1. Kikonians

2. Lotus-eaters

3. Cyclops

4. Polyphemus

5. Aiolos

6. Laistrygones

7. Circe

8. Eurylochos

9. Teiresias

10. Elpenor

11. Tantalos

12. Sisyphus

13. Tityos

14. Persephone

15. Sirens

16. Skylla

17. Charybdis

18. Thrinikia

19. Kalypso

Introduction

The following quotes were pulled from these three sections. Who said them and why are they significant.

Quotes

Identify the following quotes.

Introduction

Stunned silence from the audience.

Questions

Answer the following questions carefully.

Introduction

Odysseus gets home, finally.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

Introduction

The Telemachos story comes to an end. Eumaios continues to get more than he bargains for.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. How has Telemachus gone on the hero path (or mythic path)

2. What thoughts does Athena put into his head?

3. Which one is true?

4. What sign does Zeus send to Telemachus?

5. Who does Telemachus invite aboard his ship? What has he done?

6. The scene switches back to Odysseus. What does he propose to do? Why does the swineherd stop him?

7. Who is Odysseus sister?

8. Where is Telemachus going? Where doesn't he want his companion going?

9. What is the omen that the gods sends?

10. Why does Homer keep hinting at the suitors?

Introduction

The Father and Son reunion is only a motion away…

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Why doesn't Odysseus immediately reveal himself to his son?

2. How is his son polite to the old man?

3. Why wont' Telemachus take the (disguised) Odysseus home?

4. What does Odysseus try and get his son to do?

5. What advice does Athena give Odysseus?

6. How many suitors are there?

7. What is the plan Odysseus has?

8. What options do the suitors think about?

9. What does Penelope accuse the suitors of?

Introduction

The build up begins.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. Who does Telemachus meet when he first returns?

2. What are the suitors supposedly concerned with, when they all meet in the marketplace?

3. Who tells Penelope that Odysseus is probably close?

4. What does Eumaios do for Odysseus?

5. Who is Melanthius? What does he warn Odysseus of?

6. What does he do to Odysseus? How does Odysseus react?

7. Who (or what) is the first to recognize Odysseus in his own house?

8. Why does Antinoos throw the stool at Odysseus?

9. What curse does Odysseus level at5 Antinoos?

10. When Telemachus sneezes, How does Penelope interpret it?

Introduction

The suitors start to behave really stupidly.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Why does Iros start insulting Odysseus?

2. Why do they fight?

3. What makes Iros think twice about his fight?

4. What does Oddysseus do to him?

5. How does Athena help out Penelope?

6. What does Penelope accuse her son of?

7. What should the maids be doing? What are they doing?

8. Why does Eurymachus throw the footstool?

9. Why does Telemachus order everyone from the house?

Introduction

More Bad Behavior.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. What excuse does Telemachus make to clear the arms from the hall?

2. Who lights the way for them?

3. What does Penelope say to Melantho?

4. What story does Penelope tell Odysseus

5. What story does Odysseus tell Penelope?

6. What else does he tell her about "Odysseus" return?

7. When Eurycleia recognizes the scar, what happens? What does Homer deal with?

8. How did he get the scar?

9. What was Penelope's dream?

10. What is the contest she proposes?

Introduction

Still more bad behavior

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. What does Odysseus see before he goes to sleep? Why does this anger him?

2. What does Athena say to him?

3. What does Penelope pray for?

4. Odysseus asks for a double omen. What does he get?

5. How do Melanthius and Philoteus contrast each other?

6. How does Amphinomos interpret the Eagle

7. Why are the omens coming fast and furious?

8. What gift is made Odysseus? How does he react?

9. What do the suitors think they see all over the dining hall?

Introduction

Finally, we are just about ready.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Refresh you memory, what is Penelope’s plan for the Bow?

2. What is the challenge?

3. Could Telemachus have strung the bow? What does this say about his progress?

4. Who is the first to try to string the bow? What is the result?

5. Who does Odysseus approach outside the hall? What does he ask them?

6. What is their response?

7. When Odysseus reveals himself, what does he show?

8, What instructions does Odysseus give before he gives the bow a shot?

9. What warning does Penelope give?

10. How does he string the bow?

Introduction

The previous three chapters have brought lots of bizarre things in. Use these thought questions to focus your thoughts.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. The omens start to comefast and furious in these three sections. What omens appear?

2. Why does Homer spend so much time with the suitors in this last day of their lives? How is this intent odd in the nature of the book?

3. How is Odysseus testing the servants? Why?

4. From a mythic/psychological point of view, why is there a contest? Why doesn't he just waste everybody?

Introduction

Death and destruction for everyone!!!

Introduction

Cleaning up and proving himself to his wife.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Who announces to Penelope that Ody has come home?

2. What does Penelope think has happened?

3 How does she decide to treat him? Why?

4. What do they decide to do to prevent those other families from hearing of the massacre?

5. How does Penelope test ody?

6. What does Ody have left to do before he is safe?

7. Where are Odysseus and company gong in the morning?

Introduction

All the men are together again.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. Who is leading the dead?

2. Why is Agamemnon mentioned again.

3. Why are the dead welcomed and not cursed?

4. Why does Agamemnon congratulate Odysseus?

5. What does he tell Laertes first?

6. When does he finally reveal the truth?

7. How does Odysseus prove himself to Laertes?

8. What does the council decide to do about the slaughter?

9. Why is this a bad idea according Halistherses?

10. Why are the three men (grandfather, father and son) united in battle?

11. How does this finish the hero path for Telemachus

12. Who stops the fight?

Introduction

This review is in two parts. Use a partner to try and answer these questions.

Names

Identify the following names

19. Circe

Problems

Solve the following problems.

Problems, cont.

15. You are given a bag of winds and you head home. Your crew gets grabby. What do you do?

Introduction

The following project is a time-consuming one that requires group work.

Project

To wrap up the Odyssey, I have conceived of a plan. I would like this class, either in halves or in total to write their own, modern, Odyssey. The Odyssey should be set in the twentieth century, and wouldn't involve swords and seas as much.

The concept becomes tricky when you add the following requirements to it.

1. Each person in either the group or the class must do a book

2. As the regular Odyssey does, so must there also be psychological battles involved. Campbell's path must be stuck to

3. The narrative style must also be stuck to. Details should be lovingly embellished.

Anyway, the first step is to find a topic

Then, A plot should be made out fairly carefully so that each must know what is going on.

Then the writing.

Introduction

Tennyson’s poem (and Dante’s take on it) offer a great ending to Odysseus.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.