Roles of Gods
What is the role of Zeus in the story?
Leader of all the gods and the People.
Who is the king of the gods in The Odyssey?
Zeus is the king of the gods who oversees justice and occasionally intervenes in Odysseus’s fate.
What ritual does Telemachus perform before asking Zeus for justice?
Telemachus prays to Zeus, invoking divine support before speaking at the assembly.
What choice does Telemachus make after speaking with Athena disguised as Mentes?
Telemachus decides to stand up to the suitors and seek news of his father, showing new confidence.
What role does Athena play in helping Odysseus throughout his journey?
She protects him, gives advice, and disguises him.
How does Poseidon’s anger contrast with Zeus’s decisions about Odysseus?
Poseidon punishes Odysseus out of anger, while Zeus tries to stay balanced and fair.
Telemachus prays to Zeus, invoking divine support before speaking at the assembly.
Two eagles sent by Zeus fly overhead and fight, signaling divine approval of Telemachus cause
How does Penelope respond to the bard’s song about Troy?
Penelope asks the bard to stop singing, revealing her grief and longing for Odysseus.
Why does Poseidon oppose Odysseus, and how does his anger shape the hero’s journey?
Odysseus hurt his son, so Poseidon makes his journey hard.
What does Hermes’s role as messenger reveal about divine hierarchy and communication?
Hermes shows the gods’ hierarchy by acting as Zeus’s messenger and enforcing divine orders.
Why is Athena’s visit to Telemachus in disguise important?
Athena’s disguise as Mentes shows that gods guide helps people through ritual respect and wisdom.
What does Telemachus do when Penelope protests the song?
He tells her to return to her quarters, asserting his authority as the man of the house.
Who sends a storm to punish Odysseus after he blinds the Cyclops?
Poseidon sends the storm to punish Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus.
What does Athena’s disguise as Mentor reveal about the gods influence on human leadership?
Athena’s disguise as Mentor shows that gods influence human leadership by guiding decisions while remaining hidden.
How does the assembly act as a ritual space in early Odyssey?
The assembly is a formal gathering where elders speak, prayers are made, and divine signs are interpreted.
What action does Telemachus take at the assembly?
He calls for the suitors to leave and announces his plan to search for Odysseus.
Why does Calypso keep Odysseus on her island, and what does this reveal about divine desires
Calypso keeps Odysseus because she loves him and wants him to stay forever, showing that gods can have human-like desires.
How do the actions of major deities in The Odyssey reflect Greek beliefs about justice, fate, and human responsibility?
The gods’ actions reflect Greek beliefs that fate is powerful, but humans must still act wisely and honor the gods.
What do the omens and rituals in Books 1–2 suggest about Greek beliefs?
They show that success depends on honoring the gods through ritual and recognizing their signs.
How does Athena influence Telemachus’s choices?
Athena encourages Telemachus to act bravely and take control of his future.