Section 1
What is the main reason Odysseus leaves his home in Ithaca?
To fight in the Trojan War.
When Odysseus first arrives back in Ithaca, what is his initial disguise?
An old beggar.
Who is the loyal swineherd who welcomes Odysseus (still in disguise)?
Eumaeus
What is the name of Odysseus's son?
Telemachus
Who is the leader and most arrogant of the suitors?
Antinous
Who is the goddess that frequently aids and advises Odysseus?
Athena
How does Odysseus protect his men from the Sirens' deadly song?
He plugs their ears with beeswax.
Who is the witch who turns some of Odysseus's men into pigs?
Circe
Who is the one person in the palace who recognizes Odysseus by a distinctive scar while washing his feet?
The old nurse, Eurycleia.
What is the challenge (test) Penelope proposes to the suitors that only Odysseus can complete?
Stringing Odysseus's great bow and shooting an arrow through the sockets of twelve axe heads.
Which nymph holds Odysseus captive for seven years on her island, Ogygia?
Calypso
In the Land of the Dead, what crucial advice does the prophet Tiresias give Odysseus?
To avoid eating the Cattle of the Sun God (Helios).
Which king of the Phaeacians helps Odysseus finally get home by providing him with a ship?
King Alcinoos
What object does Penelope weave by day and secretly undo by night to stall the suitors?
A shroud (burial cloth) for Laertes (Odysseus's father).
What is the immediate consequence for the suitors once Odysseus wins the challenge?
Odysseus kills Antinous with an arrow and then proceeds to kill the rest.
What is the secret sign Penelope uses to confirm the true identity of Odysseus?
His knowledge of how their marriage bed was built from a living olive tree.
What tragic mistake do Odysseus's men make on the Island of Thrinacia?
They kill and eat the Cattle of the Sun God (Helios).
How does Odysseus's old dog, Argos, recognize his master?
By his voice, and then Argos immediately dies.
What does Odysseus use to blind the Cyclops, Polyphemus?
A sharpened wooden stake.
What fate awaits the disloyal maidservants who consorted with the suitors?
They are killed.
What is the primary flaw Odysseus displays when dealing with the Cyclops, Polyphemus?
His hubris (excessive pride), specifically when he yells his real name after escaping.
Name the two dangerous monsters Odysseus must sail between, which represent a "no-win" situation.
Scylla (six-headed monster) and Charybdis (whirlpool).
Who is the messenger god who frequently carries messages from Zeus?
Hermes
Why are Odysseus and his crew originally delayed on an island because of this type of flower?
lotus flower
Define the central theme of the epic known as nostos.
The theme of homecoming or the arduous journey back home.