The Odyssey Beginning
What is an epic hero?
An epic hero is
1. the main character in an epic poem, like The Odyssey, and
2. they have superhuman abilities
Which god delays Odysseus' return home?
Poseidon
Why does Poseidon hate Odysseus?
He blinded his son, the cyclops Polyphemus.
What do the suitors do when Odysseus doesn't return after the Trojan War?
They eat his food, drink his wine, and demand Penelope marry one of them.
When we first see Odysseus, where is he?
On the island of Phaeacia.
Setting of the Odyssey
Mediterranean Sea and surrounding islands
(after the Trojan War, near Greece)
How does Odysseus try to convince Polyphemus to be kind to him and his men?
He tells him the gods expect people to treat guests well.
After leaving Troy, either say the name of the place they go to next or explain what happens at their next stop.
Cicones: They fight a war and leave with many men dead.
What is the test of the bow?
The man who strings Odysseus's bow and shoots an arrow through twelve axe-heads will marry her.
For how many years was Odysseus gone from Ithaca?
20 years
Describe the Laestrygonians
Cannibals
Why doesn't Odysseus just kill Polyphemus while he sleeps?
They could not move the stone that seals the cave.
After they leave Cicones they land on place where everybody becomes addicted to a flower. What is this flower/fruit?
Lotus
Why would people have told an ancient epic like The Odyssey?
To entertain, to teach values
Who is Odysseus's son and why is their relationship/loyalty striking?
His son--they never really knew each other
Give three spirits Odysseus sees in the Land of the Dead
Mom, crew mate, Tiresias, Achilles
What does the blind prophet Tiresias say Odysseus and his men should not do?
Kill the cattle of the sun god, Helios.
What are the Sirens?
Bird like creatures that lure sailors to their deaths
At the end of The Odyssey, Homer compares someone to the "sun-warmed earth... longed for by a swimmer." Whom is he referring to?
Penelope
Why wasn't The Odyssey written down by Homer?
The Odyssey was performed orally (spoken).
What does Odysseus tell the cyclops his name is?
Nobody
What information from the blind prophet Tiresias does Odysseus not tell to his men?
Only Odysseus will make it home alive.
How do they avoid the Sirens?
Beeswax and tying Odysseus up
Give two themes from The Odyssey and explain
Varied answers