The Odyssey Study Questions
Directions: Answer the questions using the book and your own paper. Remember to use complete sentences when answering the questions and rephrase the question in your answer. Most will require multiple sentences and elaboration. Very few will require only one sentence.
“The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis” and “The Cattle of the Sun God”
1.What plan does Odysseys devise that will enable him to listen to the song of the Sirens, yet
remain unharmed by them?
2. How does Odysseys protect his men from the danger of the Siren’s song?
3. When he hears the Sirens’ song, what does Odysseys tell his crew to do?
4. How do his men respond to this command?
5. Circe has warned Odysseys about Scylla and Charybdis. What are they?
6. As the pass Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseys follows Circe’s advice in order to lose the fewest
men. What is his plan?
7. To what does Odysseys compare the way Scylla snatched his six men from their boat?
8. On the island of Thrinacia, what crime do Odysseus’ men commit while Odysseys is praying?
9. What does Helios threaten to do if Zeus does not punish Odysseus’ men?
10. How does Zeus punish Odysseus’ men for what they have done?