Monsters
Gods/Goddesses
Epic Conventions
Historical/Mythological Background
Clever Odysseus
100
This one-eyed giant defies the laws of hospitality and eats Odysseus's men.
Who is Polyphemus?
100
This favorite daughter of Zeus has a soft spot for Odysseus.
Who is Athena?
100
Homer prays to the Muses for help in telling the tale. Epic poems always begin with this type of prayer.
What is an invocation?
100
The name of the other epic poem that Homer is credited with writing.
What is the Iliad?
100
The name Odysseus used to trick Polyphemus
What is Nohbdy?
200
The song of these half-bird, half-human creature lures men to their deaths.
What are the Sirens?
200
This messenger to the gods delivers a message that sets Odysseus free.
Who is Hermes?
200
The poet repeatedly uses these phrases or adjectives to refer to characters, places, and things and to help him keep his place in the tale.
What are epithets?
200
Location of the Trojan war
What is Troy?
200
Came up with a plan to use this object to trick his enemies in the Trojan War
What is the Trojan horse?
300
This sea creature ate six of Odysseus's men.
What is Syclla?
300
This sea nymph kept Odysseus for her own for seven years.
Who is Calypso?
300
The hero must travel alone to a place that no other mortal is allowed. Odysseus travels to this place.
What is Hades?
300
Duration of the Trojan War
What is 10 years?
300
Odysseus does this in order to avoid fighting in the Trojan War
What is pretend to be insane?
400
The number of Syclla's heads plus the number of tentacles adds up to what?
What is 18?
400
This god feels no pity for Odysseus.
Who is Poseidon?
400
A lenghty comparison between two unlike things
What is a Homeric, or epic, simile?
400
the goddess whose discord led to the events that started the Trojan War
Who is Eris?
400
Odysseus uses strategy to tactfully refuse an offer of immortality from this character.
Who is Calypso?
500
It swallows up the sea.
What is Charybdis?
500
He prayed to Zeus that Odysseus's men be punished for killing his cattle.
Who is Helios?
500
The literal translation of the phrase that refers to the starting place of an epic is "in the midst of things."
What is "en media res"?
500
Beautfiul woman whose kidnapping is the presumed cause of the Trojan War
Who is Helen?
500
Odysseus does not kill the Cyclops immediately because he realizes he needs him alive for this purpose.
What is to remove the rock from the cave's entrance?
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