English 9

Name ______
TheOdyssey Reading Guide

The Invocation: p. 757
1. What qualities does Odysseus have that prove he’s an epic hero?


Sailing From Troy: p. 759

4, Odysseus was held captive by ______and ______for many years before setting off again for home (29-33).

The Lotus-Eaters:p. 760

4. What happened to people that ate the Lotus Flower (95-105)?

5. Which characteristic of an epic hero does Odysseys show in this scene?
The Cyclops:p. 762
5. How does Odysseus describe the Cyclopes (109-120)?

6. Based on this description, what kind of society do you think the Greeks valued?
7. The liquor was described as being ______and ______(145). Based on lines 146-151, was this liquor strong or weak?
8. Why does Odysseus refuse to just steal the milk, cheese, and goats and then leave the island (130-132)?
9. Explain the example of xenia in lines 211-216.
10. Why does Odysseus lie to the Cyclops about the location of his ships?
11. What does this reveal about Odysseus’ character?

12. Odysseus is angry the Cyclops ate many of his men. Why doesn’t Odysseus kill the Cyclopes when he has a chance (245-251)?

13. Explain the steps Odysseus and his men took in order to make the stake (266-286):
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

14. What does “fuddle and flush” mean in line 311?
15. Odysseus tells the Cyclopes his name is ______(line ). Why does he do this?

16. Draw a quick comic strip that shows the steps Odysseus took to escape Polyphemus’ cave:

Sharpened the stake /
______/
Name was “Nohbdy” /
______/
Escaped under sheep

17. Why does Odysseus reveal his true identity to the Cyclops (457-461)? What does this reveal about him?

18. Summarize Polyphemus’ plea to the god Poseidon (484-493):

19. Write down one epithet from this section: ______and the line #: ______.

20. What admirable quality does Odysseus show by dividing the sheep among his men?

The Land of the Dead: p. 776
24. What ancient Greek value is reflected in the “narrow strait” that Tiresias describes (637-638)?

25. Tiresias prophesies the future. He tells Odysses to avoid the ______on Thrinacia. If Odysseus or his men “raid the beeves” what does Tiresias say will happen?

The Sirens: p. 783

26. Circe warns Odysseus about the upcoming dangers he will face: the ______that lure sailors to their destruction; the ______, the sea monster ______and the whirlpool ______. She also warns him (just as Tiresias did) of the cattle of the sun god.

27. Why does Odysseus want to hear the sirens’ song?

28. Why does Odysseus put beeswax in all of the oarsmen’s ears?

29. List 2 details of the Sirens’ song that are designed to flatter the epic hero.
1.
2.
Scylla and Charybdisp. 785

30. Odysseus warned his men about the Sirens. He didn’t warn them about the dangerous sea rocks, and what happened?
31. How does Odysseus encourage his men?
32. What quality/strength does this reveal about him?
33. How many men did Scylla eat?


The Cattle of the Sun Godp. 788

34. How was Eurylochus able to convince the men to eat the cattle (868-878)?
35. What happened as a result?
36. Could Odysseus have done something to stop his men from eating the cattle? Explain…

PART TWO: ODYSSEUS’ HOMECOMING
Twenty years gone, and I am back again… p. 800

37. ______, men after Penelope’s hand in marriage, have overrun the
palace. They plan on ______Telemachus before he can inherit his
father’s lands.
38. Athena disguises Odysseus as a ______before sending him to meet Eumaeus, the swineheard. Why do you think Odysseys arrives in disguise?
39. About how many men is Odysseus preparing to fight (1095-1102)?
The suitors p. 807
40. How does Antinous react to seeing Odysseus, the beggar?
Penelope p. 810
41. How did Penelope try to trick the Achaeans?
42. Why didn’t Odysseus reveal his identity to her? Is it okay for him to lie to her?
The challengep. 813

43. Sketch a picture of the task Penelope is requiring the suitors to accomplish in order to win her hand in marriage:

Odysseus’ Revengep. 817
44. Why does Odysseus kill Antinous first? What message does that send to the other suitors?
45. How does Eurymachus try to save himself and the other suitors (1453-1465)?
Penelope’s Testp. 821
46. How does Penelope test Odysseus’ true identity?
47. Why does she not believe he is who he says he is (1595-1610)?
______
48. What reading strategies did you use to help you understand this epic poem?